Identifying tear lipids, their deposition onto contact lenses and their role in the development of dry eye. Lipids provide a critical layer in the human tear film that retards evaporation and helps nourish and protect the eye. We will identify the molecules within this essential "oil slick" to better understand dry eye syndrome and the discomfort associated with wearing contact lenses. This may lead to new treatments for dry eye and novel technologies that provide greater comfort for the ~120,00 ....Identifying tear lipids, their deposition onto contact lenses and their role in the development of dry eye. Lipids provide a critical layer in the human tear film that retards evaporation and helps nourish and protect the eye. We will identify the molecules within this essential "oil slick" to better understand dry eye syndrome and the discomfort associated with wearing contact lenses. This may lead to new treatments for dry eye and novel technologies that provide greater comfort for the ~120,000 Australians who wear contact lenses. This collaborative research directly supports the mission of a respected non-profit organisation (Institute for Eye Research) and will train scientists in world-leading analytical technologies that are essential to Australia's emerging biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354517
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Adaptive Optics for Australian Astronomy, Medicine, Industry, and Defence. Adaptive optics is a technique for correcting wavefront distortions in light beams to improve optical imaging performance. The Research Network for Adaptive Optics aims to draw together isolated Australian and New Zealand research groups working on adaptive optics applications in disparate areas to achieve a critical mass of researchers in this burgeoning field. Adaptive optics has wide application in areas as diverse as ....Adaptive Optics for Australian Astronomy, Medicine, Industry, and Defence. Adaptive optics is a technique for correcting wavefront distortions in light beams to improve optical imaging performance. The Research Network for Adaptive Optics aims to draw together isolated Australian and New Zealand research groups working on adaptive optics applications in disparate areas to achieve a critical mass of researchers in this burgeoning field. Adaptive optics has wide application in areas as diverse as astronomy, vision science, ophthalmology, microscopy, optical communications, laser radar, and laser beam shaping. The Research Network will coordinate and expand Australian involvement in these areas and inform industry, as have similar networks in the USA and Europe.Read moreRead less
Novel Neural Interfaces and Instrumentation for Stimulation and Monitoring of Retinal Activation in an Epiretinal Vision Prosthesis. Australia's reputation in medical neuroprostheses is second to none with the most notable example being the 'bionic ear' for the deaf. This research compliments that reputation by advancing science and engineering knowledge towards achieving a truly beneficial prosthesis for the blind, a 'bionic eye'. This research will also advance our capacity to address other a ....Novel Neural Interfaces and Instrumentation for Stimulation and Monitoring of Retinal Activation in an Epiretinal Vision Prosthesis. Australia's reputation in medical neuroprostheses is second to none with the most notable example being the 'bionic ear' for the deaf. This research compliments that reputation by advancing science and engineering knowledge towards achieving a truly beneficial prosthesis for the blind, a 'bionic eye'. This research will also advance our capacity to address other areas of therapeutic medical implants including those for limb movement to the paralysed. Benefits to the community include the very real possibility of restoring some visual capacity to the blind thus improving their quality of life through improved mobility, social interaction, and mental health. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567334
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,748.00
Summary
A Grid-Enabled National Archive of Nanostructural Imagery (GRANI). The Nanostructural Analysis Network Organization (NANO) is an Australian Major National Research Facility that provides access to a grid of advanced microscopic instruments for the nanostructural analysis of both physical materials and biological systems. The aim of this initiative is to provide the NANO community with a set of common, interoperable tools and services to enable more efficient, cost-effective storage, management, ....A Grid-Enabled National Archive of Nanostructural Imagery (GRANI). The Nanostructural Analysis Network Organization (NANO) is an Australian Major National Research Facility that provides access to a grid of advanced microscopic instruments for the nanostructural analysis of both physical materials and biological systems. The aim of this initiative is to provide the NANO community with a set of common, interoperable tools and services to enable more efficient, cost-effective storage, management, analysis and sharing of generated microscopic images, video and analytical data. The significance of the proposed middleware is that it will improve collaboration and reduce duplication across many disciplines, through a shareable, distributed national scientific image/video database.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989347
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
CYCLOPS - A Better Way to Find Extrasolar Planets. The primary scientific driver for this new facility is the search for planets orbiting other stars. Australian astronomers, and the Anglo-Australian Telescope, have played a leading role in this new frontier for astronomy, detecting 25 of the 250-odd extrasolar planets known to orbit nearby stars. The CYCLOPS project brings together a team of leading Australian astronomers to build on this track record with a new facility that further advances A ....CYCLOPS - A Better Way to Find Extrasolar Planets. The primary scientific driver for this new facility is the search for planets orbiting other stars. Australian astronomers, and the Anglo-Australian Telescope, have played a leading role in this new frontier for astronomy, detecting 25 of the 250-odd extrasolar planets known to orbit nearby stars. The CYCLOPS project brings together a team of leading Australian astronomers to build on this track record with a new facility that further advances Australia's capabilities in both this field, and several other high-profile astronomical endeavours: including the study of seismology in stellar interiors, the detailed measurement of elemental abundances in stars throughout our Galaxy, and the mapping of spot features on the surfaces of stars.Read moreRead less
Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications suc ....Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications such as geospatial information systems, x-ray inspection, and medical imaging, by giving a user a much more natural way of interacting with three dimensional data.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567533
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,000.00
Summary
Scientific Instruments as ICT Components in Building a GrEMLIN for e-Research. The proposal seeks to initiate the development of a GrEMLIN, a Grid Enabled Multi-Level Instrument Network, for e-Research. Scientific instruments, whether at conventional laboratories or at major facilities, may be regarded as specialised ICT components in a network providing remote access to such instrumentation. Collaborative remote access and data analysis brings efficiency and effectiveness dividends, that can ....Scientific Instruments as ICT Components in Building a GrEMLIN for e-Research. The proposal seeks to initiate the development of a GrEMLIN, a Grid Enabled Multi-Level Instrument Network, for e-Research. Scientific instruments, whether at conventional laboratories or at major facilities, may be regarded as specialised ICT components in a network providing remote access to such instrumentation. Collaborative remote access and data analysis brings efficiency and effectiveness dividends, that can be enhanced through the harnessing of Grid technologies. The collaborative project will leverage middleware, Web Services and e-Science software developments in the US and UK, to provide Grid enabled remote instrument access and data analysis as a powerful e-Research tool.Read moreRead less
Terahertz optoelectronics based on spintronics materials. Spintronic devices have many advantages which include non-volatility, permitting data retention in non-powered conditions, increased integration densities, high data processing speeds, low electrical energy demands, and a fabrication process compatible with those currently used in semiconductor microelectronics. The low energy consumption of spintronic devices also leads to economic and environmental benefits. Spintronic devices will help ....Terahertz optoelectronics based on spintronics materials. Spintronic devices have many advantages which include non-volatility, permitting data retention in non-powered conditions, increased integration densities, high data processing speeds, low electrical energy demands, and a fabrication process compatible with those currently used in semiconductor microelectronics. The low energy consumption of spintronic devices also leads to economic and environmental benefits. Spintronic devices will help to meet the sensing and storage demands of information technology in the decades to come. The project will enhance the international competitiveness and export power of Australian industry in the areas of information technology, quantum computing, magnetic recording and optoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Photon induced nonlinear absorption and transport in semiconductor nanostructures. Photon induced transport in electronic systems is of great importance in fundamental science and in development of new optoelectronics devices. In this project we aim to study the microwave radiation induced dc transport and nonlinear absorption in high mobility systems. The result will shed light on newly discoveredzero-resistance state in semiconductor nanostructures. The expected outcome is an improved underst ....Photon induced nonlinear absorption and transport in semiconductor nanostructures. Photon induced transport in electronic systems is of great importance in fundamental science and in development of new optoelectronics devices. In this project we aim to study the microwave radiation induced dc transport and nonlinear absorption in high mobility systems. The result will shed light on newly discoveredzero-resistance state in semiconductor nanostructures. The expected outcome is an improved understanding on the mechanism of reducing dc resistance in low-dimensional electronic systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453974
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,190.00
Summary
T-ray factory: a new Australian source of strong, pulsed, broadband, terahertz radiation. Australian scientists and engineers require immediate access to frontier T-ray (terahertz radiation) technology to solve pressing current problems in semiconductor nanostructures and emerging problems in fields as diverse as biophysics and national security. Recent innovations now make practical the production of bursts of terahertz radiation by applying ultrafast optical pulses to photoconductive or elect ....T-ray factory: a new Australian source of strong, pulsed, broadband, terahertz radiation. Australian scientists and engineers require immediate access to frontier T-ray (terahertz radiation) technology to solve pressing current problems in semiconductor nanostructures and emerging problems in fields as diverse as biophysics and national security. Recent innovations now make practical the production of bursts of terahertz radiation by applying ultrafast optical pulses to photoconductive or electro-optic media, facilitating unparalleled time-resolved spectroscopy and imaging. The state-of-the-art equipment to be purchased and installed at Wollongong will enhance the existing excellent terahertz infrastructure (unique spectrometers, optically-pumped molecular laser) and efficiently service researchers in the dynamic Sydney (UTS, UNSW) - Wollongong (UoW) - Canberra (ANU) corridor.Read moreRead less