Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel ....Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel rapid genotyping methods and developing ultrasensitive real-time DNA detection that will be integrated on a single chip platform to facilitate a small, low cost and reliable test device. The technology will be readily adaptable to areas where prompt access to genomic information is valuable, such as disease diagnosis and risk prediction.Read moreRead less
A novel platform-technology for long-term subcutaneous neurophysiology. This project aims to develop a novel miniature device for subcutaneous and tetherless brain sensing. It addresses the lack of a device solution for brain-sensing that combines ultra-long-term reliable sensing capability and small dimensions for minimally-invasive procedures. We achieve this through our novel electrode architecture that significantly enhances the quality and reliability of recorded brain signals. We introduce ....A novel platform-technology for long-term subcutaneous neurophysiology. This project aims to develop a novel miniature device for subcutaneous and tetherless brain sensing. It addresses the lack of a device solution for brain-sensing that combines ultra-long-term reliable sensing capability and small dimensions for minimally-invasive procedures. We achieve this through our novel electrode architecture that significantly enhances the quality and reliability of recorded brain signals. We introduce a platform technology designed for subscalp anatomy with future use in various brain-machine interfacing applications relying on reliable, long-term and easy-to-implant systems. This project's device manufacturing, training, and intellectual property are expected to strengthen Australia's position in bioelectronics.Read moreRead less
Novel graphene nanostructures: modelling, synthesis, fabrication and characterisation. As a key nanomaterial for future electronics, graphene is rapidly becoming one of the most promising frontier areas of nanotechnology throughout the world. This project aims to develop a new class of graphene nanostructures that hold great potential for large-scale applications in the next generation nanoelectronic devices, sensors, solar cells and light emitting devices. This project will significantly enhan ....Novel graphene nanostructures: modelling, synthesis, fabrication and characterisation. As a key nanomaterial for future electronics, graphene is rapidly becoming one of the most promising frontier areas of nanotechnology throughout the world. This project aims to develop a new class of graphene nanostructures that hold great potential for large-scale applications in the next generation nanoelectronic devices, sensors, solar cells and light emitting devices. This project will significantly enhance the international competitiveness of Australia in the areas of new materials and nanotechnology and will help place Australia at the forefront of nanotechnology. This project will produce high quality PhD students in nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content pos ....Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content possible in diamond glass coatings is unknown, so determining its ultimate performance is difficult. Expected applications include medical diagnostics, non-volatile memories and programmable chips.Read moreRead less
Unified platform for real time QA in radiation therapy in brachytherapy based on high resolution silicon detectors (Magic Plate). This project will design and manufacture new devices for measuring the amount of radiation given to the patient during radiotherapy. This will improve the accuracy and safety of cancer treatment as well as greatly reducing the time needed to perform essential safety checks.
Thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronics. This project aims to provide a viable solution for heat management in microelectronics by using highly efficient Peltier devices made with thin combinatorial films. Heat generated by electric current, which is ubiquitous in microelectronic devices, has become increasingly problematic for high density charge-based logical circuitries. The project will significantly enhance the energy conversion efficiency of Peltier devices by opti ....Thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronics. This project aims to provide a viable solution for heat management in microelectronics by using highly efficient Peltier devices made with thin combinatorial films. Heat generated by electric current, which is ubiquitous in microelectronic devices, has become increasingly problematic for high density charge-based logical circuitries. The project will significantly enhance the energy conversion efficiency of Peltier devices by optimising the interdependent electron and phonon transports, simultaneously, with a new concept of thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronic devices. This is expected to facilitate the development of novel materials in Australia, with access to a large global market.Read moreRead less
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications ....THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications as diverse as lithographic templates for electronic and optical devices, nano-porous membranes and photonic band gap materials. We shall verify our theoretical predictions by carrying out experiments on the various molecular architectures that we have studied theoretically.Read moreRead less
Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus o ....Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus on both theoretical studies and experimental applications of such systems. The outcome of the project will help put Australia in a more advanced position in this niche area of leading age technology.Read moreRead less
Reconfigurable Computing Implementations of Reactive Systems. Reconfigurable computing combines programmable software with programmable hardware and shows real promise as an efficient implementation technology for real-time embedded computing applications. However, its use in real-time systems has been hampered by a lack of rigorous analysis of its benefits, and by a lack of a suitable methodology for the efficient specification, analysis and design of such systems. This project seeks to deve ....Reconfigurable Computing Implementations of Reactive Systems. Reconfigurable computing combines programmable software with programmable hardware and shows real promise as an efficient implementation technology for real-time embedded computing applications. However, its use in real-time systems has been hampered by a lack of rigorous analysis of its benefits, and by a lack of a suitable methodology for the efficient specification, analysis and design of such systems. This project seeks to develop such a methodology, and demonstrate its benefits through several proof-of-concept application implementations.Read moreRead less
Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold ....Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold motion under different conditions and determine the parameters in those models. This project could benefit the huge industries that treat, record, compress, transmit, analyse and synthesise the voice.Read moreRead less