Novel Methods For Promoting Organ Development And Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,203.00
Summary
A revolutionary new therapy for treatment of growth restricted fetuses and premature babies is being developed through the administration of Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF-1). We have evidence that CSF-1 therapy can promote kidneys and lungs to continue development and maturation after birth. This exciting new finding allows for the application of CSF-1 therapy for both the treatment of premature babies and unborn babies with kidney defects.
Impaired Bone Remodelling Leads To Failure Of Orthopaedic Prostheses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,917.00
Summary
The failure of bone prostheses is becoming a major health problem. More than 26,000 hip, and an equal number of knee, replacements were performed in Australia in 2002 with the number increasing between 5%-10% each year for the previous 10 years. Disturbingly, the incidence of revision hip surgery in Australia is now more than 15%, meaning that, despite the impressive success of joint replacement surgery, a significant number of arthroplasties fail. It is becoming more common for young, active in ....The failure of bone prostheses is becoming a major health problem. More than 26,000 hip, and an equal number of knee, replacements were performed in Australia in 2002 with the number increasing between 5%-10% each year for the previous 10 years. Disturbingly, the incidence of revision hip surgery in Australia is now more than 15%, meaning that, despite the impressive success of joint replacement surgery, a significant number of arthroplasties fail. It is becoming more common for young, active individuals to receive joint replacement surgery to improve their quality of life. This, combined with increasing life expectancy, and the known higher rate of failure of joint replacements in younger patients, means that the morbidity of a failed replacement, and the mobidity and associated mortality of revision surgery, will become an increasingly important health issue, with a major impact upon health budgets. The overwhelming majority of hip and knee prostheses have metal or ceramic on polyethylene bearing surfaces. It is now apparent that most implants fail due to bone loss around them leading to loosening, and evidence is accumulating that polyethylene wear particles are a major contributing factor to this process. It is therefore vital that we obtain better understanding of the causes of implant failure in order to extend the life of these implants and this project is designed to do so.Read moreRead less
Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e ....Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e-skin) sensors, which are wearable for monitoring blood pulses, body motions and hand gestures in real-time and in situ. This is expected to advance our knowledge in nanotechnology and generate patentable technologies in soft e-skin sensors, and to bring significant scientific and economic gains to Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of functional dendrimer-like inorganic nanomaterials with hierarchical pores for biological applications. This project aims to engineer a series of brand new dendrimer-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with hierarchical pore structure and favourable surface functionality as nanocarriers to construct a smart delivery system. Unique materials structure and surface functionalisation design can endow the system with advanced characteristics of the co-loading of different therapeutic a ....Development of functional dendrimer-like inorganic nanomaterials with hierarchical pores for biological applications. This project aims to engineer a series of brand new dendrimer-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with hierarchical pore structure and favourable surface functionality as nanocarriers to construct a smart delivery system. Unique materials structure and surface functionalisation design can endow the system with advanced characteristics of the co-loading of different therapeutic agents and the highly efficient target delivery that are not readily obtainable using other organic or inorganic materials. The proposed delivery systems are of great importance for improving the therapeutic efficiency of complex diseases, and in general, for expanding human’s life span.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100021
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Orchestrating cellular processes by engineering silicon nanowire architectures. This project aims to improve gene transport by creating low-cost, easily implemented, programmable and controllable silicon nanowire-mediated transfection technology, and to demonstrate high-throughput, parallel trafficking of bioactive payloads. Success would enable the design and fabrication of nano–bio interfaces with closely controlled geometry and architecture, to orchestrate specific cellular processes such as ....Orchestrating cellular processes by engineering silicon nanowire architectures. This project aims to improve gene transport by creating low-cost, easily implemented, programmable and controllable silicon nanowire-mediated transfection technology, and to demonstrate high-throughput, parallel trafficking of bioactive payloads. Success would enable the design and fabrication of nano–bio interfaces with closely controlled geometry and architecture, to orchestrate specific cellular processes such as cellular reprogramming, adhesion, morphology, and differentiation with unprecedented efficiency and predictability. The advance could lead to breakthroughs in fundamental cellular studies, and better understanding of cell behaviour, function and fate.Read moreRead less
Self-assembling nanoporous graphene with dialable pore sizes for green energy production. The biggest barrier to the Sun being our main energy source is it is not always available. This can be overcome by having an economical means of storing solar energy as it is produced. This project will demonstrate such a technology by using nanoporous graphene to support artificial photosynthesis to produce fuel from water and carbon dioxide using sunlight.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775534
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality ....A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality through minimising the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses, and a reduced dependence on inputs (eg fertilisers) leading to environmentally sustainable production systems. Ultimately this will result in enhanced food quality and analytical methods to monitor quality and safety characteristics of food.Read moreRead less
On-Chip Detection and Molecular Fingerprinting of Emerging Toxicants. The project aims to address key questions about the development and integration of advanced materials and functional molecules into cutting-edge analytical tools for screening emerging environmental pollutants. This is expected to generate fundamental and applied knowledge in analytical chemistry, using an interdisciplinary approach to engineer materials with precisely tailored properties for ultra-sensitive and selective dete ....On-Chip Detection and Molecular Fingerprinting of Emerging Toxicants. The project aims to address key questions about the development and integration of advanced materials and functional molecules into cutting-edge analytical tools for screening emerging environmental pollutants. This is expected to generate fundamental and applied knowledge in analytical chemistry, using an interdisciplinary approach to engineer materials with precisely tailored properties for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of extremely persistent toxicants in water. Anticipated outcomes are optical materials and functional molecules, integrated into lab-on-a-chip platforms with advanced features for real-life environmental applications – with significant benefits for addressing major environmental and health treats to our society.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired photo–iontronic membranes for smart neuron-mimicking systems. The project aims to address key fundamental questions about the development of bioinspired artificial nanochannels that can precisely mimic current signals and functionalities in neurons. This is expected to generate fundamental and applied knowledge in bioengineered photo–iontronic systems, harnessing a multidisciplinary approach to engineer materials with precisely tailored properties at the nanoscale for unprecedented d ....Bioinspired photo–iontronic membranes for smart neuron-mimicking systems. The project aims to address key fundamental questions about the development of bioinspired artificial nanochannels that can precisely mimic current signals and functionalities in neurons. This is expected to generate fundamental and applied knowledge in bioengineered photo–iontronic systems, harnessing a multidisciplinary approach to engineer materials with precisely tailored properties at the nanoscale for unprecedented dynamic control over ionic current through responsive, adaptable neuron-mimicking nanopores. Anticipated outcomes are advanced materials, integrated into smart architectures to overcome the limitations of solid-state systems for the next generation of integrated circuits, bio-interfacial sensors, and energy generators.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354852
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Sustainable Regions for a Competitive Australia. How can metropolitan, rural and remote regions balance economic and job growth, with environmental and social sustainability? This Initiative establishes a Network of researchers to work collaboratively on questions of environmental best practice, community development, regional governance, labour markets, economic development and technology transfer. The Network's vision is to find ways to use existing and future research to help make Australia ....Sustainable Regions for a Competitive Australia. How can metropolitan, rural and remote regions balance economic and job growth, with environmental and social sustainability? This Initiative establishes a Network of researchers to work collaboratively on questions of environmental best practice, community development, regional governance, labour markets, economic development and technology transfer. The Network's vision is to find ways to use existing and future research to help make Australia's regions more competitive on world markets and more environmentally sustainable, and to help build stronger regional communities. The Network cuts across traditional discipline boundaries to find integrated solutions to the real problems confronting Australian regions.Read moreRead less