Tissue-like, nonlinearly elastic nanobiomaterials for soft tissue regeneration. The purpose of this project is to advance the discipline of soft tissue engineering and regeneration with novel biomaterials, nanotechnology and novel clinical treatment concepts. The key outcomes include new elastic tissue-like nanobiomaterials, new varieties of medical implants and innovative treatment methodology.
Microfluidic technology to help understand physical damage to brain cells. Understanding the organisation, structure and mechanisms of the human brain and nervous system remains one of the biggest challenges of science. This project aims to develop a new cell culture platform to form defined molecular networks of brain cells and to monitor changes throughout the network in response to a small localised injury within the network. This innovative platform will be used to help understand changes wi ....Microfluidic technology to help understand physical damage to brain cells. Understanding the organisation, structure and mechanisms of the human brain and nervous system remains one of the biggest challenges of science. This project aims to develop a new cell culture platform to form defined molecular networks of brain cells and to monitor changes throughout the network in response to a small localised injury within the network. This innovative platform will be used to help understand changes within cells in response to physical damage to networks of brain cells. This is one of the major causes of death and disability in developed nations, and is identified as a risk factor for a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease.Read moreRead less
Platform technology to decode motor control through ultra high-field MRI. This project aims to advance our understanding of the poorly understood neural circuits that enable fine motor control in humans. To obtain this knowledge, new platform technology will be developed to capture the full kinematics of the hand during concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra high-field. This device will allow testing of fundamental theories describing the canonical microcircuits involved in ha ....Platform technology to decode motor control through ultra high-field MRI. This project aims to advance our understanding of the poorly understood neural circuits that enable fine motor control in humans. To obtain this knowledge, new platform technology will be developed to capture the full kinematics of the hand during concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra high-field. This device will allow testing of fundamental theories describing the canonical microcircuits involved in hand motion. Expected outcomes include new evidence of mirror neurons and observation of predictive error signals in the motor cortex. This new knowledge paves the way towards improved computer-brain interface technology which is likely to create benefits through translation to applications such as artificial limb control.Read moreRead less
Patient-specific biomechanical modelling for improved treatment of spinal deformity. Spinal deformities negatively affect social acceptance, physical and mental wellbeing in children and adolescents. The direct costs of spinal deformity surgery are approximately $30 million per year in Australia, yet poor treatment outcomes due to post-operative complications incur a much higher cost as patients with persistent pain and disability face a lifetime of dependency and reduced ability to work. The pa ....Patient-specific biomechanical modelling for improved treatment of spinal deformity. Spinal deformities negatively affect social acceptance, physical and mental wellbeing in children and adolescents. The direct costs of spinal deformity surgery are approximately $30 million per year in Australia, yet poor treatment outcomes due to post-operative complications incur a much higher cost as patients with persistent pain and disability face a lifetime of dependency and reduced ability to work. The patient-specific biomechanical modelling techniques developed in this project will reduce complications and improve correction for Australian children who undergo spinal deformity surgery. Better treatment outcomes will ensure quality of life, health and productivity for spinal deformity patients throughout their entire lives.Read moreRead less
The virtual human knee. This project aims to investigate the Virtual Human Knee (VHK) which provides a baseline knowledge about knee mechanics in healthy individuals and a tool for studying knee mechanics in silico. The new knowledge can be used for identifying individuals most at risk for injury, developing solutions for preventing injury and for assessing knee reconstruction and implantation methods. As such, VHK will mitigate the burden of knee injury to Australia and worldwide by progressing ....The virtual human knee. This project aims to investigate the Virtual Human Knee (VHK) which provides a baseline knowledge about knee mechanics in healthy individuals and a tool for studying knee mechanics in silico. The new knowledge can be used for identifying individuals most at risk for injury, developing solutions for preventing injury and for assessing knee reconstruction and implantation methods. As such, VHK will mitigate the burden of knee injury to Australia and worldwide by progressing disciplines including anatomy, bio-mechanics, sport science, rehabilitation, surgery and medical devices.Read moreRead less
Drug particle characterisation. The understanding of drug particle characterizations is one of the key issues in the development of novel nasal sprayers for targeted drug delivery. A comprehensive study is proposed for characterising drug formation in sprayers and particle deposition in nasal cavity using the latest experimental and numerical techniques. A computer-aided design technology will be developed to optimise drug delivery systems. The new technology has great potentials leading to the ....Drug particle characterisation. The understanding of drug particle characterizations is one of the key issues in the development of novel nasal sprayers for targeted drug delivery. A comprehensive study is proposed for characterising drug formation in sprayers and particle deposition in nasal cavity using the latest experimental and numerical techniques. A computer-aided design technology will be developed to optimise drug delivery systems. The new technology has great potentials leading to therapeutic and economic benefits in developing advanced/innovative drug delivery systems and in evaluating the potential biological effects by the drugs to be introduced through the nose.Read moreRead less
OPTIMIZED NASAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS -- COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN. The aim of this project is to develop a computer-aided design technology to assist in targeted drug delivery through the human nasal cavity which is being recognised to be an excellent alternative route for the administration of medication drugs. The aim will be achieved by conducting computer modelling of nasal flow under realistic physiological conditions and by performing experimental measurements and testing to validate computer ....OPTIMIZED NASAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS -- COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN. The aim of this project is to develop a computer-aided design technology to assist in targeted drug delivery through the human nasal cavity which is being recognised to be an excellent alternative route for the administration of medication drugs. The aim will be achieved by conducting computer modelling of nasal flow under realistic physiological conditions and by performing experimental measurements and testing to validate computer models. The new technology has great potentials leading to therapeutic and economical benefits in developing advanced/innovative drug delivery systems and in evaluating the potential biological effects by the drugs to be introduced through the nose.Read moreRead less
Biomechanics of the human spine measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Statistics show that 80% of the population suffer back pain at some time. However, because the spine is very complex our understanding of its mechanics and the causes of back pain are still limited. This project will investigate the anatomy and activity of the spinal muscles and the behaviour of the intervertebral disc in living subjects using innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques. Significant outcomes will be ....Biomechanics of the human spine measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Statistics show that 80% of the population suffer back pain at some time. However, because the spine is very complex our understanding of its mechanics and the causes of back pain are still limited. This project will investigate the anatomy and activity of the spinal muscles and the behaviour of the intervertebral disc in living subjects using innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques. Significant outcomes will be new definitive descriptions of the detailed anatomy of the spine and its mechanisms. This will enhance the accuracy and detail of models under development for predicting spinal function following disease, injury or surgical procedures.Read moreRead less
Measurement and Prediction of Vulnerable Plaque Formation and Rupture. The major health problem of atherosclerosis, leading to large numbers of deaths from heart attacks and strokes worldwide, will be studied by a multidisciplinary team. Better understanding of how the disease evolves and its earlier detection will arise from this project, which will use synchrotron imaging and supercomputer prediction.
Numerical investigation of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells - application to bone remodeling. The understanding of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells is directly related to mechanical activation of bone remodeling processes, i.e., resorption and formation of bone tissue. Understanding of bone remodeling is essential for the development of new bone implants, the prognosis of osteosporosis, and studies related to changes in microgravity (e.g. space flight) to name a few key applicati ....Numerical investigation of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells - application to bone remodeling. The understanding of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells is directly related to mechanical activation of bone remodeling processes, i.e., resorption and formation of bone tissue. Understanding of bone remodeling is essential for the development of new bone implants, the prognosis of osteosporosis, and studies related to changes in microgravity (e.g. space flight) to name a few key applications. This research proposal closely aligns with one of the major national research priorities, i.e., promoting and maintaining good health (ageing well, ageing productively). The research project is aimed to understand how mechanically induced loading may activate remodeling of bone.
Read moreRead less