Ecology, morphology and the diversification of Australian lizards. This project aims to determine the factors driving the spectacular radiation of lizards in Australia. To date, most investigations of lizard anatomy have focused exclusively on external characteristics. This project will examine the underlying internal anatomy to investigate whether morphological innovation is associated with enhanced rates of ecological, life-history and species diversification. The project expects to shed light ....Ecology, morphology and the diversification of Australian lizards. This project aims to determine the factors driving the spectacular radiation of lizards in Australia. To date, most investigations of lizard anatomy have focused exclusively on external characteristics. This project will examine the underlying internal anatomy to investigate whether morphological innovation is associated with enhanced rates of ecological, life-history and species diversification. The project expects to shed light on the evolution of Australia’s most diverse vertebrate lineage, and provide comparative data with which to interpret the lizard fossil record in Australia, and the range declines and relative extinction risks of native lizard species.Read moreRead less
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.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,000.00
Summary
Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility will provide a comprehensive range of new spectroscopic techniques that cover all energies (from the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the spectrum) and timescales relevant to the absorption, emission and transformation of light in advanced photo-active materials. Expected outcomes and benefits are more efficient light harvesting, lighting and optical sensing processes; control over light-induced activity in new m ....Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility will provide a comprehensive range of new spectroscopic techniques that cover all energies (from the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the spectrum) and timescales relevant to the absorption, emission and transformation of light in advanced photo-active materials. Expected outcomes and benefits are more efficient light harvesting, lighting and optical sensing processes; control over light-induced activity in new materials, and enhanced chemical reactivity. This will provide a platform to enhance capacity in materials characterisation, and will increase institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations involving Universities, defence organisations and industry.Read moreRead less
Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial ana ....Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial analysis and modelling methods. Expected outcomes are a mechanistic understanding of tree-mediated methane fluxes, helping to constrain regional, national and global methane budgets. The results of this study will help inform publicly funded greenhouse gas abatement strategies, ensuring a maximal return on investment.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453743
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$237,654.00
Summary
Advanced Materials Laser Characterisation Facility. A networked laser facility spanning the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Adelaide, and Flinders University, will be created by integrating new laser instrumentation with existing specialised infrastructure. The facility will provide chemists at the four institutions with the necessary equipment to collaboratively investigate and optimise the properties of a diverse array of advanced materials, including nanoparticle ....Advanced Materials Laser Characterisation Facility. A networked laser facility spanning the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Adelaide, and Flinders University, will be created by integrating new laser instrumentation with existing specialised infrastructure. The facility will provide chemists at the four institutions with the necessary equipment to collaboratively investigate and optimise the properties of a diverse array of advanced materials, including nanoparticles, polymers, biomaterials, and artificial photosynthetic systems. The outcome will be a world-class research network, outfitted with a suite of sophisticated techniques that are not currently available at any single university, or through any other Australian institution or consortium.Read moreRead less
A new angle on the coalescence of drops. Many processes depend on what happens when drops and/or bubbles collide with each other, or with the surfaces of other materials. Examples include inkjet printing, agricultural spraying, spray coating of paints, pharmaceutical formulation, stability of cosmetics and foodstuffs, formation of froths and foams, and flow of bubbly liquids. To control these processes, we need to understand how and why drops sometimes do and sometimes do not coalesce with each ....A new angle on the coalescence of drops. Many processes depend on what happens when drops and/or bubbles collide with each other, or with the surfaces of other materials. Examples include inkjet printing, agricultural spraying, spray coating of paints, pharmaceutical formulation, stability of cosmetics and foodstuffs, formation of froths and foams, and flow of bubbly liquids. To control these processes, we need to understand how and why drops sometimes do and sometimes do not coalesce with each other or adhere to surfaces. The knowledge gained in this project will enable improvements to be made in the efficiency of processes such as those listed above.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346515
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in ....Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in mixtures. The current proposal is aimed at introducing new technology into the Australian National Beamline Facility that will greatly improve the quality and quantity of experiments that can be performed and extend studies into dilute solutions and protein samples.Read moreRead less