Gene therapy to enhance auditory prosthesis performance for cochlear implants. The cochlear implant is the most effective neural prosthesis, restoring hearing to the deaf. The research aims to develop a new type of implant compatible with delivery of therapeutic genes to the cells lining the cochlea. Gene therapy DNA constructs will be developed that will enhance neural survival and growth, improving cochlear implant performance. The research will provide advances in understanding how to tran ....Gene therapy to enhance auditory prosthesis performance for cochlear implants. The cochlear implant is the most effective neural prosthesis, restoring hearing to the deaf. The research aims to develop a new type of implant compatible with delivery of therapeutic genes to the cells lining the cochlea. Gene therapy DNA constructs will be developed that will enhance neural survival and growth, improving cochlear implant performance. The research will provide advances in understanding how to transfer genes into cochlear tissue, as well as development of gene cassettes for effective neural repair. The work will advance the field of bionics, an area where Australia is establishing international preeminence.Read moreRead less
Building a Smart Diagnostic System for Low Back Ailments. This research will develop an early back ailment diagnostic system that will reduce the recurrence of low back pain, and hence reduce the cost to the health system. This is significant to the community from prevention of pain, to the health care system that spends billions of dollars combating this modern day ailment and towards the industry where the low back pain is the single largest reason for sick leave in Australia. It will also giv ....Building a Smart Diagnostic System for Low Back Ailments. This research will develop an early back ailment diagnostic system that will reduce the recurrence of low back pain, and hence reduce the cost to the health system. This is significant to the community from prevention of pain, to the health care system that spends billions of dollars combating this modern day ailment and towards the industry where the low back pain is the single largest reason for sick leave in Australia. It will also give rise to employment of skilled technical people and an opportunity to increase high-value exports from Australia.Read moreRead less
Developing tests for the early detection of eye disease. Australians have a tradition of innovative design in perimetry. A good example being the Frequency Doubling Technology produced from work performed at the Australian National University. This technology, however, is manufactured by an overseas company (Welch Allyn, NY, USA). The Medmont company is a local perimeter manufacturer and we hope to improve their product with innovative design to yield a distinct marketing advantage. We will cons ....Developing tests for the early detection of eye disease. Australians have a tradition of innovative design in perimetry. A good example being the Frequency Doubling Technology produced from work performed at the Australian National University. This technology, however, is manufactured by an overseas company (Welch Allyn, NY, USA). The Medmont company is a local perimeter manufacturer and we hope to improve their product with innovative design to yield a distinct marketing advantage. We will consider the fundamental issues underlying cone-interactions and methods that stress retinal function. We believe that this approach will have advantages over conventional techniques and prove more sensitive for the early detection of eye disease. However, this is a high risk venture requiring substantial developmental cost and technical commitment by the company. Successful innovation will enhance the company's international penetration, continue the trend for Australians to be seen as leaders in this field and have impact on eye care.Read moreRead less
Auditory and Vestibular Ringing--Detection and theraputic interventions. Tinnitus effects up to 30% of the elderly population. To date no single suppression modality has been successful across all tinnitus sufferers. This study will apply an aural, low level, modulated, fractal suppression strategy designed to induce a "natural" olivary efferent response capable of suppressing/reducing tinnitus.
Balance disorders e.g. Meniere's Disease and nausea (seasickness) are unwanted outcomes of vestibu ....Auditory and Vestibular Ringing--Detection and theraputic interventions. Tinnitus effects up to 30% of the elderly population. To date no single suppression modality has been successful across all tinnitus sufferers. This study will apply an aural, low level, modulated, fractal suppression strategy designed to induce a "natural" olivary efferent response capable of suppressing/reducing tinnitus.
Balance disorders e.g. Meniere's Disease and nausea (seasickness) are unwanted outcomes of vestibular dysfunction/hypersensitivity. This study will apply a low level, low frequency, modulated, acoustic pressure wave designed to induce a ?natural? olivary efferent response and an end organ endolymph/perilymph balance shift. It is postulated these stimuli will reduce the effects of vestibular dysfunction/hypersensitivity.
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Tooth-mic Devices for Monitoring the Efficacy of Home-based Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Technology. Over 800,000 Australians suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA patients use twice the health resources compared to healthy people. They are 7 times more likely to cause traffic accidents; in NSW up to 43000 accidents/year are due to OSA. OSA is treatable & consequences such as strokes, diabetes & heart attacks are preventable. The standard OSA treatment is home-based Contin ....Tooth-mic Devices for Monitoring the Efficacy of Home-based Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Technology. Over 800,000 Australians suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA patients use twice the health resources compared to healthy people. They are 7 times more likely to cause traffic accidents; in NSW up to 43000 accidents/year are due to OSA. OSA is treatable & consequences such as strokes, diabetes & heart attacks are preventable. The standard OSA treatment is home-based Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy. Unfortunately, no effective technique exists to measure the efficacy of the treatment. We propose enabling solutions to this problem via developing technology centered on breathing sound analysis. The project proposes joint work with a US-company facilitating access to advanced technology highly beneficial to Australia.Read moreRead less
Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing abili ....Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing ability of future patients. The 'bionic ear' was invented in Australia and this project will help to ensure the continued success of Australia's world leading implant industry.Read moreRead less
A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in viv ....A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in vivo and in vitro animal models. Furthermore, optimization of the irradiation protocol for the solid state laser will lead to the development of a wide range of biological applications.Read moreRead less