Bioelectronic logic. This project aims to understand ion-electron interactions relevant to bioelectronics, and create transducing interfaces. Bioelectronics is a frontier field which aims to connect biological systems with modern electronics and so create biomedical devices. Transducing ion and electron signals using a biocompatible functional interface is difficult since ion and electron physics are different. By combining individual transducers, this project intends to demonstrate ground-break ....Bioelectronic logic. This project aims to understand ion-electron interactions relevant to bioelectronics, and create transducing interfaces. Bioelectronics is a frontier field which aims to connect biological systems with modern electronics and so create biomedical devices. Transducing ion and electron signals using a biocompatible functional interface is difficult since ion and electron physics are different. By combining individual transducers, this project intends to demonstrate ground-breaking bioelectronic logic capable of interface-level processing. The stretch goal is to test this new logic with a biological neuronal model. The project could deliver new science and interfacing elements to integrate tissue and circuitry, and demonstrate these in a real biological model.Read moreRead less
Non-invasive diagnosis using micropatches that sample biomarkers from skin. We are developing a technology called the micropatch that is laid onto the surface of the skin. When the patch is pulled away, it retains proteins found in the subsurface skin layers. We believe that by analysing these proteins we will be able to diagnose diseases like cancer earlier and therefore have a better chance of treating them successfully. The process is painless, and doctors already use it to give drugs and vac ....Non-invasive diagnosis using micropatches that sample biomarkers from skin. We are developing a technology called the micropatch that is laid onto the surface of the skin. When the patch is pulled away, it retains proteins found in the subsurface skin layers. We believe that by analysing these proteins we will be able to diagnose diseases like cancer earlier and therefore have a better chance of treating them successfully. The process is painless, and doctors already use it to give drugs and vaccines. In the future we hope that our technology will be simple enough for routine diagnosis, even in the Outback where doctors are hundreds of kilometres awayRead moreRead less
Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's intern ....Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's international standing in the field of advanced medical imaging and have the potential to be commercialised within the Australian biotechnology sector. During the project, research students will receive high quality multidisciplinary training ensuring the supply of personnel with high-level technical expertise into the future.Read moreRead less
Positron Nano-Dosimetry: Fundamental Measurements of Positron Interactions and their use in State-of-the-Art Modelling of Positron Transport. This proposal will provide unique experimental and theoretical information on how positrons, the electron antiparticles, interact with matter, in particular with biologically important molecules. This data will be used in a unique set of modelling approaches which will provide, for the first time, an insight into how positrons are transported through gases ....Positron Nano-Dosimetry: Fundamental Measurements of Positron Interactions and their use in State-of-the-Art Modelling of Positron Transport. This proposal will provide unique experimental and theoretical information on how positrons, the electron antiparticles, interact with matter, in particular with biologically important molecules. This data will be used in a unique set of modelling approaches which will provide, for the first time, an insight into how positrons are transported through gases, liquids and ultimately, soft matter. It will thus have important ramifications for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography. The fundamental research will also shed light on one of the key 'mysteries' of life - why the biological building blocks of life possess a definite " handedness", or chirality.Read moreRead less
Synchrotron developments of new techniques in X-ray interactions with matter, resolving major discrepancies in Quantum Physics and Chemistry. Synchrotron science is a priority area for Australia, the USA, and most first world countries. Development of new ideas and tools for X-ray investigations is the key to future opportunities and is the subject of this proposal. We will develop new techniques for crystallographic electron-density studies, X-ray Anomalous Fine Structure (XAFS) and Multiple-wa ....Synchrotron developments of new techniques in X-ray interactions with matter, resolving major discrepancies in Quantum Physics and Chemistry. Synchrotron science is a priority area for Australia, the USA, and most first world countries. Development of new ideas and tools for X-ray investigations is the key to future opportunities and is the subject of this proposal. We will develop new techniques for crystallographic electron-density studies, X-ray Anomalous Fine Structure (XAFS) and Multiple-wavelength Anomalous Dispersion (MAD), and provide useful advances for X-ray lithography and radiography. Simultaneous investigation of form factors, absorption coefficients, anomalous dispersion and X-ray scattering will provide new experimental tests of relativistic atomic wavefunction calculations, molecular bonding and solid state coupled cluster theory. Major discrepancies will be resolved.Read moreRead less
Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinicia ....Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinician to reduce fetal deaths and enhance the chances of good outcomes with resultant savings in social and financial costs to the community. The development of such equipment would spawn future research into intervention treatments and contribute to Australia's position as a world leader in computerised health monitoring systems.Read moreRead less
In-line SPE-CE for the direct determination of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids based on porous polymer monoliths. A new approach is proposed for the development of novel micro- and nano-scale solid-phase adsorbent materials. These materials are based on porous polymer monoliths formed in situ within a capillary acting as a mould. The allows the material to be readily placed in a defined position, in a process similar to photo-patterning, and alleviates many of the problems usually as ....In-line SPE-CE for the direct determination of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids based on porous polymer monoliths. A new approach is proposed for the development of novel micro- and nano-scale solid-phase adsorbent materials. These materials are based on porous polymer monoliths formed in situ within a capillary acting as a mould. The allows the material to be readily placed in a defined position, in a process similar to photo-patterning, and alleviates many of the problems usually associated with fabrication and miniaturisation. A simple photo-grafting process, initiated by UV light can be used for the selective chemical modification of these materials. These tailored monoliths can then be used for the in-line coupling of biological sample handling and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of drugs and related metabolites in biological fluids, thus avoiding time-consuming and costly off-line sample pre-treatment. This will lead to the development of new methods for the rapid determination of drugs, metabolites and other small molecules in clinical samples.Read moreRead less
Multi-Channel Time-Frequency Analysis for EEG Neonatal Seizure Characterization. This project researches new signal processing methodologies for a multi-channel characterization of seizures for use in diagnosing newborn brain dysfunctions. The outcomes will result in important immediate clinical benefits for sick newborn babies and will fundamentally facilitate research progress in the development of neuroprotectants and anticonvulsants. The success of this project will contribute in minimizing ....Multi-Channel Time-Frequency Analysis for EEG Neonatal Seizure Characterization. This project researches new signal processing methodologies for a multi-channel characterization of seizures for use in diagnosing newborn brain dysfunctions. The outcomes will result in important immediate clinical benefits for sick newborn babies and will fundamentally facilitate research progress in the development of neuroprotectants and anticonvulsants. The success of this project will contribute in minimizing the social financial costs by diagnosing brain disorders in the initial stage of life and preventing further damage. This has the potential to result in a standard diagnostic equipment in neonatal intensive care units and medical research centres.Read moreRead less
Control of Protein Attachment and its Optical Detection. Protein array technologies have applications in the rapid diagnosis of disease. Biosensors can detect traces of biohazards. Before widespread implementation of these technologies can occur however, a rapid, sensitive and convenient readout method for the control and readout of attachment of proteins to antibodies is needed. I will use electric fields, combined with array imaging at surface plasmon resonance to achieve this aim. This protei ....Control of Protein Attachment and its Optical Detection. Protein array technologies have applications in the rapid diagnosis of disease. Biosensors can detect traces of biohazards. Before widespread implementation of these technologies can occur however, a rapid, sensitive and convenient readout method for the control and readout of attachment of proteins to antibodies is needed. I will use electric fields, combined with array imaging at surface plasmon resonance to achieve this aim. This protein diagnostic array technology will enable accurate and rapid diagnosis of disease, generating savings on health costs and improving public health. Manufacture in Australia will bring further economic benefits.Read moreRead less
High-throughput microfluidic approach to mapping hierarchies of interactions in the gene regulation machinery. The exploration of protein-protein interactions networks is becoming an extremely active area of research in life sciences. The current project will develop new approaches to accelerate the discovery of novel interacting proteins participating in gene regulation, in order to understand how cells differentiate into different tissues and organs.