Bridging the gap between global mechanics and regional imaging in the lungs. The detailed mechanics of breathing are not well understood, due to a lack of regional lung measurement techniques. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to image in vivo mechanical properties of the lungs. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function, enabling information previously only available for the whole lung to be calculated for lo ....Bridging the gap between global mechanics and regional imaging in the lungs. The detailed mechanics of breathing are not well understood, due to a lack of regional lung measurement techniques. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to image in vivo mechanical properties of the lungs. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function, enabling information previously only available for the whole lung to be calculated for local lung regions within the body. The image analysis methods developed are intended to enable respiratory researchers to investigate lung function in unprecedented detail, leading to new insights into the workings of this complicated and vital organ. Read moreRead less
Hybrid imaging/modelling: A new paradigm for understanding the lung. Our lungs are essential to sustain our lives, yet the details of lung biomechanics are barely understood because the available tools, imaging, modelling and simulation have significant limitations. Imaging is largely limited to providing structural information; simulation is severely restricted by a lack of validation; and inverse modelling is critically hampered by a lack of spatially resolved inputs. The project’s multidiscip ....Hybrid imaging/modelling: A new paradigm for understanding the lung. Our lungs are essential to sustain our lives, yet the details of lung biomechanics are barely understood because the available tools, imaging, modelling and simulation have significant limitations. Imaging is largely limited to providing structural information; simulation is severely restricted by a lack of validation; and inverse modelling is critically hampered by a lack of spatially resolved inputs. The project’s multidisciplinary team is uniquely positioned to explore these problems through the hybridisation of world-leading functional lung imaging technology with state-of-the-art modelling. This project aims to provide, perhaps for the first time, the capacity to see details with the resolution of imaging, richness of modelling and reliability of the finest measurements.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,551.00
Summary
Linking structure and function: a new approach for understanding the lung. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to measure gas transport and mixing within lungs. This project will study the mechanical workings of the lungs, using an innovative approach for analysis of lung images. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function. It is anticipated that application of the project outcomes to medical challenges in the lo ....Linking structure and function: a new approach for understanding the lung. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to measure gas transport and mixing within lungs. This project will study the mechanical workings of the lungs, using an innovative approach for analysis of lung images. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function. It is anticipated that application of the project outcomes to medical challenges in the long-term will lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for lung diseases.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100018
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,441.00
Summary
Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution op ....Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution optical imaging techniques and synchrotron X-ray diagnostics. This project is expected to provide physical insight with applications for inhaled and topical pharmaceutical sprays, and industry spray drying of food products.Read moreRead less
Engineering an artificial protein molecular motor. This project aims to use non-motor protein building blocks to construct an artificial protein motor. Nature already uses nanotechnology as the basis for all its machinery, and uses proteins to construct machines. Each protein component in the motor will have a well-understood function; this artificial protein will elucidate how it converts chemical energy to motion. This process is not understood as molecular motors do not obey the same principl ....Engineering an artificial protein molecular motor. This project aims to use non-motor protein building blocks to construct an artificial protein motor. Nature already uses nanotechnology as the basis for all its machinery, and uses proteins to construct machines. Each protein component in the motor will have a well-understood function; this artificial protein will elucidate how it converts chemical energy to motion. This process is not understood as molecular motors do not obey the same principles as macroscopic machines. Comparing the artificial motor with biological motors will provide insight into the workings of natural motors. This project should lead to molecular motors for nanobiotechnology.Read moreRead less
Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insi ....Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insights in colloid science, cell-laden biomaterials design, and BioInk processing. Structure-property-function guides for colloid-based BioInks and quality-assured bioprinting as outcomes represent significant benefits for researchers and industries alike engaged in biofabrication, cell therapy and biotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100715
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Tunable plasmonics in ultra-doped transition metal oxides and chalcogenides. The project is designed to explore new classes of plasmonic materials based on low-dimensional transition metal oxide and chalcogenide nanostructures. These crystals, with stratified structures and high surface affinities to charged particles, present a new frontier in plasmonics by allowing reversible stimuli induced doping and defect embedding. The project plans to focus on achieving tunable plasmonic properties acros ....Tunable plasmonics in ultra-doped transition metal oxides and chalcogenides. The project is designed to explore new classes of plasmonic materials based on low-dimensional transition metal oxide and chalcogenide nanostructures. These crystals, with stratified structures and high surface affinities to charged particles, present a new frontier in plasmonics by allowing reversible stimuli induced doping and defect embedding. The project plans to focus on achieving tunable plasmonic properties across a broad spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared light. Targets are systems with low propagation losses or ultra-sensitivity towards environmental changes. The anticipated outcomes will serve as a base to establish the next generation plasmonic communication and sensing systems with active on-chip controllability, which could be used as the base of future telecommunications, energy harvesting and sensing systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,607.00
Summary
Manipulation of non-wetting droplets for cell culture. We have recently discovered an innovative and interdisciplinary approach for manipulating non-wetting droplets called “liquid marbles” as a platform for three-dimensional cell culture. This project aims to elucidate the fundamental physics underpinning the electrostatic handling concept of this platform technology. The project is expected to deliver an inexpensive but sophisticated cell culture platform that is well-suited for high-throughpu ....Manipulation of non-wetting droplets for cell culture. We have recently discovered an innovative and interdisciplinary approach for manipulating non-wetting droplets called “liquid marbles” as a platform for three-dimensional cell culture. This project aims to elucidate the fundamental physics underpinning the electrostatic handling concept of this platform technology. The project is expected to deliver an inexpensive but sophisticated cell culture platform that is well-suited for high-throughput drug screening and preparing cells for implantation therapy. Significant benefits for end users in pharmaceutical industry, life sciences research and hospitals are expected from the project and the application of the developed technology.Read moreRead less
System identification of microstructure in the brain using magnetic resonance. Magnetic Resonance Imaging technologies will be exploited to probe the microstructure of the brain, using powerful Bayesian optimisation techniques and innovative uses of magnetic resonance. The project will in particular develop non-invasive imaging methods to quantify iron content in the brain, important for research on dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100415
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,483.00
Summary
Cross-layer Design for Ultra-reliable Low-latency Communications. This project aims to develop fundamental theories and practical technologies for ultra-reliable low-latency communications – one of the grand challenges in 5G cellular networks. Due to the dynamic nature of wireless networks, existing approaches dividing networks into multiple layers cannot guarantee a hard deadline with high reliability. The outcomes of the project will be cross-layer models for characterising the end-to-end perf ....Cross-layer Design for Ultra-reliable Low-latency Communications. This project aims to develop fundamental theories and practical technologies for ultra-reliable low-latency communications – one of the grand challenges in 5G cellular networks. Due to the dynamic nature of wireless networks, existing approaches dividing networks into multiple layers cannot guarantee a hard deadline with high reliability. The outcomes of the project will be cross-layer models for characterising the end-to-end performance, a prediction and communication co-design framework for improving the delay-reliability trade-off, and an online architecture for implementing model-based algorithms in real networks. They will underpin the development of remote control and advancing automation in manufacturing, transportation, mining, etc.Read moreRead less