Novel imaging technologies for continuous measurement of tracer kinetics in awake animals. The fates of biologically relevant molecules, such as proteins and antibodies, in the body are fundamentally important for understanding the mechanisms and treatment of disease. This project will enable for the first time continuous imaging of the location and time course of labelled molecules in conscious, freely moving animals.
A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of ....A gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle biosensor for detecting microRNA. The project aims to develop a biosensor for detecting short sequences of RNA, called microRNA (miRNA) in blood. There are about 100 miRNA sequences that are involved in most biological processes. Changes in the levels of some miRNA sequences can serve as a biomarker for many diseases including cancers. The miRNA will be detected using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with DNA sequences complementary to the miRNA of interest to capture the miRNA. Application of a magnetic field allows the levels of miRNA to be detected electrochemically. The expected outcome is a commercialisable biosensor for miRNA both as a diagnostic early detection device and a prognostic device for a range of miRNA biomarkers.Read moreRead less
Highly multiplexed rapid-analysis microarrays for early disease diagnosis. Molecular diagnostics are revolutionising the treatment of disease in hospitals by providing rapid and accurate identification of pathogens; saving costs, time and lives. This project will accelerate this revolution by combining new array technology from the University of Sydney with a proven multiplex method from the Sydney based company, AusDiagnostics.
Inverse problems with partial data. This project aims to use mathematics, in particular the theory of micro-local analysis, to determine the amount of measurements one needs in order to reconstruct an image by some of the tomography methods commonly used in medical imaging. Expected outcomes of this project include showing that an arbitrarily small set of boundary measurements is sufficient to reconstruct the coefficients of various important partial differential equations such as Schrodinger eq ....Inverse problems with partial data. This project aims to use mathematics, in particular the theory of micro-local analysis, to determine the amount of measurements one needs in order to reconstruct an image by some of the tomography methods commonly used in medical imaging. Expected outcomes of this project include showing that an arbitrarily small set of boundary measurements is sufficient to reconstruct the coefficients of various important partial differential equations such as Schrodinger equation, Dirac operators, and Maxwell equations. In addition to providing a theoretical foundation upon which one can build numerical algorithms, this project will also provide the missing link between inverse problems and unique continuation theory. The downstream impact of this research will lead to more efficient and accurate tomography methods which can be implemented in a range of imaging applications.Read moreRead less
Advanced computational algorithms for brain imaging studies of freely moving animals. Current brain imaging technology requires the animal to be unconscious. This project will remove this barrier by developing computational algorithms that measure brain function in freely moving animals. These technologies will provide brain scientists with new tools to study behaviour altering diseases, such as schizophrenia and depression.
Bioinks that Advance 3D bioprinting of cells to the 4th dimension. The aim of this research is to provide a simple method for creating complex 3D cell cultures for in vitro cell based assays using 3D printing. A versatile polymer system as a bioink made from entirely commercially available components, will be advanced that gives a full range of soft tissue mimics and which can be dynamically change on-demand after printing of the 3D cell cultures. The latter will provide in vitro mimics of in vi ....Bioinks that Advance 3D bioprinting of cells to the 4th dimension. The aim of this research is to provide a simple method for creating complex 3D cell cultures for in vitro cell based assays using 3D printing. A versatile polymer system as a bioink made from entirely commercially available components, will be advanced that gives a full range of soft tissue mimics and which can be dynamically change on-demand after printing of the 3D cell cultures. The latter will provide in vitro mimics of in vivo events never previously possible with more realistic models of what is found in vivo. Applications are in fundamental cell biology, studying diseases and developing new drugs. The outcomes from this research will be new knowledge on designing cheap extracellular matrix mimics and high throughout 3D cell assays.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100043
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,279.00
Summary
High-throughput portable and wearable device fabrication facility. This project aims to establish a fabrication and characterisation facility for high-throughput production of portable, wearable and stretchable biomedical devices to accelerate the design–fabrication–evaluation process and save ‘trial-and-error’ costs during optimisation turnaround. It will apply computer-aided design for the programmable synthesis of hybrid materials for high-throughput screening of disease biomarkers, and super ....High-throughput portable and wearable device fabrication facility. This project aims to establish a fabrication and characterisation facility for high-throughput production of portable, wearable and stretchable biomedical devices to accelerate the design–fabrication–evaluation process and save ‘trial-and-error’ costs during optimisation turnaround. It will apply computer-aided design for the programmable synthesis of hybrid materials for high-throughput screening of disease biomarkers, and super-solution imaging of single molecules in live cells. This facility will provide capability for researchers pursuing industry transformation and other initiatives in the development of advanced materials, biomolecular sciences, nanotechnology, photonics and device engineering.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,708,510.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. This hub aims to improve detection of biological materials by building a portable device for rapid, time-critical detection of low-abundance molecular and cellular analytes. It is expected that the resulting technologies would be used at medical points of care, ordinary workplaces and centres of activity to test for tiny levels of targeted molecu ....ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. This hub aims to improve detection of biological materials by building a portable device for rapid, time-critical detection of low-abundance molecular and cellular analytes. It is expected that the resulting technologies would be used at medical points of care, ordinary workplaces and centres of activity to test for tiny levels of targeted molecules. The initial focus would be early diagnosis of disease and point-of-care drug testing for humans and animals, but the technology platform could be used to sample food and environmental toxins. The hub expects these disruptive technologies will make Australian biotechnology, diagnostics, veterinary, agribusiness and manufacturing firms globally competitive.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This pr ....Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This project aims to harness cells’ exquisite biological properties to improve current detection techniques. It will integrate liposome-based sensors with microfluidics to perform analytical tasks ranging from food safety to diagnostics.Read moreRead less
New strategies for characterising and monitoring protein-surface interactions: application to a biosensor for diabetic’s blood glucose regime effectiveness. This project aims to develop an antibody based biosensor for the detection of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) which serves as a marker of the effectiveness of a diabetic’s blood glucose treatment regime. Monitoring HbA1c is important as many of the long term health effects of diabetes are a consequence of high blood glucose levels. The si ....New strategies for characterising and monitoring protein-surface interactions: application to a biosensor for diabetic’s blood glucose regime effectiveness. This project aims to develop an antibody based biosensor for the detection of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) which serves as a marker of the effectiveness of a diabetic’s blood glucose treatment regime. Monitoring HbA1c is important as many of the long term health effects of diabetes are a consequence of high blood glucose levels. The simple to use technology will be a general detection strategy for proteins and hence will be applicable for the detection of a wide range of diseases and biomarkers. The research will also benefit Australia by training the new generation of scientists for Australia's biomedical diagnostics industry.Read moreRead less