From The Synchrotron To The Clinic: Translation Of A Novel Functional Lung Imaging Technology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$891,834.00
Summary
Our team has recently developed a synchrotron technology with a startling capacity for dynamic functional imaging that can act as a sensitive regional indicator of lung disease. We will demonstrate that this technology can be translated from the synchrotron to the lab and eventually the clinic. We will provide proof of this concept by the application of this technology to emphysema, asthma, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis lung disease and neonatal resuscitation.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101514
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
The control of neuroplasticity in the brain. This project aims to determine how neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to remodel and make new circuits – is controlled in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This capacity, vital for all cognitive functions, diminishes as people age. It is imperative to determine neuroplasticity’s mechanisms and how and why they change, but it is not known how both excitatory and inhibitory neurons contribute to neuroplasticity and how these dynamic alterations ....The control of neuroplasticity in the brain. This project aims to determine how neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to remodel and make new circuits – is controlled in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This capacity, vital for all cognitive functions, diminishes as people age. It is imperative to determine neuroplasticity’s mechanisms and how and why they change, but it is not known how both excitatory and inhibitory neurons contribute to neuroplasticity and how these dynamic alterations are controlled. Understanding neuroplasticity is vital for learning, memory and healthy ageing throughout life.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100265
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,000.00
Summary
A closed-loop human–agent learning framework to enhance decision making. This project aims to design a foundational human–agent learning framework to augment the decision making process, using reinforcement and closed-loop mechanisms to enable symbiosis between a human and an artificial-intelligence agent. It envisages significant new technologies to promote controllability and efficient and safe exploration of an environment for decision actions – drastically boosting learning effectiveness and ....A closed-loop human–agent learning framework to enhance decision making. This project aims to design a foundational human–agent learning framework to augment the decision making process, using reinforcement and closed-loop mechanisms to enable symbiosis between a human and an artificial-intelligence agent. It envisages significant new technologies to promote controllability and efficient and safe exploration of an environment for decision actions – drastically boosting learning effectiveness and interpretability in decision making. Expected outcomes will benefit national cybersecurity by improving our understanding of vulnerabilities and threats involving decision actions, and by ensuring that human feedback and evaluations can help prevent catastrophic events in explorations of dynamic and complex environments.Read moreRead less
Integrating teachers’ knowledge and affect to improve mathematics teaching and raise attainment. Mathematics teachers need to know their subject and how to teach it and need passion for the discipline and for inspiring their students to love it. They must believe that their students can learn mathematics and set high academic expectations for all of them. Knowledge and beliefs must be addressed in order to improve teaching, but exactly how can this be done? This project aims to build on existin ....Integrating teachers’ knowledge and affect to improve mathematics teaching and raise attainment. Mathematics teachers need to know their subject and how to teach it and need passion for the discipline and for inspiring their students to love it. They must believe that their students can learn mathematics and set high academic expectations for all of them. Knowledge and beliefs must be addressed in order to improve teaching, but exactly how can this be done? This project aims to build on existing work to develop theoretical insights that will lead to innovative approaches towards teacher change based on the integration of teacher knowledge and affect.Read moreRead less
Inherited determinants of cancer aetiology. Family history of cancer is a strong risk factor for many cancers. This project will aim to identify inherited factors influencing risk of developing cancer and those factors influencing the course of the disease and outcomes.
Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on ....Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on young students' achievement in mathematics and further understanding of the relationship between talk and learning. These outcomes will inform policy and teacher education and have a long lasting impact on low SES students' educational and work opportunities with ultimate impact on economic and cultural prosperity.
Read moreRead less
Ensuring The Utility And Sustainability Of Tissue Banks: Supporting Translational Research In Australia Through Informed Regulation And Community Engagement.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,885.00
Summary
Tissue banks provide a critical resource for translational research into the causes and treatment of many diseases affecting children and adults, such as cancer.Their success and contribution to medical research depends on addressing the many unresolved and emerging challenges that impact their work. This is the first national empirical study engaging the Australian research community, legal experts tissue donors and the public about the challenges to tissue banks to inform ethico legal regulati ....Tissue banks provide a critical resource for translational research into the causes and treatment of many diseases affecting children and adults, such as cancer.Their success and contribution to medical research depends on addressing the many unresolved and emerging challenges that impact their work. This is the first national empirical study engaging the Australian research community, legal experts tissue donors and the public about the challenges to tissue banks to inform ethico legal regulation and deliver better health care systems.Read moreRead less
Shifting the Culture of Out-of-field Professional Education for Teachers. This project aims to model an education system that would diversify the expertise of teachers as part of attending to long-term teacher shortage. It responds to a pressing national need for a system of valued and accessible professional education (PE) for out-of-field teachers. The project draws on perspectives from schools, governments and PE providers to expose current practices, cultural norms, and policies; propose an ....Shifting the Culture of Out-of-field Professional Education for Teachers. This project aims to model an education system that would diversify the expertise of teachers as part of attending to long-term teacher shortage. It responds to a pressing national need for a system of valued and accessible professional education (PE) for out-of-field teachers. The project draws on perspectives from schools, governments and PE providers to expose current practices, cultural norms, and policies; propose an 'ideal' PE ecosystem that values re-specialisation in the core subjects; and develop principles to inform policy and practice needed to attain this ideal. The evidence-based framing of PE will inform efforts by schools, PE providers and policy makers to sustain a highly capable, adaptive and specialised teaching workforce.Read moreRead less
Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth serv ....Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth service providers in each city. The research methods draw upon the instruments presently being developed by the Eurogang Research Network in order to facilitate cross-national comparisons. It will be the first national study of its kind, and will provide new conceptual insights into the character of youth group formation in Australia, baseline youth gang data, and analysis of possible intervention strategies.
Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
An adaptable and dedicated linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Leading radiation scientists developing innovative methods and devices for treating cancer patients will collaborate in future research using this highly adaptable linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Innovations in tumour targeting, better patient safety, new medical devices and improved cancer outcomes are expected.