Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human bo ....Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human body. Thus, the new imaging methods can probe deeper biological functionality while examining tissue structure. The potential benefits include: expanding the scope and capabilities of current MRI, facilitating a wide range of imaging-based research and applications, and accelerating knowledge expansion in life science.Read moreRead less
A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on health ....A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on healthy spinal disc cells. We expect our technological framework to become an invaluable tool for biomedical engineers, biologists, and bio-engineers to work together and generate clinically relevant in-vitro data that supports optimisation for spinal implant design, fabrication, and safety. Read moreRead less
In-vivo functional imaging of cone photoreceptors and ganglion cell axons. Can we project a movie on a human retina, and measure the response of photoreceptor cells and connected nerve tissue? This project aims to investigate a new method for visualization of the quickest responses in human cone photoreceptors and nerve cells after a visible stimulus. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the origins of responses to a stimulus and how cells in the retina communicate ....In-vivo functional imaging of cone photoreceptors and ganglion cell axons. Can we project a movie on a human retina, and measure the response of photoreceptor cells and connected nerve tissue? This project aims to investigate a new method for visualization of the quickest responses in human cone photoreceptors and nerve cells after a visible stimulus. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the origins of responses to a stimulus and how cells in the retina communicate. The scientific results will be helpful in a better understanding of the development of vision in the infant eye, to study peripheral vision in elite athletes and to quantify performance of virtual reality equipment for the military. The IP on the technology can be licensed or used for start-up company.Read moreRead less
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,056,049.00
Summary
Artificial intelligence empowered multi-modal biomedical imaging. This Industry Fellowship aims to transform biomedical imaging using artificial intelligence with world-leading industry partners. The project expects to make a major advance in multi-modal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography image reconstruction for robust, accurate and efficient imaging. This project timely addresses industry needs with novel solutions and will establish a technology roadmap to inform and ....Artificial intelligence empowered multi-modal biomedical imaging. This Industry Fellowship aims to transform biomedical imaging using artificial intelligence with world-leading industry partners. The project expects to make a major advance in multi-modal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography image reconstruction for robust, accurate and efficient imaging. This project timely addresses industry needs with novel solutions and will establish a technology roadmap to inform and de-risk future research and development in image reconstruction. The project outcomes should provide benefits to Australians with cost-effective imaging and benefits to Australia's biomedical industry with well-aligned intellectual properties and training of future scientists with industry knowledge.Read moreRead less
Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project exp ....Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project expects to bridge this technology gap and provide significant technical and conceptual advances in the field. This will provide important benefits, such as equipping neuroscientists with new tools to answer fundamental questions about how the mammalian brain regulates behavioural adaptation to a changing environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100757
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,654.00
Summary
Engineering Tissue Organisation Using Intelligent Additive Biomanufacturing. This project aims to organize and shape the formation of lab-grown tissue by 3D printing structures which control the behaviour of cells. This cell behaviour control will be accomplished through an interdisciplinary and multiscale pipeline of additive micromanufacturing, bioreactor engineering, cell culture, single-cell imaging, and computational modelling. In contrast with current empirical approaches, this quantitativ ....Engineering Tissue Organisation Using Intelligent Additive Biomanufacturing. This project aims to organize and shape the formation of lab-grown tissue by 3D printing structures which control the behaviour of cells. This cell behaviour control will be accomplished through an interdisciplinary and multiscale pipeline of additive micromanufacturing, bioreactor engineering, cell culture, single-cell imaging, and computational modelling. In contrast with current empirical approaches, this quantitative and predictive understanding of how to control biological processes within 3D printed environments will design and engineer more robust, customisable, scalable, and economical cell culture platforms able to optimally manufacture bespoke and complex 3D tissues for future agricultural, pharmaceutical, or medical products.Read moreRead less
A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with ....A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with optrodes, this new approach alleviates many of the wiring, packaging and encapsulation issues associated with existing devices. Computational modelling and in vitro testing in cardiac tissue and retinal neurons will demonstrate the utility of the MOA to sense and control electrical activity.Read moreRead less
Designing functional biomaterials with superior cellular interactions. This proposal aims to make a new class of biomaterials that direct important cellular functions such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. This will be achieved by developing materials that leverage a previously unexplored mechanism that was recently identified in my lab: the co-engagement of integrin and syndecan-4 cell receptors. We will use these biomaterials to 1) fabricate 3D printed tissue engineering scaffo ....Designing functional biomaterials with superior cellular interactions. This proposal aims to make a new class of biomaterials that direct important cellular functions such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. This will be achieved by developing materials that leverage a previously unexplored mechanism that was recently identified in my lab: the co-engagement of integrin and syndecan-4 cell receptors. We will use these biomaterials to 1) fabricate 3D printed tissue engineering scaffolds with a superior ability to promote the development of new tissue, and 2) create surfaces that will enable us to answer fundamental scientific questions regarding cell adhesion and cell/material interactions.Read moreRead less
The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs ....The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs are composed of a weak polymer matrix and a MEW reinforcing fibrous phase printed at the nanometre scale, containing patterns mimicking the natural tissue architectures. Advanced computational tools are applied for the rational design of the SNC while reducing costs and times associated to experimental work.Read moreRead less
Photoacoustic cellular manipulation: building from the bottom up. In this project we propose an approach for creating complex 3D prints. Whereas current approaches are limited to defining the external geometry, this technology will permit the organization of the internal structure as well, with the potential to do so at the scale of individual cells. Achieving this has important applications in bioprinting human tissues and additive manufacturing. This is based on the manipulation of particles a ....Photoacoustic cellular manipulation: building from the bottom up. In this project we propose an approach for creating complex 3D prints. Whereas current approaches are limited to defining the external geometry, this technology will permit the organization of the internal structure as well, with the potential to do so at the scale of individual cells. Achieving this has important applications in bioprinting human tissues and additive manufacturing. This is based on the manipulation of particles and cells using holographic acoustic fields controlled by patterned light. This is compared to current acoustic patterning approaches are mostly limited to static simple geometric arrangements and lack the flexibility to produce arbitrary, rapidly changing fields that enable the fabrication of complex structures. Read moreRead less