Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent co ....Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent components. This has significant benefits in improving designer materials, energy production, information storage, and drug design.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100037
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$223,039.00
Summary
Cryogenic quantum microscope facility. This project aims to establish a cryogenic, quantum microscope facility in Australia. Quantum sensing is a new field that harnesses the properties of individual quantum systems to realise new types of detection and imaging with unprecedented combination of sensitivity and spatial resolution. The potential innovations, applications and benefits to society are far reaching across the full spectrum of scientific and engineering activity, from the development o ....Cryogenic quantum microscope facility. This project aims to establish a cryogenic, quantum microscope facility in Australia. Quantum sensing is a new field that harnesses the properties of individual quantum systems to realise new types of detection and imaging with unprecedented combination of sensitivity and spatial resolution. The potential innovations, applications and benefits to society are far reaching across the full spectrum of scientific and engineering activity, from the development of atomic-scale imaging of protein structures for drug discovery, to the study of chemical, physical, and biological processes and materials for advanced technology and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL130100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,110,000.00
Summary
New views of life: quantum imaging in biology. This project will create and apply new technology, based on the quantum properties of diamond, to attack important problems in biology; from how cells differentiate at the beginning of life, to understanding brain function. The results of this project will directly benefit society through the development of new technology for nano-medicine and drug discovery.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100162
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Ultrafast Science Facility: manipulating and probing matter on fs timescales with microscopic resolution. Ultrafast science facility: manipulating and probing matter on femtosecond timescales with microscopic resolution: Knowledge of dynamics that occur on femtosecond timescales is essential for a detailed understanding of many important processes in physics, chemistry and biology. This facility will enable unprecedented insight into the mechanisms driving such processes through complementary ca ....Ultrafast Science Facility: manipulating and probing matter on fs timescales with microscopic resolution. Ultrafast science facility: manipulating and probing matter on femtosecond timescales with microscopic resolution: Knowledge of dynamics that occur on femtosecond timescales is essential for a detailed understanding of many important processes in physics, chemistry and biology. This facility will enable unprecedented insight into the mechanisms driving such processes through complementary capabilities to manipulate and probe matter on femtosecond time scales at microscopic resolution. Such processes include photosynthetic energy transfer, efficient operation of organic electronics, redox reactions in biological systems and the manipulation of material properties by intense femtosecond-laser pulses. The unique capabilities of this facility will also allow the development of novel device structures and the limits of the characterisation techniques to be pushed.Read moreRead less
Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected ....Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected outcomes will be novel cryoprotectants that are easy to synthesise, non-toxic and effective, opening up new possibilities for the cryopreservation of cells, organs and possibly even whole organisms. This will have broad impact in critical applications such as long-term blood storage, reproductive technology and stem cell therapy, as well as preservation of endangered species.Read moreRead less
Extending X-ray Crystallography to Allow Structure Retrieval from Highly Disordered Crystals and Nanocrystals. X-ray crystallography is one of the most important tools in structural biology, responsible for over 80 per cent of the protein structures solved today. Obtaining X-ray diffraction data however is critically dependent on having large, high quality crystals. Many proteins, particularly membrane proteins, only form nanocrystals or crystals of poor quality which prevents their structure be ....Extending X-ray Crystallography to Allow Structure Retrieval from Highly Disordered Crystals and Nanocrystals. X-ray crystallography is one of the most important tools in structural biology, responsible for over 80 per cent of the protein structures solved today. Obtaining X-ray diffraction data however is critically dependent on having large, high quality crystals. Many proteins, particularly membrane proteins, only form nanocrystals or crystals of poor quality which prevents their structure being solved. This project aims to combine ideas from X-ray coherent diffraction imaging and X-ray crystallography to develop a method that can be used for structure retrieval from nanocrystals or crystals which are highly disordered. A particular emphasis will be placed on solving the structure of membrane proteins which are of special importance in drug development.Read moreRead less
Quantum effects in photosynthesis: responsible for highly efficient energy transfer or trivial coincidence? Understanding the precise details of the highly efficient energy transfer processes in photosynthesis has the potential to impact the design of efficient solar energy solutions. This project will gain this understanding by exploring the nature of interactions between different components and the significance of quantum mechanics.
In vivo molecular imaging using engineered affinity reagents and fluorescent laser scanning confocal endomicroscopy. The goal of this project is to develop laser scanning confocal endomicroscopy as a tool for basic scientific discovery and rapid detection of disease biomarkers. The cutting-edge instrument and associated technologies will provide scientists with unprecedented access to dynamic biological processes as they occur in real-time. In addition, it will enable the development of virtual ....In vivo molecular imaging using engineered affinity reagents and fluorescent laser scanning confocal endomicroscopy. The goal of this project is to develop laser scanning confocal endomicroscopy as a tool for basic scientific discovery and rapid detection of disease biomarkers. The cutting-edge instrument and associated technologies will provide scientists with unprecedented access to dynamic biological processes as they occur in real-time. In addition, it will enable the development of virtual biopsies and instant diagnosis without the need for costly and time-consuming histopathological reports. Thus, it will not only drive transformative research but also transform health care delivery. It will also be a major boost to the Australian biotechnology industry with potential for enormous economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Seeing is believing: Microscopy-capable single-molecule bioelectronics. This project aims to create new biophysical tools for single-molecule sensing by advancing the state-of-the-art in nanoscale bioelectronic devices. The goal is to generate novel bioelectronic devices optimised for fabrication on microscope coverslip (170 micron glass) for compatibility with new low-cost platforms for advanced biological microscopy. Expected outcomes include the first organic electrochemical transistors inter ....Seeing is believing: Microscopy-capable single-molecule bioelectronics. This project aims to create new biophysical tools for single-molecule sensing by advancing the state-of-the-art in nanoscale bioelectronic devices. The goal is to generate novel bioelectronic devices optimised for fabrication on microscope coverslip (170 micron glass) for compatibility with new low-cost platforms for advanced biological microscopy. Expected outcomes include the first organic electrochemical transistors interfaced to constrained area lipid bilayers for studying membrane proteins at single-molecule level and nanoscale transistors for electrostatically detecting motile microtubules in in-vitro molecular motor assays for biocomputation. The intended benefit is innovation in capabilities and manufacturing of bioelectronics.Read moreRead less