Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisat ....Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisation. To address this, the project plans to develop a 3D moulding process for generating soft materials containing precise channels decorated with defined molecules. Intended outcomes include a fundamental understanding of the 3D moulding process, and new polymers and advanced tools for bioengineers for future applications such as tissue transplants, cell guides for treating spinal cord injuries, soft robotics and microfluidic devices to study cancer metastasis. Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100800
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Polymer micropatches applied to the skin for integrated capture and detection of circulating biomarkers. The purpose of this project is to develop a rapid and integrated technology for user-friendly biomarker detection at the point-of-care. We expect the device to rapidly detect proteins and/or antibodies, without the need for highly trained health workers or access to scientific laboratories.
Graded Biomaterial for Articular Cartilage Replacement. Osteoarthritis is a major health and economical burden on the Australian community which can be addressed in part by providing a viable option for effective clinical treatment. 34% of people over the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, predominantly the knee. The development of a biomaterial to enable repair of articular cartilage through minor surgical procedures will release resources at point of care. Current biomaterial options are st ....Graded Biomaterial for Articular Cartilage Replacement. Osteoarthritis is a major health and economical burden on the Australian community which can be addressed in part by providing a viable option for effective clinical treatment. 34% of people over the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, predominantly the knee. The development of a biomaterial to enable repair of articular cartilage through minor surgical procedures will release resources at point of care. Current biomaterial options are still in infancy and an Australian based product would benefit the Australian economy as well as Australia's international standing within the biomaterials community.Read moreRead less
Mastering the Microenvironment - Integrated, functional, biosynthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering. Organ transplantation is available to only the lucky few, with, for example, less than 3000 of Australia's annual 30,000 patients suffering end-stage renal failure receiving transplants. Tissue engineering of soft, functional tissues using in vitro and/or in vivo methods offers the potential to replace missing or non-functioning tissues, such as liver, pancreas, lung, heart, fat and muscle, wi ....Mastering the Microenvironment - Integrated, functional, biosynthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering. Organ transplantation is available to only the lucky few, with, for example, less than 3000 of Australia's annual 30,000 patients suffering end-stage renal failure receiving transplants. Tissue engineering of soft, functional tissues using in vitro and/or in vivo methods offers the potential to replace missing or non-functioning tissues, such as liver, pancreas, lung, heart, fat and muscle, with newly created tissue. This project will deliver integrated, functional polymeric scaffolds for organ replacement. Over 12 higher degree candidates and one research associate will be trained in the field of tissue engineering, representing a significant benefit to the Australian scientific community.Read moreRead less
Inhomogeneous tissue conductivity influence on the forward and inverse electroencephalogram problems in realistic head models. The brain dysfunction indicators have been extremely difficult to obtain, largely because many disorders of higher brain function reflect abnormalities of brain function rather than apparent brain structure. The neuronal generator localization and identification in this project will provide complementary information about source and timing of neural activities sub-servin ....Inhomogeneous tissue conductivity influence on the forward and inverse electroencephalogram problems in realistic head models. The brain dysfunction indicators have been extremely difficult to obtain, largely because many disorders of higher brain function reflect abnormalities of brain function rather than apparent brain structure. The neuronal generator localization and identification in this project will provide complementary information about source and timing of neural activities sub-serving higher brain function and form sequences of spatial-temporal brain activity image. That will enable the information from MRI, which has a good spatial but poor temporal resolution, and the information from EEG, which has a high temporal resolution on the scalp, to be combined to provide clinical psychologists and brain researchers a more efficient diagnostic tool.Read moreRead less
New open MRI Technology for Kinematic Orthopaedic Imaging. This application intends to significantly enhance Open MRI as applied to dynamic joint imaging by technological and methodological innovation. Expected outcomes include better technology for the imaging of joints under loaded movement and consequently, improved understanding of joint function and disease. This technology will provide unique ability in Australia and brings together highly skilled groups in Biomedical Engineering, medical ....New open MRI Technology for Kinematic Orthopaedic Imaging. This application intends to significantly enhance Open MRI as applied to dynamic joint imaging by technological and methodological innovation. Expected outcomes include better technology for the imaging of joints under loaded movement and consequently, improved understanding of joint function and disease. This technology will provide unique ability in Australia and brings together highly skilled groups in Biomedical Engineering, medical equipment manufacturing and design and musculo-skeletal imaging.Read moreRead less
Cardiac electrographic modelling and analysis. The outcomes of this project will improve the accuracy with which abnormal conduction pathways in the heart are found and will also use chaotic modelling tools to better predict the need and outcomes of patients with life threatening arrhythmias.
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 7 Tesla: Resolving the fundamental radiofrequency field-tissue interaction problem at ultra-high field. Ultra-high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems offer the potential for faster, more accurate diagnostic imaging. However, current applications are limited by the fundamental challenge of strong interactions between the electromagnetic field and human tissues, which result in poor image quality and/or compromised patient safety. Using a novel, s ....Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 7 Tesla: Resolving the fundamental radiofrequency field-tissue interaction problem at ultra-high field. Ultra-high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems offer the potential for faster, more accurate diagnostic imaging. However, current applications are limited by the fundamental challenge of strong interactions between the electromagnetic field and human tissues, which result in poor image quality and/or compromised patient safety. Using a novel, subject-specific imaging approach, this research will design and develop an ultra-high-field radiofrequency technology capable of offering high-performance imaging without jeopardising patient safety. This research will lay the groundwork for the translation of ultra-high field MRI research into clinical practice, generating new capabilities for diagnostic technologies.Read moreRead less
How do mechanics, neural drive and muscle architecture interact in muscles? This project will determine how an individual person’s muscle activity, muscle structure and mechanical properties, and the local mechanical conditions around the muscle interact as muscles move and deform, by using experiments and personalised computational models that can examine these factors and their interactions concurrently. To achieve this, we will develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to measure the m ....How do mechanics, neural drive and muscle architecture interact in muscles? This project will determine how an individual person’s muscle activity, muscle structure and mechanical properties, and the local mechanical conditions around the muscle interact as muscles move and deform, by using experiments and personalised computational models that can examine these factors and their interactions concurrently. To achieve this, we will develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to measure the mechanical properties of muscles in humans and methods for modelling muscles. As well as answering fundamental scientific questions about muscle function, these new techniques will provide a platform for studying other muscles, and for future development of muscle training methods and technologies to optimise muscle function.Read moreRead less