Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provi ....Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provide direct advantages to society, including minimally invasive and fast in-vivo diagnostics, localised delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents with increased bioavailability, patient acceptability and reduced healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Austral ....Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Australian scientists with their first access to x-ray microscopy at its optimum wavelength; and secondly it will provide a superb testbed for x-ray microscopy to be enhanced using unique methods being developed in Australia.Read moreRead less
Near-field Cosmology with Globular Clusters. Globular star clusters are the astronomical equivalent of fossils, and as such they provide unique insight into the early epochs of the Universe. This project will establish a link between two world-leading research groups in this area. This Australian-Canadian collaboration will train the next generation of PhD students, create innovative 3D visualisation applications and produce a book on globular clusters.
The Formation of the Most Massive Galaxies in the Universe. This program aims to solve the mystery of how the most massive
galaxies in the Universe formed. We will employ one of the world's
most powerful telescopes, and the observations will be compared with
cosmological simulations by a supercomputer. A state-of-art technique
will be used to analyse the galaxy dynamics, allowing the distribution
of the mysterious Dark Matter to be probed. The results will be the
deepest and most detailed ....The Formation of the Most Massive Galaxies in the Universe. This program aims to solve the mystery of how the most massive
galaxies in the Universe formed. We will employ one of the world's
most powerful telescopes, and the observations will be compared with
cosmological simulations by a supercomputer. A state-of-art technique
will be used to analyse the galaxy dynamics, allowing the distribution
of the mysterious Dark Matter to be probed. The results will be the
deepest and most detailed studies of this kind to date, with
wide-ranging implications for our current paradigm of galaxy formation
and evolution.
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The First Galaxies and the End of the Dark Ages of the Universe. There is one large gap in our understanding of the early evolution of the universe, namely, when did the first sources of light appear? Resolution of this puzzle requires new theoretical and observational strategies. Several international initiatives are now beginning to tackle the problem, including a major new radio telescope in Western Australia. This Linkage award will facilitate the continuation of a very successful internatio ....The First Galaxies and the End of the Dark Ages of the Universe. There is one large gap in our understanding of the early evolution of the universe, namely, when did the first sources of light appear? Resolution of this puzzle requires new theoretical and observational strategies. Several international initiatives are now beginning to tackle the problem, including a major new radio telescope in Western Australia. This Linkage award will facilitate the continuation of a very successful international collaboration, and will provide a significant Australian contribution at the forefront of modern cosmology.Read moreRead less
A New Approach to Age-Dating Galaxies Throughout the Universe. While galaxies throughout the Universe are dominated by dark matter, the determination of their ages is necessarily dependent upon what astronomers can actually see - the underlying stellar population. Disentangling the competing (and confusing) effects of age and metallicity from the integrated spectroscopy of distant galaxies is a powerful tool in cosmology, and one which we are uniquely poised to exploit. An outcome of this Fell ....A New Approach to Age-Dating Galaxies Throughout the Universe. While galaxies throughout the Universe are dominated by dark matter, the determination of their ages is necessarily dependent upon what astronomers can actually see - the underlying stellar population. Disentangling the competing (and confusing) effects of age and metallicity from the integrated spectroscopy of distant galaxies is a powerful tool in cosmology, and one which we are uniquely poised to exploit. An outcome of this Fellowship will be the release of the most sophisticated spectral synthesis models of galaxies, including physics and stellar input not available elsewhere. These models will be calibrated as part of our Australian-led observational cluster age-dating program.Read moreRead less
Deconstructing galaxy evolution. Using a new technique we will deconstruct the evolutionary
history of individual galaxies. In particular we will measure
relative ages and chemical properties for a large number of
galaxies over the full range of galactic environments.
This will allow us to enhance the data from two Australian-led galaxy surveys and test competing galaxy formation models.
Globular Clusters: Shedding Light on Dark Halos. Our overall aim is to use globular clusters as a probe of galaxy formation and their dark matter halos. We will apply new techniques to probe galaxy halos in their outer parts. Outcomes include an observational database for the community, new simulations and a better understanding of the role of dark matter in galaxy formation and evolution.
Studying cell mechanics with a biophotonics-based tool. This study will help to promote and maintain good health. There is a connection between diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis and cell mechanics. Our study will provide insight into cell mechanics, thereby helping to understand the pathophysiology of these diseases. The study is relevant to tissue engineering. There is ongoing research on mechanical conditioning of tissue substitutes. Understanding cell mechanics will help to optimise ....Studying cell mechanics with a biophotonics-based tool. This study will help to promote and maintain good health. There is a connection between diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis and cell mechanics. Our study will provide insight into cell mechanics, thereby helping to understand the pathophysiology of these diseases. The study is relevant to tissue engineering. There is ongoing research on mechanical conditioning of tissue substitutes. Understanding cell mechanics will help to optimise conditioning protocols, thereby improving the properties of engineered tissue.
During this study we will develop optical tools that have applications in the life sciences, in the development of advanced materials and in nanotechnology. Our project will promote Australian research in these fields.Read moreRead less
Exact dynamics of the asymmetric exclusion process with boundaries. This project offers an opportunity for a postgraduate student to participate in world-class research. It further strengthens collaborative ties with the renowned department of theoretical physics at Oxford University. The outcomes of this project are expected to provide valuable fundamental information for any applied science in which transport plays a crucial role.