Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,708,510.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. This hub aims to improve detection of biological materials by building a portable device for rapid, time-critical detection of low-abundance molecular and cellular analytes. It is expected that the resulting technologies would be used at medical points of care, ordinary workplaces and centres of activity to test for tiny levels of targeted molecu ....ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels. This hub aims to improve detection of biological materials by building a portable device for rapid, time-critical detection of low-abundance molecular and cellular analytes. It is expected that the resulting technologies would be used at medical points of care, ordinary workplaces and centres of activity to test for tiny levels of targeted molecules. The initial focus would be early diagnosis of disease and point-of-care drug testing for humans and animals, but the technology platform could be used to sample food and environmental toxins. The hub expects these disruptive technologies will make Australian biotechnology, diagnostics, veterinary, agribusiness and manufacturing firms globally competitive.Read moreRead less
Enhancing biopharmaceuticals: A disruptive bioseparation resin technology. This project aims to develop an innovative and disruptive platform technology for designing and manufacturing tailor-made high-performance bioseparation resins to enhance biopharmaceuticals manufacturing. Bacterial cell factories will be developed to enable biotechnological production of innovative polyester bead-based bioseparation resins, which will revolutionise manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Expected outcomes o ....Enhancing biopharmaceuticals: A disruptive bioseparation resin technology. This project aims to develop an innovative and disruptive platform technology for designing and manufacturing tailor-made high-performance bioseparation resins to enhance biopharmaceuticals manufacturing. Bacterial cell factories will be developed to enable biotechnological production of innovative polyester bead-based bioseparation resins, which will revolutionise manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Expected outcomes of this project are cost-effective and strongly enhanced approaches for biopharmaceuticals recovery, thereby providing significant benefits to accelerate research and development in early stage discovery and manufacture of biologics, therapeutic proteins and vaccines.Read moreRead less
Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354766
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Molecular farming: seizing the opportunity to establish a new technology based, value adding industry in and for Australia. Molecular farming involves the production of novel products in plants and brings together the technology to genetically modify plants to produce these products with efficient production of plant biomass. The range of potential products is very broad and includes therapeutic and industrial proteins, bioplastics, fibres, food additives, glues and dyes. The molecular farming i ....Molecular farming: seizing the opportunity to establish a new technology based, value adding industry in and for Australia. Molecular farming involves the production of novel products in plants and brings together the technology to genetically modify plants to produce these products with efficient production of plant biomass. The range of potential products is very broad and includes therapeutic and industrial proteins, bioplastics, fibres, food additives, glues and dyes. The molecular farming industry is already established in North America with products on the market. Australia has an outstanding opportunity to participate in this new industry as a producer if we can aggregate the critical scientific mass and work together with the current fledgling industry and State and Federal regulators.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 biorem ....Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 bioremediation and algal/bacterial systems for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. This will be achieved by applying research on photosynthetic light utilisation efficiency and carbon fixation, chlorophyll fluorescence, biochemistry of secondary metabolites, molecular biology and photobioreactor design and engineering, informed by an understanding of the ecology of these algae.Read moreRead less
Life hanging on a thread; disrupting the structure and function of lepidopteran silking behaviour. The production and use of silk by many invertebrates is vital for their survival. We develop a means of visualising and understanding the role of silking behaviour as a survival mechanism for Helicoverpa larvae (a key world-wide pest) with a view to disrupting silking. This novel project allows us to understand not just where larvae go but what they do along the way. The project outcomes will have ....Life hanging on a thread; disrupting the structure and function of lepidopteran silking behaviour. The production and use of silk by many invertebrates is vital for their survival. We develop a means of visualising and understanding the role of silking behaviour as a survival mechanism for Helicoverpa larvae (a key world-wide pest) with a view to disrupting silking. This novel project allows us to understand not just where larvae go but what they do along the way. The project outcomes will have wide application to the study and control of lepidopteran pests in natural and agricultural ecosystems and is of interest to applied and fundamental projects associated with insect pest control, behaviour and ecology.Read moreRead less
ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These resear ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These research directions pursued by strong multi-disciplinary teams spanning biology, chemistry, physics, bioengineering and medicine will benefit from the support of the Network programs. Through its focus on academic - industry collaboration the Network will also facilitate development of basic scientific discoveries into commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Dual-membrane upgrading towards sustainable wastewater management. Water utilities in Australia have set aspirational targets for energy- and carbon-neutral wastewater services by as early as 2030. However, these two aims are often incompatible because of excessive aeration energy consumption and substantial greenhouse gas emissions in wastewater treatment plants. This project aims to develop a novel biotechnology that enables simultaneous bioenergy recovery, cost-efficient nitrogen removal and ....Dual-membrane upgrading towards sustainable wastewater management. Water utilities in Australia have set aspirational targets for energy- and carbon-neutral wastewater services by as early as 2030. However, these two aims are often incompatible because of excessive aeration energy consumption and substantial greenhouse gas emissions in wastewater treatment plants. This project aims to develop a novel biotechnology that enables simultaneous bioenergy recovery, cost-efficient nitrogen removal and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, thus bringing multifaceted benefits to wastewater management. The project will provide strong support to the Australian water industry in their endeavour to achieve economically and environmentally sustainable wastewater services.Read moreRead less
Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches a ....Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches are expensive, slow, and often ineffective. We will deliver new microbial- and plant-driven biotechnologies for rapid, cost-effective remediation of bauxite residue. This will enable safe, sustainable closure of storage facilities, and safeguard the strong contribution of this $15 billion industry to Australia's economy. Read moreRead less
Bio-recovery of rare earth elements from Australian soils and mine tailings. This project aims to discover how microbes dissolve weathering-resistant phosphate minerals that contain valuable rare earth elements used widely in modern technology. This discovery would create new knowledge in the interdisciplinary fields of biogeochemistry and biohydrometallurgy, using an innovative combination of techniques in metagenomics, microbiology and mineralogy. Expected research outcomes include new, more ....Bio-recovery of rare earth elements from Australian soils and mine tailings. This project aims to discover how microbes dissolve weathering-resistant phosphate minerals that contain valuable rare earth elements used widely in modern technology. This discovery would create new knowledge in the interdisciplinary fields of biogeochemistry and biohydrometallurgy, using an innovative combination of techniques in metagenomics, microbiology and mineralogy. Expected research outcomes include new, more economic and environmentally sustainable biotechnologies for recovering rare earth elements and increasing phosphorus availability in Australian mineral deposits and soils. These outcomes should benefit the mining and agricultural sectors, by decreasing Australia's dependency on overseas REE supply and the use of fertilizers.Read moreRead less