Gene therapy to enhance auditory prosthesis performance for cochlear implants. The cochlear implant is the most effective neural prosthesis, restoring hearing to the deaf. The research aims to develop a new type of implant compatible with delivery of therapeutic genes to the cells lining the cochlea. Gene therapy DNA constructs will be developed that will enhance neural survival and growth, improving cochlear implant performance. The research will provide advances in understanding how to tran ....Gene therapy to enhance auditory prosthesis performance for cochlear implants. The cochlear implant is the most effective neural prosthesis, restoring hearing to the deaf. The research aims to develop a new type of implant compatible with delivery of therapeutic genes to the cells lining the cochlea. Gene therapy DNA constructs will be developed that will enhance neural survival and growth, improving cochlear implant performance. The research will provide advances in understanding how to transfer genes into cochlear tissue, as well as development of gene cassettes for effective neural repair. The work will advance the field of bionics, an area where Australia is establishing international preeminence.Read moreRead less
New Approaches for Wireless Implantable Biomedical Devices. Wireless biomedical implants of the future will interface with biological systems to perform physiological tasks such as vision restoration, reanimation of paralyzed limbs, and chemical sensing. The potential benefit to society will come not only from alleviating human suffering and improving quality of life, but also by reducing the health care costs now directed to assist people with disabilities such as blindness, stroke and spinal-c ....New Approaches for Wireless Implantable Biomedical Devices. Wireless biomedical implants of the future will interface with biological systems to perform physiological tasks such as vision restoration, reanimation of paralyzed limbs, and chemical sensing. The potential benefit to society will come not only from alleviating human suffering and improving quality of life, but also by reducing the health care costs now directed to assist people with disabilities such as blindness, stroke and spinal-cord injury survivors. Using similar technologies, cochlear implants have already restored functional hearing to over 100,000 deaf patients around the world. The outcomes of the project can also be applied to a variety of other applications such environmental monitoring, security and identification systems. Read moreRead less
Biomaterial applications of synthetic elastin. The grant will develop a new collaboration between two established laboratories. The Weiss Lab (synthetic elastin; University of Sydney, Australia) will send elastin materials to the Langer Lab (interface of biotechnology and materials science; MIT, USA). Prof. Weiss will visit the Langer Lab and be trained in and participate collaboratively in the use of established MIT methodologies that will focus on applications in cardiac tissue engineering, co ....Biomaterial applications of synthetic elastin. The grant will develop a new collaboration between two established laboratories. The Weiss Lab (synthetic elastin; University of Sydney, Australia) will send elastin materials to the Langer Lab (interface of biotechnology and materials science; MIT, USA). Prof. Weiss will visit the Langer Lab and be trained in and participate collaboratively in the use of established MIT methodologies that will focus on applications in cardiac tissue engineering, controlled release of drugs and vocal fold repair. The MIT group will benefit from access to and the use of elastin materials that are developed in AustraliaRead moreRead less