Intelligent training (iTraining) for the human Achilles tendon. The project aims to improve understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in human motor function and is also a structure that is commonly injured and notoriously difficult to treat. A major barrier to improving Achilles tendon function, preventing tendon injury and enhancing tendon repair is a poor understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon durin ....Intelligent training (iTraining) for the human Achilles tendon. The project aims to improve understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in human motor function and is also a structure that is commonly injured and notoriously difficult to treat. A major barrier to improving Achilles tendon function, preventing tendon injury and enhancing tendon repair is a poor understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon during training and rehabilitation. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the loading conditions that optimise tendon metabolism. Based on this, it then intends to develop new technologies to estimate the mechanical behaviour of the human Achilles tendon in real time based on integrated use of wearable technology, and new training guidelines that will optimise human tendon adaptation.Read moreRead less
Influence of electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones on nervous function in the human brain and heart. This research will investigate the influence of mobile phone electromagnetic exposures on the nervous function of the human brain and heart. Brain activity will be monitored by EEG recordings, and heart function will be measured by blood pressure and ECG. As far as possible the methodologies employed will be consistent with previous reported studies in order to allow comparisons, and use ....Influence of electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones on nervous function in the human brain and heart. This research will investigate the influence of mobile phone electromagnetic exposures on the nervous function of the human brain and heart. Brain activity will be monitored by EEG recordings, and heart function will be measured by blood pressure and ECG. As far as possible the methodologies employed will be consistent with previous reported studies in order to allow comparisons, and use standardised quantifiable metrics so that the biological significance of the data can be meaningfully interpreted. The outcomes of this project will address uncertainties in the present data which are of concern to national and international regulatory and health agencies.Read moreRead less
New techniques for modelling, diagnosis and counter measures for cardiac related sleep disordered breathing. Around 50% of congestive heart failure sufferers have some form of sleep disordered breathing. However, little has been done so far to simultaneously monitor, analyse and treat the two conditions. Therefore, this project proposes to develop new technology incorporating mathematical models for heart rate variability, considering the links between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovasc ....New techniques for modelling, diagnosis and counter measures for cardiac related sleep disordered breathing. Around 50% of congestive heart failure sufferers have some form of sleep disordered breathing. However, little has been done so far to simultaneously monitor, analyse and treat the two conditions. Therefore, this project proposes to develop new technology incorporating mathematical models for heart rate variability, considering the links between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease. This innovation will enable, for the first time, a device capable of accurate and reliable diagnosis of various sleep disorders using only conventional ECG data. Such technology has the potential to produce significant community health benefits, and save several millions of lives worldwide.Read moreRead less
Combined optical and electrical stimulation of auditory neurons. The bionic ear, which has now helped to improve the hearing of over 200,000 people worldwide, is a great example of Australian innovation success. This project aims to develop the fundamental technology that will underpin the next generation of these devices using a combination of infrared light and electrical signals to stimulate auditory nerves.
Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Damaged joints do not repair spontaneously, often leading to arthritis. Bone defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are challenging to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. This created a need for scaffolds to provide temporary support for new bone. However they lack the combined physical/biolo ....Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Damaged joints do not repair spontaneously, often leading to arthritis. Bone defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are challenging to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. This created a need for scaffolds to provide temporary support for new bone. However they lack the combined physical/biological properties necessary for bone repair. We developed new scaffolds with improved mechanical/biological properties to mimic bone which will lead to new treatments for bone damage.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Sensor-based Physiological Control of an Implantable Rotary Blood Pump. With over 11 million people needing heart transplants worldwide and only 3000 donor hearts, an effective alternative therapy is needed. The Ventracor Ltd. rotary blood pump is one possible approach whereby a fully implantable mechanical device assists the failing heart. The innovative steps in this research proposal will be a means to robustly and safely control the speed of the pump to meet the metabolic needs of the ....Hybrid Sensor-based Physiological Control of an Implantable Rotary Blood Pump. With over 11 million people needing heart transplants worldwide and only 3000 donor hearts, an effective alternative therapy is needed. The Ventracor Ltd. rotary blood pump is one possible approach whereby a fully implantable mechanical device assists the failing heart. The innovative steps in this research proposal will be a means to robustly and safely control the speed of the pump to meet the metabolic needs of the body. Apart from the obvious health benefits for patients, this will provide the company with a huge market advantage that will also help to bolster the Australian medical device industry.Read moreRead less
Building a Smart Diagnostic System for Low Back Ailments. This research will develop an early back ailment diagnostic system that will reduce the recurrence of low back pain, and hence reduce the cost to the health system. This is significant to the community from prevention of pain, to the health care system that spends billions of dollars combating this modern day ailment and towards the industry where the low back pain is the single largest reason for sick leave in Australia. It will also giv ....Building a Smart Diagnostic System for Low Back Ailments. This research will develop an early back ailment diagnostic system that will reduce the recurrence of low back pain, and hence reduce the cost to the health system. This is significant to the community from prevention of pain, to the health care system that spends billions of dollars combating this modern day ailment and towards the industry where the low back pain is the single largest reason for sick leave in Australia. It will also give rise to employment of skilled technical people and an opportunity to increase high-value exports from Australia.Read moreRead less
Putting an end to hospital-borne infection with micronebulisation of lung-safe disinfectants. Dangerous infections are unfortunately common in hospitals, established and retransmitted via surfaces and handheld items, representing a leading contributor to death worldwide, and potentially a far more serious problem to come as antimicrobial resistance worsens. The project aims to exploit a newly discovered and unique low power nebulisation technology to nebulise a strongly antiviral, antibacterial ....Putting an end to hospital-borne infection with micronebulisation of lung-safe disinfectants. Dangerous infections are unfortunately common in hospitals, established and retransmitted via surfaces and handheld items, representing a leading contributor to death worldwide, and potentially a far more serious problem to come as antimicrobial resistance worsens. The project aims to exploit a newly discovered and unique low power nebulisation technology to nebulise a strongly antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agent, triethylene glycol that is too viscous to do so by any other known method. Through refinement and engineering of the technology via this project, handheld and room-based continuously operating nebulisers will produce continuous microdroplet mists of these pathogen-killing agents that deposit on surfaces throughout a hospital.Read moreRead less
Estimating The Risk of Preterm Birth Using Blood Tests. This research falls under National Research Priority 'A Healthy Start to Life'. The overall aim of this project is to develop risk estimates for preterm birth that may be used in clinical practice for the management of pregnancy. The project is concerned with developing computational methods, software, and a clinical interface that may be used by obstetricians. As well as identifying women at high risk of preterm birth, this approach will a ....Estimating The Risk of Preterm Birth Using Blood Tests. This research falls under National Research Priority 'A Healthy Start to Life'. The overall aim of this project is to develop risk estimates for preterm birth that may be used in clinical practice for the management of pregnancy. The project is concerned with developing computational methods, software, and a clinical interface that may be used by obstetricians. As well as identifying women at high risk of preterm birth, this approach will also help identify women at very low risk of preterm birth, and so those women more suited to management by midwives, either in a hospital or home birth setting.Read moreRead less
New techniques to detect fetal heart abnormalities. Australia’s national fetal death rate is 6.7 per one thousand births. In Australia’s Indigenous community it surges to 12.3 deaths per one thousand births. Early diagnosis (and management) of abnormal fetu.ses with cardiac defects will go a long way in reducing these numbers. The proposed technology will help set up easy-to-use systems for fetal cardiac abnormality screening and reduce fetal deaths and congenital heart disease burden in adult l ....New techniques to detect fetal heart abnormalities. Australia’s national fetal death rate is 6.7 per one thousand births. In Australia’s Indigenous community it surges to 12.3 deaths per one thousand births. Early diagnosis (and management) of abnormal fetu.ses with cardiac defects will go a long way in reducing these numbers. The proposed technology will help set up easy-to-use systems for fetal cardiac abnormality screening and reduce fetal deaths and congenital heart disease burden in adult life. This project will also provide domain trained researchers with cutting edge international academic and industry expertise.Read moreRead less