Development of an implantable device to monitor lactate levels in blood: Monitoring the Performance of Australian athletes using Biosensor Technology. Sport is a critical area for social and economic investments. Novel medical monitoring systems using implantable biosensors will ensure optimal training programs for Australian athletes and maintain international competitiveness. Here we are developing a biosensor for real-time monitoring of lactate levels in athletes using frontier porous semicon ....Development of an implantable device to monitor lactate levels in blood: Monitoring the Performance of Australian athletes using Biosensor Technology. Sport is a critical area for social and economic investments. Novel medical monitoring systems using implantable biosensors will ensure optimal training programs for Australian athletes and maintain international competitiveness. Here we are developing a biosensor for real-time monitoring of lactate levels in athletes using frontier porous semiconductor technology and smart telemetry protocols to transfer the readings to a remote base unit. These highly innovative devices and the materials that they are made from have enormous commercial potential in biomedical engineering. There is a strong potential for Australia to have an important stake in this area by combining expertise in engineering, chemistry and nanostructured materials.Read moreRead less
A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of ....A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of interest to capture the miRNA. Application of a magnetic field allows the levels of miRNA to be detected electrochemically. The expected outcome is a commercialisable biosensor for miRNA both as a diagnostic early detection device and a prognostic device for a range of miRNA biomarkers.Read moreRead less
Novel biodiagnostic platforms for human metabolites. The innovative biosensor technologies developed in this project will be utilised at first by Australian athletes, enabling them to better monitor physiological conditions during training and thereby help maintain international competitiveness. Real-time sensing of lactate and other metabolites in athletes using advanced biomaterials coupled to frontier telemetry protocols for remote sensing will be extendable to bio-diagnostic needs in human h ....Novel biodiagnostic platforms for human metabolites. The innovative biosensor technologies developed in this project will be utilised at first by Australian athletes, enabling them to better monitor physiological conditions during training and thereby help maintain international competitiveness. Real-time sensing of lactate and other metabolites in athletes using advanced biomaterials coupled to frontier telemetry protocols for remote sensing will be extendable to bio-diagnostic needs in human health care and have significant social and economic benefits. Australia's international position in the application of interfacial science and nanomaterials for outcomes in biomedical engineering will be strengthened. Read moreRead less
A comparative study of the distribution and spread of potential molecular markers for Mundulla Yellows disease. Mundulla Yellows (MY), a newly recognised widespread lethal disease of Eucalyptus spp.in Australia, is a serious threat to national biodiversity and conservation. It is contagious, apparently biotic, but the causal agent is unknown. Identification of the cause is essential to establish sustainable control measures. We have detected a range of MY-associated RNAs constituting a disease ' ....A comparative study of the distribution and spread of potential molecular markers for Mundulla Yellows disease. Mundulla Yellows (MY), a newly recognised widespread lethal disease of Eucalyptus spp.in Australia, is a serious threat to national biodiversity and conservation. It is contagious, apparently biotic, but the causal agent is unknown. Identification of the cause is essential to establish sustainable control measures. We have detected a range of MY-associated RNAs constituting a disease 'fingerprint'. To identify individual RNAs uniquely associated with MY we aim to compare MY-RNA fingerprints from a range of affected species from different sites and with varying symptoms. Candidate RNAs will be cloned both for establishing molecular diagnostics for MY and identifying the cause.Read moreRead less
Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe cohere ....Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe coherent lidar (light detection and ranging) systems that can measure wind velocities at ranges of up to 10 km with an accuracy of about 1 m/s, and can be deployed to field sites as required. The technology will be of major interest to the commercial sector.Read moreRead less
Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can de ....Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can develop from rolling oil films and adversely affect subsequent steel surface wetting by the molten zinc alloy. This collaborative research project will investigate the fundamental nature of nanolayer residue formation, using advanced thermal and surface analysis techniques, with the aim of determining the factors influencing residue formation and reducing their impact.Read moreRead less
A Roadmap for Greening Existing Australian Housing. The project will minimise the impact of the Greenhouse Pollution Reduction Scheme and anticipated rises in water costs on the householders. It will assist the consumers and the building industry in evaluating the environmental and economic costs and benefits of specific retrofitting actions for building envelope and major fixed appliances (thermal insulation, glazing, air infiltration, hot water, heating/cooling, lighting, low water flow and wa ....A Roadmap for Greening Existing Australian Housing. The project will minimise the impact of the Greenhouse Pollution Reduction Scheme and anticipated rises in water costs on the householders. It will assist the consumers and the building industry in evaluating the environmental and economic costs and benefits of specific retrofitting actions for building envelope and major fixed appliances (thermal insulation, glazing, air infiltration, hot water, heating/cooling, lighting, low water flow and water reuse appliances, and solar photovoltaic systems). In addition to assisting a burgeoning renovation industry, the project will enable accurate assessment of the impacts of the Green Loans Program and guide future national and local energy and water reduction policies. Read moreRead less
Accurate Performance Modelling and Prediction of Cluster Computers. The tools, methodologies and data produced by this project will assist
Australian academic and industrial organisations in choosing the most
cost-effective cluster configurations for their specific high
performance computing requirements. It will also help an Australian
company to compete with increasing strength against the major
multinationals. The project will also draw together and promote future
research links between ....Accurate Performance Modelling and Prediction of Cluster Computers. The tools, methodologies and data produced by this project will assist
Australian academic and industrial organisations in choosing the most
cost-effective cluster configurations for their specific high
performance computing requirements. It will also help an Australian
company to compete with increasing strength against the major
multinationals. The project will also draw together and promote future
research links between two major academic institutions in this field.
Finally, the project will provide high-level training in research,
with industrial grounding, in the high performance computing industry.
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New uses for milk-derived products for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-intestinal site-specific delivery of active agents. Helicobacter pylori is the most significant bacterial pathogen in the world, infecting 50% globally. Current treatments are inducing rapid antibiotic resistance and are thus becoming increasingly less effective. The infection is acquired in childhood and new methods to prevent and/or treat the infection, minimising acquisition of antibiotic resistance ....New uses for milk-derived products for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-intestinal site-specific delivery of active agents. Helicobacter pylori is the most significant bacterial pathogen in the world, infecting 50% globally. Current treatments are inducing rapid antibiotic resistance and are thus becoming increasingly less effective. The infection is acquired in childhood and new methods to prevent and/or treat the infection, minimising acquisition of antibiotic resistance are urgently required. This project seeks to develop new ways of doing this that combine novel antibacterials with techniques to deliver them (and monitor this delivery) as well as modify the complex protective habitat in the stomach.Read moreRead less
Improved methods for quantitation of acute phase proteins in biological samples. Using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence polarisation, we aim to develop improved quantitative analytical methods that are superior to the current clinical assays. The initial targets will be C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid precursor protein (SAP), but the technology should be readily adaptable to other serum proteins. Better assays for CRP and SAP will greatly facilitate improved clinical management ....Improved methods for quantitation of acute phase proteins in biological samples. Using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence polarisation, we aim to develop improved quantitative analytical methods that are superior to the current clinical assays. The initial targets will be C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid precursor protein (SAP), but the technology should be readily adaptable to other serum proteins. Better assays for CRP and SAP will greatly facilitate improved clinical management of those at risk of heart attack, the single biggest contributor to healthcare costs in Australia. We further aim to adapt this technology to enable "point-of-care" assays that would help medical practitioners, especially in rural areas, to make informed diagnoses immediately.Read moreRead less