Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project exp ....Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project expects to bridge this technology gap and provide significant technical and conceptual advances in the field. This will provide important benefits, such as equipping neuroscientists with new tools to answer fundamental questions about how the mammalian brain regulates behavioural adaptation to a changing environment.Read moreRead less
Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome i ....Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome is the next generation technology for sperm sorting and analysis. This should provide significant benefits, such as new biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction, with potential for future improvement of assisted reproduction technologies – a field in which Australia has a world leading history.Read moreRead less
In-vivo functional imaging of cone photoreceptors and ganglion cell axons. Can we project a movie on a human retina, and measure the response of photoreceptor cells and connected nerve tissue? This project aims to investigate a new method for visualization of the quickest responses in human cone photoreceptors and nerve cells after a visible stimulus. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the origins of responses to a stimulus and how cells in the retina communicate ....In-vivo functional imaging of cone photoreceptors and ganglion cell axons. Can we project a movie on a human retina, and measure the response of photoreceptor cells and connected nerve tissue? This project aims to investigate a new method for visualization of the quickest responses in human cone photoreceptors and nerve cells after a visible stimulus. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the origins of responses to a stimulus and how cells in the retina communicate. The scientific results will be helpful in a better understanding of the development of vision in the infant eye, to study peripheral vision in elite athletes and to quantify performance of virtual reality equipment for the military. The IP on the technology can be licensed or used for start-up company.Read moreRead less
A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with ....A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with optrodes, this new approach alleviates many of the wiring, packaging and encapsulation issues associated with existing devices. Computational modelling and in vitro testing in cardiac tissue and retinal neurons will demonstrate the utility of the MOA to sense and control electrical activity.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Properties of Mechanical Metamaterials: Optimization and Experiment. The aim of this project is to develop novel mechanical metamaterials through topology optimization for manipulating the propagation of elastic and acoustic waves. Mechanical metamaterials achieve exotic dynamic properties, which have many applications ranging from noise management and vibration control to defence. The computational tool and optimization algorithms to be developed will seamlessly integrate with additive ....Dynamic Properties of Mechanical Metamaterials: Optimization and Experiment. The aim of this project is to develop novel mechanical metamaterials through topology optimization for manipulating the propagation of elastic and acoustic waves. Mechanical metamaterials achieve exotic dynamic properties, which have many applications ranging from noise management and vibration control to defence. The computational tool and optimization algorithms to be developed will seamlessly integrate with additive manufacturing to enable the end-users to characterize, design and fabricate the next generation of mechanical metamaterials in an effective way. The outcomes of this project offer significant benefits for the long-term and sustainable development of knowledge-based economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on health ....A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on healthy spinal disc cells. We expect our technological framework to become an invaluable tool for biomedical engineers, biologists, and bio-engineers to work together and generate clinically relevant in-vitro data that supports optimisation for spinal implant design, fabrication, and safety. Read moreRead less
Non-invasive and safe human-machine interface (HMI) systems . This project aims to establish novel non-invasive human-machine interface systems based on multi-modal sensing and machine learning to intuitively command and control robotic and autonomous systems safely interacting and cooperating with humans. This will be achieved by harnessing the synergies across design optimisation, multi-modal sensing, additive manufacturing, machine learning, and assistive and cooperative robotic devices. Expe ....Non-invasive and safe human-machine interface (HMI) systems . This project aims to establish novel non-invasive human-machine interface systems based on multi-modal sensing and machine learning to intuitively command and control robotic and autonomous systems safely interacting and cooperating with humans. This will be achieved by harnessing the synergies across design optimisation, multi-modal sensing, additive manufacturing, machine learning, and assistive and cooperative robotic devices. Expected outcomes are a novel human-machine interface methodology, a new multi-purpose wearable data glove, and function and application-specific machine learning methods for cutting-edge applications in assistive robotic devices such as a prosthetic hand, advanced manufacturing, construction and agriculture.Read moreRead less
5D Imaging Flow Cytometry for in vivo Quantification of Biological Fluids. Rapid and accurate quantification of live biological fluid properties at sub-cellular and molecular levels forms the bedrock of biofluidic sciences. Majority of the biofluidic devices rely on quantifying biological fluids after its removal from the body in an in vitro Flow Cytometer (FC). FC faces many caveats i.e. biological degradation and small volume etc. In this project, we shall engineer the first in vivo 5D imaging ....5D Imaging Flow Cytometry for in vivo Quantification of Biological Fluids. Rapid and accurate quantification of live biological fluid properties at sub-cellular and molecular levels forms the bedrock of biofluidic sciences. Majority of the biofluidic devices rely on quantifying biological fluids after its removal from the body in an in vitro Flow Cytometer (FC). FC faces many caveats i.e. biological degradation and small volume etc. In this project, we shall engineer the first in vivo 5D imaging flow cytometer (5D IFC) capable of continuous assessment of potentially entire blood volume in a living mice without removing fluid out of the body. The project represents a major advancement beyond any existing flow cytometer and overcome the engineering limits of state-of-art laser scanning imaging devices.Read moreRead less
New insights into fundamental carrier transport in type-II superlattices. Type-II superlattice (T2SL) based semiconductors have emerged as a rival to well-established HgCdTe-based IR detectors, promising comparable performance at significantly lower cost. T2SLs are complex nanostructures that exhibit multiple-carrier and highly-anisotropic electronic transport properties, which renders them exceedingly challenging to study experimentally. The lack of reliable experimental data has limited optimi ....New insights into fundamental carrier transport in type-II superlattices. Type-II superlattice (T2SL) based semiconductors have emerged as a rival to well-established HgCdTe-based IR detectors, promising comparable performance at significantly lower cost. T2SLs are complex nanostructures that exhibit multiple-carrier and highly-anisotropic electronic transport properties, which renders them exceedingly challenging to study experimentally. The lack of reliable experimental data has limited optimisation and modelling efforts, and thus hampered progress. This project aims to systematically study electronic transport in T2SLs, both experimentally and theoretically, by employing world-leading mobility spectrum techniques developed at UWA and state-of-the art T2SL structures from three world leaders in T2SLs.Read moreRead less
Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics. This project aims to combine cubesat and hybrid cubesat/micro-satellite concepts studied in Australia and Japan, prototyping and space-qualifying the most custom components, enabling a future affordable launch. High angular resolution is critical for studying processes of star formation, black holes, and exoplanets. An array of small satellites can greatly exceed the angular resolution of a single telescope, or the sensitivity of atm ....Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics. This project aims to combine cubesat and hybrid cubesat/micro-satellite concepts studied in Australia and Japan, prototyping and space-qualifying the most custom components, enabling a future affordable launch. High angular resolution is critical for studying processes of star formation, black holes, and exoplanets. An array of small satellites can greatly exceed the angular resolution of a single telescope, or the sensitivity of atmosphere-limited ground-based interferometers. Space qualifying the key inter-spacecraft metrology and fibre injection technologies will not only enable a future Australian satellite astrophysical interferometer, but is also relevant for optical communications links and earth observations. Read moreRead less