Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101402
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Advanced laser micromachining with femtosecond vector beams. This project is aimed at developing a new method for ultra-precision laser micromachining and dissection of biological tissues using femtosecond vector beams. The capability of these unconventional laser beams to process different materials with unsurpassed precision and efficiency offers significant economic and clinical benefits.
Portable three-dimensional ultra-low field MRI. This project aims to address low signal-to-noise ratio in ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, using dynamic, mechanically-operated small permanent magnet arrays to generate magnetic fields needed for pre-polarisation and spatial encoding. Superconducting magnets make conventional MRI scanners too heavy and expensive for much of the world’s population. ULF MRI instruments offer image contrast mechanisms, are less costly and potentially portable, so can be us ....Portable three-dimensional ultra-low field MRI. This project aims to address low signal-to-noise ratio in ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, using dynamic, mechanically-operated small permanent magnet arrays to generate magnetic fields needed for pre-polarisation and spatial encoding. Superconducting magnets make conventional MRI scanners too heavy and expensive for much of the world’s population. ULF MRI instruments offer image contrast mechanisms, are less costly and potentially portable, so can be used in unconventional situations. This project will design, construct and evaluate an instrument capable of three-dimensional 3D ULF-MRI. This technology is expected to be useable in field hospitals and emergency settings, and to benefit fields including magnetic refrigeration and remote sensing.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,920.00
Summary
Ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging with an array of localised magnetic field sensor . The aim of this project is to design and construct a multifunctional ultra-low magnetic field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument equipped with novel magnetic field sensors. This project is significant because it will deliver an instrument with enhanced sensitivity which is capable of obtaining non-invasive three-dimensional structural imaging of sample ....Ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging with an array of localised magnetic field sensor . The aim of this project is to design and construct a multifunctional ultra-low magnetic field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument equipped with novel magnetic field sensors. This project is significant because it will deliver an instrument with enhanced sensitivity which is capable of obtaining non-invasive three-dimensional structural imaging of samples. This instrument will enable operation of highly sensitive ULF-MRI or ULF-NMR with regenerative energy sources and be a low-cost solution; reducing operation and maintenance costs as well as power consumption.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100843
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Regulating gene delivery with light. This project seeks to deliver the capacity to remotely deliver molecules into specific cells without the need for invasive or viral procedures. Individual genetic predisposition to disease forms a key part of personalised medicine that requires the accurate delivery of drugs or genes. This project aims to develop a new multimodality microscopy that can investigate and optimise light delivery of macromolecules into living cells at high specificity and across a ....Regulating gene delivery with light. This project seeks to deliver the capacity to remotely deliver molecules into specific cells without the need for invasive or viral procedures. Individual genetic predisposition to disease forms a key part of personalised medicine that requires the accurate delivery of drugs or genes. This project aims to develop a new multimodality microscopy that can investigate and optimise light delivery of macromolecules into living cells at high specificity and across a multitude of cells. The expected outcome of this project is a new form of in vivo molecular delivery system using light.Read moreRead less
Rotating Radiofrequency Phased-array for 7 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop a new type of radiofrequency coil array to ensure high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with all its benefits, is available for a broader range of applications. High-field MRI offers faster scans with more detailed images than lower field systems. This enhanced sensitivity potentially enables smaller structures to be resolved in the body. At high fields, however, standard radiofrequen ....Rotating Radiofrequency Phased-array for 7 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop a new type of radiofrequency coil array to ensure high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with all its benefits, is available for a broader range of applications. High-field MRI offers faster scans with more detailed images than lower field systems. This enhanced sensitivity potentially enables smaller structures to be resolved in the body. At high fields, however, standard radiofrequency coils, an essential component of MRI systems, can distort images and induce potentially harmful tissue heating. The aim is to design and develop a rotating multi-channel radiofrequency coil array, with dedicated image reconstruction software, to overcome these limitations. This would facilitate detailed images that can be obtained quickly and safely.Read moreRead less
Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the proj ....Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a new toolkit that will enable wastewater treatment plants to design and optimize both existing and future pipeline systems. This will support the Australian wastewater industry to plan for future growth, increase throughput and efficiency, reduce environmental pollutants, and capital and operating costs.Read moreRead less
Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use ....Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use. The expected outcomes of the project will have a huge impact on industrial purification processing by providing a disruptive membrane technology, and will significantly reduce energy consumption and open up new routes for resources.Read moreRead less
Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzy ....Miniaturised biosensors with high selectivity . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of miniaturised and flexible sensors that enable the quantitative detection of important bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and biogenic amines. By utilising multi-enzymatic reactions in solid phase and engineering task-specific inks, chemiresistive sensors will be printed seamlessly as a whole. The sensors will respond to complex target biomolecules via a series of enzymatic reactions through which the analyte will convert to much simpler, reactive and hence measurable molecules. This project will enable to design miniaturised sensors for point-of-care detection of biomolecules that cannot be yet evaluated by the end users.Read moreRead less
Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome i ....Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome is the next generation technology for sperm sorting and analysis. This should provide significant benefits, such as new biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction, with potential for future improvement of assisted reproduction technologies – a field in which Australia has a world leading history.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