Nanoelectromechanical Mass Spectrometry with Molecular Imaging. This project aims to develop new technology to enable simultaneous measurement of the mass and conformation of single molecules. Mass spectrometry and high-resolution microscopy are independent analytical tools used widely to characterise the chemical and physical properties of molecules. This project aims to develop new technology based on advanced nanoelectromechanical systems that combines the capabilities of these complementary ....Nanoelectromechanical Mass Spectrometry with Molecular Imaging. This project aims to develop new technology to enable simultaneous measurement of the mass and conformation of single molecules. Mass spectrometry and high-resolution microscopy are independent analytical tools used widely to characterise the chemical and physical properties of molecules. This project aims to develop new technology based on advanced nanoelectromechanical systems that combines the capabilities of these complementary instruments. This would enable synchronous measurement of molecular mass and conformation with nanometre resolution. In contrast to current mass spectrometry, this technology could be operated in fluid and detect neutral species. This significant change in capability could be applied to advance biological and medical research.Read moreRead less
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.
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.
Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel ....Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel rapid genotyping methods and developing ultrasensitive real-time DNA detection that will be integrated on a single chip platform to facilitate a small, low cost and reliable test device. The technology will be readily adaptable to areas where prompt access to genomic information is valuable, such as disease diagnosis and risk prediction.Read moreRead less
Microwave Head Monitor Using Compressed Sensing and Differential Techniques. The aim of this project is the design and development of a low-cost, non-ionising, and non-invasive microwave technology that can be used to diagnose and localise early brain injuries of premature newborn babies. It proposes to include a switched antenna array and wide-band microwave transceiver. The system aims to use a combination of compressed sensing and differential imaging techniques to produce, within a few secon ....Microwave Head Monitor Using Compressed Sensing and Differential Techniques. The aim of this project is the design and development of a low-cost, non-ionising, and non-invasive microwave technology that can be used to diagnose and localise early brain injuries of premature newborn babies. It proposes to include a switched antenna array and wide-band microwave transceiver. The system aims to use a combination of compressed sensing and differential imaging techniques to produce, within a few seconds, microwave images of the brain making it a real-time monitoring tool. By providing vital information about the brain at the incubator side, the proposed compact technology would avoid the risky move of critically ill babies to the expensive and bulky conventional scanners which, furthermore, cannot operate as frequent monitoring tools.Read moreRead less
Engineering the next generation of portable microwave scanners. This project aims to engineer a disruptive technology based on microwave hybrid imaging for biomedical applications. The project will deliver superfine resolution images using a combination of uniform near-field microwave irradiation and infrared imaging. The project will explore novel microwave antenna design, and engineer a portable platform for diagnostic applications. The proposed low-cost, non-invasive, and safe microwave techn ....Engineering the next generation of portable microwave scanners. This project aims to engineer a disruptive technology based on microwave hybrid imaging for biomedical applications. The project will deliver superfine resolution images using a combination of uniform near-field microwave irradiation and infrared imaging. The project will explore novel microwave antenna design, and engineer a portable platform for diagnostic applications. The proposed low-cost, non-invasive, and safe microwave technology will offer significant advantages over conventional diagnostic platforms. Among many potential applications, this innovation will introduce the first portable microwave scanner that can be used for the early detection of skin cancer.Read moreRead less
Portable Microwave Imaging Technology Using Reconfigurable Radar. The aim of this project is the design and development of a portable microwave imaging system to investigate the viability of microwave techniques for early heart failure detection. It will employ conformal antenna arrays integrated with compact reconfigurable radar to obtain super-resolution images that enable the early detection of heart failure. Because of its low-cost, non-ionising and non-invasive properties, it can be used fr ....Portable Microwave Imaging Technology Using Reconfigurable Radar. The aim of this project is the design and development of a portable microwave imaging system to investigate the viability of microwave techniques for early heart failure detection. It will employ conformal antenna arrays integrated with compact reconfigurable radar to obtain super-resolution images that enable the early detection of heart failure. Because of its low-cost, non-ionising and non-invasive properties, it can be used frequently for real-time monitoring, thus providing a significant advantage over conventional imaging equipment and hence paving the way for its broader applications. Moreover, portability of the technology is expected to enable its use for self-monitoring, leading to a significant reduction in health care costs.Read moreRead less
Engineering the Next Generation of Terahertz Laser Imaging Systems. This project aims to develop terahertz imaging systems based on quantum cascade lasers suitable for characterisation of skin, with major implications for early skin cancer detection. Despite advances in treatment regimes, the most significant predictor of skin cancer survivability remains early detection. The project’s approach uses the semiconductor laser in the optical-feedback interferometer configuration, and is designed to ....Engineering the Next Generation of Terahertz Laser Imaging Systems. This project aims to develop terahertz imaging systems based on quantum cascade lasers suitable for characterisation of skin, with major implications for early skin cancer detection. Despite advances in treatment regimes, the most significant predictor of skin cancer survivability remains early detection. The project’s approach uses the semiconductor laser in the optical-feedback interferometer configuration, and is designed to afford significant advantages over conventional terahertz imaging platforms. The project plans to explore new semiconductor physics of a quantum cascade laser under optical feedback, engineer the semiconductor laser-based platform for medical diagnostic applications, and develop supporting numerical techniques.Read moreRead less
Characterization, modelling and control for robotic thermal ablation. This project aims to study the fundamental issues in robotic-assisted minimally invasive thermal ablation, an important therapy for patients with cancer. It aims to establish advanced characterisation and modelling methodologies for thermomechanical behaviours of soft tissues, together with automatic planning and precise manipulation control techniques for robotic thermal ablation therapies. The project will establish new know ....Characterization, modelling and control for robotic thermal ablation. This project aims to study the fundamental issues in robotic-assisted minimally invasive thermal ablation, an important therapy for patients with cancer. It aims to establish advanced characterisation and modelling methodologies for thermomechanical behaviours of soft tissues, together with automatic planning and precise manipulation control techniques for robotic thermal ablation therapies. The project will establish new knowledge and instrumentation for robotic-assisted thermal ablation and minimally invasive surgery. The outcomes of this project will produce important benefits to medicine, healthcare and medical technology industry, and further consolidate Australia’s position in innovative technologies and research and development of advanced healthcare systems and instruments.Read moreRead less