Australian Partnership (for) Preparedness Research On InfectiouS (disease) Emergencies (APPRISE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,996,416.00
Summary
We have assembled national experts in clinical, laboratory and public health research to ensure Australia is equipped for a coordinated, effective and evidence based response to infectious diseases. This multidisciplinary team will create and share new knowledge to detect, prevent and manage emerging infection threats. We will train a robust cross-sectoral work force and develop sustainable research capacity integrated within the health system to ensure national and regional health security.
The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study: Years 27-31
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,281,718.00
Summary
The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study has documented 914 cases since 1989, with 115 fatalities. A surge in Darwin melioidosis cases over the past 5 years has been linked to urban development and the discovery of a new bacterial strain. Whole genome sequencing of our unique 25+ year set of bacteria and their linked patient data will unravel the changing epidemiology and identify important virulence factors, forming a foundation for future diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Centre Of Research Excellence In Infectious Diseases Modelling To Inform Public Health Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,600,064.00
Summary
Infectious diseases pose a global challenge, with substantial human and economic costs. Mathematical models provide valuable frameworks to assess likely benefits of interventions to control infection spread and burden. Leveraging existing NHMRC support, we will expand modeling capability to inform infectious disease control policy in Australia and our region. Focus areas include vaccine preventable disease, respiratory viruses and emerging pathogens, supported by innovative methods development.
Molecular Epidemiology Of Melioidosis In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,875.00
Summary
Melioidosis is an important infection in northern Australia. It is a common cause of fatal pneumonia and blood infection in the region. Two outbreaks of melioidosis with fatalities occurring in remote Aboriginal communities have been linked to contamination of the community water supply with the melioidosis bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei. In addition, a rare form of melioidosis affecting the brain and spinal cord has resulted in a number of deaths in healthy Aboriginal people and also a num ....Melioidosis is an important infection in northern Australia. It is a common cause of fatal pneumonia and blood infection in the region. Two outbreaks of melioidosis with fatalities occurring in remote Aboriginal communities have been linked to contamination of the community water supply with the melioidosis bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei. In addition, a rare form of melioidosis affecting the brain and spinal cord has resulted in a number of deaths in healthy Aboriginal people and also a number left living in remote communities with severe disabilities such as complete paralysis of both legs. Melioidosis has also been identified in two outbreaks occurring over many years in separate locations in southern Australia. It is thought that it may have been introduced to these regions by imported animals, eg via cattle drives, and human fatalities have occurred after local flooding in these temperate locations. This project is built on the ongoing melioidosis collaboration between researchers in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The aim is to use new DNA fingerprinting methods developed specifically for the melioidosis bacteria to understand better why melioidosis can be such a severe disease and how it spreads from the environment to humans and animals and also how it has possibly spread within Australia and overseas. Better recognition and treatment of melioidosis has resulted in a halving of the death rate from this disease in northern Australia (mortality decreased from 40%-18%). This study aims to give us a better understanding of how this soil and water bacteria interacts with humans to cause such severe disease and will hopefully result in new primary preventative measures to complement the improved diagnosis and treatment.Read moreRead less
Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accu ....Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accurate prediction of the behaviour and lifetime of structural components subject to these fluid-structural interactions, in which the deformation of the structure induced by the local flow field, can in turn influence this flow field. This coupling can result in damage or even catastrophic structural failure and thus robust design tools must be developed to avoid this.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
National Facility for Physical Blast Simulation (NFPBS). Recent terrorist attacks employing large quantities of high explosives have prompted the international demand for experimental investigation of civil infrastructure response to shock wave loadings. The National Facility for Physical Blast Simulation (NFPBS) is one of only a few in the world that are suitable for conducting experimental research via a physically generated blast approach.
Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally ....Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally efficient engineering models that are accurate and efficient for high speed combustion in rotating detonation engines and scramjets. Expected outcomes are knowledge and tools needed to develop practical and effective supersonic propulsion engines for access to space, defence and high speed point-to-point flight.
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Electron Transpiration Cooling of Hypersonic Vehicles. Future aircraft for flight at hypersonic speeds require sharp leading edges for the best aerodynamic performance. Sharp leading edges incur high heat loads and cannot be adequately cooled with current technologies. The project aim is to investigate novel surface materials that emit electrons when heated. This emission of electrons from the surface can significantly contribute to the cooling of the sharp leading edges. This project is expecte ....Electron Transpiration Cooling of Hypersonic Vehicles. Future aircraft for flight at hypersonic speeds require sharp leading edges for the best aerodynamic performance. Sharp leading edges incur high heat loads and cannot be adequately cooled with current technologies. The project aim is to investigate novel surface materials that emit electrons when heated. This emission of electrons from the surface can significantly contribute to the cooling of the sharp leading edges. This project is expected to deliver new experimental data on novel surface materials exposed to a hypersonic flow environment and computer models that can simulate their cooling effect. This investigation will contribute towards enabling technologies for sustained hypersonic flight by overcoming critical head load limitations.Read moreRead less
Emerging technologies of warfare as a challenge to the law of armed conflict: cyber-attacks, robotics and nanotechnology. In order to reduce suffering in war, international law places limits on the ways in which the adversary can be harmed. This project will assess how the law fares in dealing with emerging technologies, such as hostile uses of computer networks, robotics and nanotechnology. It will provide guidance to policy makers on how the law can be improved.
Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshor ....Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshore and mining industries. There are, therefore, far-reaching benefits in industries important to Australia. In addition, the reputation of the Australian aerospace research industry will be promoted through a collaborative association with Boeing, a world leader in development of commercial aircraft.Read moreRead less