Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisat ....Soft materials containing hierarchy via 3D sacrificial micro-moulding. The project seeks to develop sophisticated new polymeric materials and devices not possible using current manufacturing techniques. Biomaterials based on hydrogels are ideal substrates for synthetic extra-cellular matrices due to their high water content. However, one of the challenges hindering the use of hydrogels is reproducing the transport properties found in natural tissue with hierarchical features such as vascularisation. To address this, the project plans to develop a 3D moulding process for generating soft materials containing precise channels decorated with defined molecules. Intended outcomes include a fundamental understanding of the 3D moulding process, and new polymers and advanced tools for bioengineers for future applications such as tissue transplants, cell guides for treating spinal cord injuries, soft robotics and microfluidic devices to study cancer metastasis. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,920.00
Summary
Ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging with an array of localised magnetic field sensor . The aim of this project is to design and construct a multifunctional ultra-low magnetic field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument equipped with novel magnetic field sensors. This project is significant because it will deliver an instrument with enhanced sensitivity which is capable of obtaining non-invasive three-dimensional structural imaging of sample ....Ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging with an array of localised magnetic field sensor . The aim of this project is to design and construct a multifunctional ultra-low magnetic field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument equipped with novel magnetic field sensors. This project is significant because it will deliver an instrument with enhanced sensitivity which is capable of obtaining non-invasive three-dimensional structural imaging of samples. This instrument will enable operation of highly sensitive ULF-MRI or ULF-NMR with regenerative energy sources and be a low-cost solution; reducing operation and maintenance costs as well as power consumption.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
An advanced multimodal terahertz spectroscopy and imaging system for WA. An advanced multimodal terahertz spectroscopy and imaging system: Terahertz (THz) technology is in use in diverse applications from semiconductor inspection, metamaterials, biology and protein analysis, pharmaceutical sciences and formulations; security and surveillance, and biomedical imaging for burn assessment and cancer detection. This project will provide researchers with access to state-of-the-art THz spectroscopy and ....An advanced multimodal terahertz spectroscopy and imaging system for WA. An advanced multimodal terahertz spectroscopy and imaging system: Terahertz (THz) technology is in use in diverse applications from semiconductor inspection, metamaterials, biology and protein analysis, pharmaceutical sciences and formulations; security and surveillance, and biomedical imaging for burn assessment and cancer detection. This project will provide researchers with access to state-of-the-art THz spectroscopy and imaging facilities, resulting in high-impact outcomes across the physical and biological sciences and engineering, broadly contributing to Australia's economic and social well being.Read moreRead less
New entropy measures of short term signals for smart wearable devices. This project aims to improve reliability and accuracy of wearable devices by developing a new set of computationally efficient algorithms. Wearable devices can be very effective in remote and continuous monitoring to detect short or bursty anomalous events. Present devices are unable to detect such events effectively due to limited capability in processing short length signal. This project will provide computationally efficie ....New entropy measures of short term signals for smart wearable devices. This project aims to improve reliability and accuracy of wearable devices by developing a new set of computationally efficient algorithms. Wearable devices can be very effective in remote and continuous monitoring to detect short or bursty anomalous events. Present devices are unable to detect such events effectively due to limited capability in processing short length signal. This project will provide computationally efficient algorithms for signal quality analysis and enhanced feature extraction methods in resource constrained wearable devices. This will improve the reliability and performance of wearable devices for adoption in intelligent decision-making systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100241
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Seeing deeply inside the body with the world's smallest microscope. This project aims to develop the world's smallest in vivo microscope that can image the interior of living organisms at a subcellular resolution in a minimally invasive way. The project will shrink an entire microscope to the size of an optical fibre – as thin as a single strand of hair – and image deep regions of the central nervous system. This is expected to improve diagnostic tools and the knowledge of degenerative brain dis ....Seeing deeply inside the body with the world's smallest microscope. This project aims to develop the world's smallest in vivo microscope that can image the interior of living organisms at a subcellular resolution in a minimally invasive way. The project will shrink an entire microscope to the size of an optical fibre – as thin as a single strand of hair – and image deep regions of the central nervous system. This is expected to improve diagnostic tools and the knowledge of degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This project aims to completely transform the landscape of biomedical research and industry, with expected discoveries revolutionising the diagnosis and treatment of brain conditions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100009
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Spatial, spectral and temporal imaging through multimode optical fibre. This project aims to develop technologies for imaging through a multimode fibre that controls and measures each property of light; amplitude, phase, polarisation, wavelength and space as it propagates through an optical fibre. This will be pursued through the development of three prototype systems, where each system targets a particular property of light. The outcomes would ultimately enable multimode fibres to act as ultrac ....Spatial, spectral and temporal imaging through multimode optical fibre. This project aims to develop technologies for imaging through a multimode fibre that controls and measures each property of light; amplitude, phase, polarisation, wavelength and space as it propagates through an optical fibre. This will be pursued through the development of three prototype systems, where each system targets a particular property of light. The outcomes would ultimately enable multimode fibres to act as ultracompact, general-purpose optical conduits into the body through which a wide array of biomedical techniques can be performed in a minimally invasive fashion not currently possible. This project will provide significant benefit to the study of fundamental phenomena in optical fibres.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100986
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
An innovative platform using non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) to control stem cell differentiation outcomes. It is difficult to control the tissue type that stem cells will form when combined with biomaterials, as the outcome is influenced by the 'stiffness' of the surface to which the stem cells attach. This project will determine how non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) control stem cell behaviours and use this information to direct stem cell differentiation outcomes.
Regenerating articular cartilage with smart hydrogels and fabrication technologies. Osteoarthritis affects over 1.6 million Australians and a cure remains elusive. Tissue engineering promises to regenerate joints, but issues with tissue quality, organisation and cost have led to limited clinical application. This project will develop new tissue fabrication technologies to engineer cartilage with appropriate organisation and lower costs.
Imaging-based fluid-structure interaction modelling of carotid atherosclerotic plaque. This project aims to combine computational modelling, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mechanical measurement and pathological analysis to investigate carotid plaque progression, and quantify the critical blood flow and plaque stress/strain conditions under which plaque rupture is likely to occur. MRI-based 3D computational models with multi-component plaque structures and their interaction with blood flow wi ....Imaging-based fluid-structure interaction modelling of carotid atherosclerotic plaque. This project aims to combine computational modelling, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mechanical measurement and pathological analysis to investigate carotid plaque progression, and quantify the critical blood flow and plaque stress/strain conditions under which plaque rupture is likely to occur. MRI-based 3D computational models with multi-component plaque structures and their interaction with blood flow will be developed and solved numerically to identify suitable plaque rupture risk indicators. Mechanical properties of plaque components will be measured ex-vivo and fibre orientation-based constitutive rules will be developed. This project aims to lead to quantitative understandings of plaque progression and rupture.Read moreRead less
Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to r ....Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to rapidly, at high resolution, elucidate how mechanotransductive cues determine the fate choice of mesenchymal stem cells, and furthermore, how to manipulate them with smart biomaterial design to achieve desired outcomes for tissue engineering. Read moreRead less