Dynamic CFD Simulations and Scale-Up of Three-Phase Slurry Reactors for Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) Technology. The gas-liquid-solid flow patterns in three-phase slurry bubble column reactors will be studied using experiments and CFD. The effect of various reactor parameters will be studied to develop the scale-up heuristic for the slurry bubble column reactor. The Findings of this study will be used to optimise the reactor system for the offshore natural gas locations of Australia. A successful impleme ....Dynamic CFD Simulations and Scale-Up of Three-Phase Slurry Reactors for Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) Technology. The gas-liquid-solid flow patterns in three-phase slurry bubble column reactors will be studied using experiments and CFD. The effect of various reactor parameters will be studied to develop the scale-up heuristic for the slurry bubble column reactor. The Findings of this study will be used to optimise the reactor system for the offshore natural gas locations of Australia. A successful implementation of this project will bring a huge economic benefit to Australia by utilising the vast amount of remotely located and otherwise unusable stranded natural gas reserves. The project falls within one of National Research Priorities: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Optimum design of controlled drug delivery systems. Controlled drug delivery systems are ideal to achieve localised release of drugs at an effective rate for a prolonged period. They have the merit of optimising drug absorption by a body, relieving patients from frequent administration and high dosage of drugs which often result in drug wastage, patients' inconvenience and more importantly the side effects that can be fatal. The success of this project will (1) enhance the Australia pharmaceutic ....Optimum design of controlled drug delivery systems. Controlled drug delivery systems are ideal to achieve localised release of drugs at an effective rate for a prolonged period. They have the merit of optimising drug absorption by a body, relieving patients from frequent administration and high dosage of drugs which often result in drug wastage, patients' inconvenience and more importantly the side effects that can be fatal. The success of this project will (1) enhance the Australia pharmaceutical industry's competitiveness in the global market, (2) provide good medication for the treatment of various diseases, promoting good health of Australians, (3) lead to new mathematical models and solutions that are also applicable to such fields as resources and environmental systems.Read moreRead less
Use of Interval Arithmetic and GRID Computing in Computational Molecular Science: Bounding Errors and Locating Global Minima. Catastrophic failure of the Ariane 5 rocket in 1996 and the inability of Patriot missile systems to reach their targets during the 1991 Gulf war were both attributed to numerical computing errors. Less dramatic, but in a similar vein, this project aims to study the numerical stability of contemporary computational molecular science applications. The focus will be on linea ....Use of Interval Arithmetic and GRID Computing in Computational Molecular Science: Bounding Errors and Locating Global Minima. Catastrophic failure of the Ariane 5 rocket in 1996 and the inability of Patriot missile systems to reach their targets during the 1991 Gulf war were both attributed to numerical computing errors. Less dramatic, but in a similar vein, this project aims to study the numerical stability of contemporary computational molecular science applications. The focus will be on linear scaling electronic structure codes, methods that are critical to the study of nano- and bio-materials, and are therefore of great importance to our economic future and medical well being. The project will build expertise within Australia in the area of interval arithmetic, an area that is currently poorly represented.Read moreRead less
Modelling of multiscale systems in engineering and science supports large-scale equation-free simulations and analysis. A persistent feature of complex systems in engineering and science is the emergence of macroscopic, coarse grained, coherent behaviour from the interactions of microscopic agents (molecules, cells) and with their environment. In current modeling, ranging from ecology to materials science, the underlying microscopic mechanisms are known, but the closures to translate microscale ....Modelling of multiscale systems in engineering and science supports large-scale equation-free simulations and analysis. A persistent feature of complex systems in engineering and science is the emergence of macroscopic, coarse grained, coherent behaviour from the interactions of microscopic agents (molecules, cells) and with their environment. In current modeling, ranging from ecology to materials science, the underlying microscopic mechanisms are known, but the closures to translate microscale knowledge to a system level macroscopic description are rarely available in closed form. Our novel, equation free, computational methodologies will circumvent this stumbling block, and promises to radically change the modeling, exploration and understanding of complex system behavior. We continue to develop this powerful computational methodology. Read moreRead less
Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when t ....Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when they are most likely to work. In this project, we are developing new radiolabelled compounds that will enable the imaging of tumours, tumour metastases and CNS diseases states.Read moreRead less
From dust to planets: New initiatives to refine models of the inner Solar System's earliest history. This project will help continue the proud tradition of Australia as an international leader in mass spectrometric analyses and cosmochemistry. The questions surrounding the origin and significance of terrestrial planets are closely related to our very presence: "Are we alone"?
Research into meteorites is one of the few areas of science that truly captures the imagination of the general public. T ....From dust to planets: New initiatives to refine models of the inner Solar System's earliest history. This project will help continue the proud tradition of Australia as an international leader in mass spectrometric analyses and cosmochemistry. The questions surrounding the origin and significance of terrestrial planets are closely related to our very presence: "Are we alone"?
Research into meteorites is one of the few areas of science that truly captures the imagination of the general public. This project, through its integration with the WA Museum, gives the public a possibility to share in this experience.Read moreRead less
New Imaging Agents for Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors. Recent advances in medical imaging technology such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) have radically improved the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases. The aim of this project is to discover novel radio-ligands that selectively bind to neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These ligands will have great potential for the imaging, diagnosis and study of neurodegenerat ....New Imaging Agents for Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors. Recent advances in medical imaging technology such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) have radically improved the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases. The aim of this project is to discover novel radio-ligands that selectively bind to neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These ligands will have great potential for the imaging, diagnosis and study of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Read moreRead less
New clean and green aqueous metathesis. The technique of olefin metathesis has already yielded new pharmaceuticals and materials for use in consumer products and ballistic protection. This project will help move metathesis into the realms of natures aqueous environment, a key advance if metathesis is to reveal its full potential in biological, polymeric, and pharmaceutical applications. We specifically aim to target treatments for cataract (and other conditions associated with an aging populatio ....New clean and green aqueous metathesis. The technique of olefin metathesis has already yielded new pharmaceuticals and materials for use in consumer products and ballistic protection. This project will help move metathesis into the realms of natures aqueous environment, a key advance if metathesis is to reveal its full potential in biological, polymeric, and pharmaceutical applications. We specifically aim to target treatments for cataract (and other conditions associated with an aging population) and also important new biopolymers for use in health technologies of the future.Read moreRead less
Synthetic derivatives of capsaicin and gingerols as analgesics acting at the vanilloid receptor. This project aims to prepare alpha-hydroxyketones and gingerol derivatives acting at vanilloid (VR1) receptor with potential analgesic activity. These compounds will be tested for their ability to activate the VR1 receptor, desensitize the receptor and release neuropeptides associated with pain pathways. The development of these novel compounds will contribute towards understanding the mechanisms of ....Synthetic derivatives of capsaicin and gingerols as analgesics acting at the vanilloid receptor. This project aims to prepare alpha-hydroxyketones and gingerol derivatives acting at vanilloid (VR1) receptor with potential analgesic activity. These compounds will be tested for their ability to activate the VR1 receptor, desensitize the receptor and release neuropeptides associated with pain pathways. The development of these novel compounds will contribute towards understanding the mechanisms of VR1 receptor activation and provide information on how the VR1 receptor is regulated. We will determine and compare neurotoxicity of these compounds to capsaicin which is known to possess neurotoxic activity. The outcome of this project may result in effective agents for better pain management.
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Development and structural characterisation of carbide-derived carbon membranes and their application in separation. This research addresses a key challenge in gas separation crucial to our energy future and environmental sustainability, while harnessing the potential of carbide derived carbons. The project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, not only because it contributes to on-going research on carbon dioxide sequestration and utilization of alternate fuels, but because it will see a n ....Development and structural characterisation of carbide-derived carbon membranes and their application in separation. This research addresses a key challenge in gas separation crucial to our energy future and environmental sustainability, while harnessing the potential of carbide derived carbons. The project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, not only because it contributes to on-going research on carbon dioxide sequestration and utilization of alternate fuels, but because it will see a new generation of Australian researchers trained in multidisciplinary cutting-edge research while addressing several areas of national priority, including reducing emissions, breakthrough sciences, development of frontier technologies and advanced materials, and thereby creating new opportunities for industry.Read moreRead less