Generalised Linear Mixed Models: Theory, Methods and New Areas of Application. This project will aid the analysis of complex data sets throughout Australia. The ensuing methodology and software products will be applicable to data arising from longitudinal and geo-referenced public health and biomedical studies being conducted in Australia. It will also aid analysis of complex survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other agencies. Part of this project is geared towards smart inf ....Generalised Linear Mixed Models: Theory, Methods and New Areas of Application. This project will aid the analysis of complex data sets throughout Australia. The ensuing methodology and software products will be applicable to data arising from longitudinal and geo-referenced public health and biomedical studies being conducted in Australia. It will also aid analysis of complex survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other agencies. Part of this project is geared towards smart information use in Australian industries and will help foster collaboration between mathematical scientists and members of the Australian business sector. Cancer research in Australia will also benefit from this project.Read moreRead less
Smart Information Use for PET-CT Quantitative Molecular Imaging. This project aims to use advanced computing algorithms to tackle
challenging problems associated with a new medical technology called
PET-CT which combines two imaging modalities in one device. While this technology is very new and has great potential in cancer and brain disorders, it also poses major challenges for information processing and transmission. We will address these challenges by developing advanced algorithms that op ....Smart Information Use for PET-CT Quantitative Molecular Imaging. This project aims to use advanced computing algorithms to tackle
challenging problems associated with a new medical technology called
PET-CT which combines two imaging modalities in one device. While this technology is very new and has great potential in cancer and brain disorders, it also poses major challenges for information processing and transmission. We will address these challenges by developing advanced algorithms that optimally extract information from PET and CT using mathematical models that correct for the various sources of inaccuracy. Our research will put Australian biomedical researchers and healthcare professionals at the forefront of advanced medical imaging technology.Read moreRead less
An Innovative Multimedia Framework for Multidimensional PET-CT Image Navigation and Communication. The recent development of a combined positron emission tomography and computerized tomography (PET-CT) device ushers in a completely new era in molecular imaging that will revolutionize the approach to imaging in the clinical environment. In this project, we address a number of the critical challenges associated with the introduction of PET-CT, and provide a range of innovative multimedia technolo ....An Innovative Multimedia Framework for Multidimensional PET-CT Image Navigation and Communication. The recent development of a combined positron emission tomography and computerized tomography (PET-CT) device ushers in a completely new era in molecular imaging that will revolutionize the approach to imaging in the clinical environment. In this project, we address a number of the critical challenges associated with the introduction of PET-CT, and provide a range of innovative multimedia technologies to visualize, manipulate and deliver these multi-dimensional data. Our research will greatly enhance the clinical and research benefits of PET-CT and facilitate new discoveries which will have a significant scientific and social impact in Australia and the world at large.Read moreRead less
Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morph ....Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morphology, polymer chemistry & biomolecular engineering that will produce basic scientific data with a practical application. Post-graduate students and staff will train & gain significant knowledge in this area.
3. Benefit industry through new product development and IP. This project advances a platform technology with multiple applications.Read moreRead less
Automated 3-Dimensional Biomedical Registration for Whole-body Images from Combined PET/CT Scanners. This project will aid rapid assimilation of very large medical imaging datasets from different imaging devices, and will have clinical applications in diagnosis and treatment and improve patient care. The research, when extended to protein registration, will facilitate analysis of DNA and advance research in bioinformatics and biotechnology. The research could also be used for target recognition, ....Automated 3-Dimensional Biomedical Registration for Whole-body Images from Combined PET/CT Scanners. This project will aid rapid assimilation of very large medical imaging datasets from different imaging devices, and will have clinical applications in diagnosis and treatment and improve patient care. The research, when extended to protein registration, will facilitate analysis of DNA and advance research in bioinformatics and biotechnology. The research could also be used for target recognition, mosaic construction, content-based retrieval, in remote sensing and multimedia. Benefits to Australia include the provision of a readily adaptable image registration program for patient care (e.g., early detection of cancers, dementia), cutting-edge research, high-quality training for students, and encouraging international research collaboration.Read moreRead less
Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutrali ....Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutralising MIC-1 may provide therapeutic agents to control cancer cachexia and severe obesity. The project will optimise these molecules for therapeutic uses. These diagnostic and therapeutic tools will form the basis of a spin-off company for commercialisation. Read moreRead less
Investigation of three dimensional terahertz computed tomography for biomedical applications. Terahertz (T-ray) imaging is an exciting newly emerging technology that can perform safe, non-invasive, imaging and chemical sensing at the same time. This research aims to achieve an advance in terahertz imaging by using advanced methods that will enhance our ability to achieve accurate detection of diseased tissue in vivo. Socio-economic benefits to Australia include: (i) contributions to terahertz sy ....Investigation of three dimensional terahertz computed tomography for biomedical applications. Terahertz (T-ray) imaging is an exciting newly emerging technology that can perform safe, non-invasive, imaging and chemical sensing at the same time. This research aims to achieve an advance in terahertz imaging by using advanced methods that will enhance our ability to achieve accurate detection of diseased tissue in vivo. Socio-economic benefits to Australia include: (i) contributions to terahertz systems, enhancing Australia's reputation for cutting-edge research; (ii) international collaboration will be strengthened; (iii) results will potentially lead to commercialisation opportunities; (iv) the outcomes will ultimately impact on improving terahertz imaging in quality control, medical diagnosis, and detection for national security.Read moreRead less
New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and manageme ....New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and management that can reduce risk and improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
A Gas Phase Study of Macromolecular Biological Complexes. Following the completion of the human genome project, increased attention has focussed on the elucidation of structure and function of biopolymers in cells. The project aims to use electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (a rapidly developing analytical technique) to detail the processes governing the formation of macromolecular complexes (DNA-protein and DNA-metal-protein) in the gas phase. We aim to explore the relevance of gas pha ....A Gas Phase Study of Macromolecular Biological Complexes. Following the completion of the human genome project, increased attention has focussed on the elucidation of structure and function of biopolymers in cells. The project aims to use electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (a rapidly developing analytical technique) to detail the processes governing the formation of macromolecular complexes (DNA-protein and DNA-metal-protein) in the gas phase. We aim to explore the relevance of gas phase studies of these large macromolecular complexes to interactions between biopolymers in solution and cells. Ultimately, this will aid in the development of improved therapeutics tha t act on DNA and/or DNA-binding proteins and provide new information on biological processes such as replicaton.Read moreRead less
Raman spectroscopy and imaging of natural and synthetic melanins. The national benefit of this research lies in three main areas. First, this research could lead to a non-invasive diagnostic for melanoma. Second, it could reveal stronger connections between melanin and melanoma development than previously believed and thus inspire possible methods of treatment or prevention of melanoma. Given Australia's high incidence of melanoma, these could have an enormous impact on our health care system. T ....Raman spectroscopy and imaging of natural and synthetic melanins. The national benefit of this research lies in three main areas. First, this research could lead to a non-invasive diagnostic for melanoma. Second, it could reveal stronger connections between melanin and melanoma development than previously believed and thus inspire possible methods of treatment or prevention of melanoma. Given Australia's high incidence of melanoma, these could have an enormous impact on our health care system. Third, it will increase our understanding of the melanin pigment and further establish Australia as a leader in this field. Given the links between melanin and Parkinson's Disease and immune response, this understanding could have greater impact on health care than simply melanoma.Read moreRead less