Development Of A PET Detection System Prototype With Depth Of Interaction Capability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,906.00
Summary
This development project invovles the development of a slim-line Positron Emission Tomogrphy (PET) detection sub-module, the crucial component of PET scanners, that is small and extremely flexible. It is planned to utilize this module in the design of customized new commercial PET scanners ideal for diagnosing human brain and breast disorders. The development will proceed in collaboration with Insight Oceania-ADAC, Sydney. Insight Oceania-ADAC are very excited by the potential applications and f ....This development project invovles the development of a slim-line Positron Emission Tomogrphy (PET) detection sub-module, the crucial component of PET scanners, that is small and extremely flexible. It is planned to utilize this module in the design of customized new commercial PET scanners ideal for diagnosing human brain and breast disorders. The development will proceed in collaboration with Insight Oceania-ADAC, Sydney. Insight Oceania-ADAC are very excited by the potential applications and future markets (Australia and overseas) of the newly developing PET detection sub-modules for dedicated PET scanners. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging tool, which is able to quantify physiological and biochemical processes in vivo, using short-lived cyclotron-produced radiotracers. PET is emerging as an extremely important diagnostic procedure used in the early detection of cancers, neurological diseases and as an aid in treatment monitoring and drug development. The unique advantage of PET over anatomical imaging techniques, such as X-ray CT and MRI, arises from its ability to measure changes in tumour biology, at the molecular level, prior to anatomical changes in involved tissues, using trace amounts of a radiolabelled compound (radiotracer). The full potential of PET however, is not being completely utilized due to constraints within the current designs of PET scanners. When used to its full potential PET, in principle, would be an excellent diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool for breast cancer, brain tumours and other neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, post stress disorder, dementia, and depression. Lack of flexibility in current PET scanner designs to date has meant that no commercial human brain or breast imaging scanners exist. Pilot project data proved the feasibility of our new flexible PET detection module design.Read moreRead less
Anti-PD 1 Brain Collaboration + Radiotherapy Extension: The ABC-X Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,010,141.00
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine whether administering radiotherapy to melanoma brain tumours, in combination with 2 drugs called nivolumab and ipilimumab(also known as Immunotherapy), will be more effective than treating brain tumours with immunotherapy. Patients in this trial will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Group 1 will receive radiotherapy to their melanoma brain lesion(s), combined with immunotherapy. Group 2 will receive immunotherapy treatment alone.
Systematic Revision Of The Australian Fishes Of The Family Pomadasyidae
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Study the fishes of the family Pomadasyidae in the scientific collection of the Australian Museum Sydney & the National Museum Melbourne
The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brie ....The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website. Objectives: 1. Recommend changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process. 2. Chang to the Fishnames process. 3. The composition of the Fishnames committee. 4. A brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website Read moreRead less
A Program To Develop A Consensus As To "marketing" Names Of Fish Throughout Australia And To Publicise To The Trade And To The Public These "marketing" Names
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Enable production of a list of Australian and imported commercial fish, showing the scientific names, local names in each State and a suggested marketing name for each variety
Develop And Promote The Australian Fish Names Standard (AS-SSA 5300) And Ensure Reaccreditation As A Standards Development Organisation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$123,936.00
Summary
Use of standard Fish Names achieves outcomes that are consistent with the aims of industry and governments: 1. Reduced mis-reporting improves fisheries monitoring, stock assessment and sustainability. 2. Reduced confusion over fish names increases efficiency in seafood marketing, consumer confidence and industry profitability. 3. Improved accuracy in trade descriptions and labelling enables consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing seafood and reduces the potential for ....Use of standard Fish Names achieves outcomes that are consistent with the aims of industry and governments: 1. Reduced mis-reporting improves fisheries monitoring, stock assessment and sustainability. 2. Reduced confusion over fish names increases efficiency in seafood marketing, consumer confidence and industry profitability. 3. Improved accuracy in trade descriptions and labelling enables consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing seafood and reduces the potential for misleading and deceptive conduct. 4. Improved traceability results in more efficient management of seafood related public health incidents (including recalls) and food safety.
The commitment to standardizing Fish Names in Australia has been undertaken since the late 1970s. Strategic investments by the FRDC and SSA leadership on standardizing Fish Names culminated in the development of the Australian Fish Names Standard AS-SSA 5300-2007(AFNS).
Public and consumer confidence is vital to the well being of Australia’s seafood industry. Standard Fish Names remove confusion, strengthen consumer confidence, create market efficiency, underpin effective fisheries monitoring and improve management of food safety.
The AFNS contains agreed names for over 600 commercially important domestic and imported species of fish, and over 4,000 other domestic fish species. The process of assigning these agreed names involved the expertise of several of the world’s best fisheries taxonomists and other key stakeholders.
Development of the AFNS is underpinned by rigorous procedures agreed to by government, industry and other stakeholders and which are administered by SSA and its Fish Names Committee.
SSA is one of only 5 Standards Development Organizations (SDO) accredited by Standards Australia.
SSA has ongoing commitments to Standards Australia (including annual accreditation and audit costs) which must be met to maintain its accreditation as an SDO. Failure to do so will result in the Australian Fish Names Standard ceasing to exist and all files, etc passed on to Standards Australia.
Objectives: 1. 1. Ensure FRDC is accredited by Standards Australia as a Standards Development Organisation. 2. Continually improve the Australian Fish Names Standard AS SSA 5300 and underlying procedures to meet market, regulator and stakeholder needs and expectations. 3. Review and update Fish Names Procedures to incorporate improvements identified in the annual Standards Australia audit and feedback from stakeholders. 4. Improve the Fish Names website including the graphic design, usability and SEO (www.fishnames.com.au) 5. Provide a Fish Names Hotline service to support the adoption of standard fish names. 6. Promote the usage of Australian Standard Fish Names to the broader seafood industry. 7. Development of an alternative funding mechanism for the Administration of the Australian Fish Names Standard. 8. Undertake activities to further promote the uptake of fish names as agreed with FRDC (additional objective). Read moreRead less
Upgrade Of National Fisheries Database To Include Images An Common Names Of Australian Fishes
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$315,422.00
Summary
Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important ....Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important baseline for a variety of other industry uses. The resources are presently available to improve this baseline and these may not be available in the future. It also coincides with a period of activity whereby the names our seafood will be standardised and legislated. The project is timely and should be completed now.
In addition to the commercial fishing industry, fish names are frequently referred to by an extremely broad variety of groups including administrators, aquarists, editors, educators, lawyers, legislators, recreational fishermen, scientists, seafood consumers and writers. The need for a standard list of common names of Australian fishes was eloquently flagged by eminent Australian scientist, Gilbert Whitley, some thirty years ago (see attached excerpt from his paper, appendix 4). A national nomenclatural standard covering all Australian fishes is long overdue - no such standard presently exists for secondary commercial any bycatch species. CAAB has now been adopted as the industry wide coding system but would be considerably more useful if it contained standardised common name information and an image of each species.
The unavailability or inconsistency use of common names of fish has created a problem for all sectors of the seafood industry. It has also led to serious confusion when interpreting catch return sheets and fisheries data based on common names. Even the guidelines of this application form (ie Project title and identification) request the use of the approved marketing mane of each species. However, most secondary commercial and almost all bycatch species have not been allocated a single approved common name.
Whereas the process of establishing single names for the main commercial species has been contentious, it is likely to be much simpler for the remaining fishes. If approached properly, the task only needs to be done once. The final product should be definitive work on the common names of Australian fishes requiring minimal alteration in the future.
The recently published Australian Seafood Handbook has created many enquiries from governmental and commercial groups wanting to gain access to images held in the CSIRO fish image library. However, in it s present form, this image collection cannot be accessed cost effectively.. The bulk of the collection is in celluloid format and the digital component has bot been assigned to a search and retrieval oriented database. Hence, it is presently grossly under utilised. A logical step is to digitise the collection and make the images freely available on the CAAB website, simultaneously improving accessibility and making CAAB more user friendly. Objectives: 1. To compile a draft list of common names of all Australian fishes for consideration by the Fish Names Committee and other stakeholders groups. 2. To scan and database high quality, digital images of Australian commercial and bycatch fishes and demonstrate their value in product promotion through associate websites and posters. 3. To upgrade the fisheries coding system website (CAAB) to include common names and images of Australian, fishes, enabling both easy and free access by industry. Read moreRead less