Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human bo ....Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human body. Thus, the new imaging methods can probe deeper biological functionality while examining tissue structure. The potential benefits include: expanding the scope and capabilities of current MRI, facilitating a wide range of imaging-based research and applications, and accelerating knowledge expansion in life science.Read moreRead less
Advancing the visualisation and quantification of nephrons with MRI. . This project aims to characterise key components of nephrons, the glomeruli and tubules, using magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agents, in combination with Deep Learning and super-resolution techniques. Nephrons, the basic functional unit of the kidney, are critical to the maintenance of the body’s homeostasis. Their number and architecture are critical determinants of kidney function. The expected outcomes are inn ....Advancing the visualisation and quantification of nephrons with MRI. . This project aims to characterise key components of nephrons, the glomeruli and tubules, using magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agents, in combination with Deep Learning and super-resolution techniques. Nephrons, the basic functional unit of the kidney, are critical to the maintenance of the body’s homeostasis. Their number and architecture are critical determinants of kidney function. The expected outcomes are innovative semi-automated nephron visualisation and quantitation tools that enable efficient renal phenotyping. Techniques tailored to widely accessible preclinical research scanners are expected to accelerate research into genetic and environmental factors affecting kidney microstructure in embryonic and post-natal life.Read moreRead less
3D integrated crystalline UV optical lens-fiber couplers for astronomy. This project aims to create micro-optics for astronomical and bio medical applications by 3D sculpturing them out of crystals by ultra-short pulse lasers. This project will introduce a new 3D fabrication approach of optical probes which have self-aligned micro-optical elements and optical fibres for a wide spectral range and with high quality optical surfaces. Expected outcomes of this project include building new capabiliti ....3D integrated crystalline UV optical lens-fiber couplers for astronomy. This project aims to create micro-optics for astronomical and bio medical applications by 3D sculpturing them out of crystals by ultra-short pulse lasers. This project will introduce a new 3D fabrication approach of optical probes which have self-aligned micro-optical elements and optical fibres for a wide spectral range and with high quality optical surfaces. Expected outcomes of this project include building new capabilities in micro-optical probes for industrial environments, establishing new solutions for international astronomy partners, and developing new techniques to image through optical fibres. This should provide significant benefits by improving astronomical instrumentation and also lead to less invasive endoscopy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,760.00
Summary
Charting the brain's wiring over the human lifespan. This project aims to produce a large-scale model of brain wiring over the human lifespan by utilising normative modelling approaches on state-of-the-art diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion MRI) data. This project expects to generate new understanding of how the brain's connections change with age in healthy individuals. Expected outcomes of this project include a reference chart for healthy brain wiring, and major advances in diffu ....Charting the brain's wiring over the human lifespan. This project aims to produce a large-scale model of brain wiring over the human lifespan by utilising normative modelling approaches on state-of-the-art diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion MRI) data. This project expects to generate new understanding of how the brain's connections change with age in healthy individuals. Expected outcomes of this project include a reference chart for healthy brain wiring, and major advances in diffusion MRI data harmonisation approaches. This should provide significant benefits for the translation of advanced diffusion MRI methods, as normative charts for brain wiring will be made broadly available. This could have broad implications for interpreting individual diffusion MRI scans in future.Read moreRead less
Promoting Child and Carer Wellbeing and Placement Stability in Kinship Care. Kinship care is the fastest growing out-of-home care placement in Australia, yet least supported. This project aims to implement and evaluate an attachment and trauma-based program for kinship carers, explore its suitability for cultural adaptation for Indigenous families and co-design practical resources to promote program sustainability and trauma-informed practice. This project is Australia’s first randomised trial o ....Promoting Child and Carer Wellbeing and Placement Stability in Kinship Care. Kinship care is the fastest growing out-of-home care placement in Australia, yet least supported. This project aims to implement and evaluate an attachment and trauma-based program for kinship carers, explore its suitability for cultural adaptation for Indigenous families and co-design practical resources to promote program sustainability and trauma-informed practice. This project is Australia’s first randomised trial of a tailored program for kinship carers and expects to generate vital knowledge on evidence-based support. Via implementing an innovative program for kinship carers in statutory child protection, this project should build capacity for research-based practice and benefit family wellbeing and placement outcomes in kinship care.Read moreRead less
Does emotion regulation flexibility improve functioning in refugees? This project aims identify the mechanisms by which low-intensity interventions improve functioning in refugees living in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Despite these interventions being implemented with thousands of refugees worldwide, many refugees fail to respond. This project will lead to significant advances in knowledge regarding how and for whom low intensity interventions work. Expected outcomes include enhance ....Does emotion regulation flexibility improve functioning in refugees? This project aims identify the mechanisms by which low-intensity interventions improve functioning in refugees living in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Despite these interventions being implemented with thousands of refugees worldwide, many refugees fail to respond. This project will lead to significant advances in knowledge regarding how and for whom low intensity interventions work. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity of NGOs to deliver effective interventions to refugees living in LMICs, and to tailor their services to those who are at greatest risk of not responding. Benefits include improved functioning of refugees living in LMICs, and enhanced capacity of Australia to meet its international refugee obligations. Read moreRead less
Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells. This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, ....Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells. This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, which is not currently possible. This project represents a major technical and knowledge advance that will improve our understanding of autophagy in fundamental biology and ultimately contribute to the development of new intervention strategies for diseases like neurodegeneration and cancers.Read moreRead less
Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to det ....Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to determine structure and interatomic bonding in much thicker nanostructures than hitherto possible. This should benefit academic and industrial researchers by giving them new tools to understand and design high-performance materials for applications ranging from catalysis to energy storage to next-generation electronics.Read moreRead less