THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

COMparative Pharmacotherapy And peRsonalised stratErgy in the management... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Uncovering the biochemical basis for age-dependent myelin loss Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Tracing the origins of Long Period Transients in the Milky Way . This project aims to revolutionise our understanding of the periodic and bursting sky by systematically probing the relation between neutron stars, fast radio bursts and long period transients using the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope. The project's intended outcomes are to address the scarcity of knowledge about long period transients by detecting them, studying their emission mechanisms, and exploring their evolution in time and type. Benefits include developing and refining novel open-source search algorithms for radio transients. The project will also result in greater public engagement in science in the form of a comprehensive public outreach program to inspire young adults to pursue STEM. Field of research: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences Leveraging the $100 million investment in the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope, this Discovery Project aims to address gaps in the understanding of long-period radio transients—objects previously thought not to exist. These objects have prompted a reevaluation of decades-old models regarding compact objects, their radio wave emissions, and their populations within the Milky Way. The results from this project will contribute to making key predictions for future transient search experiments to be conducted with the multi-billion-dollar SKA telescope currently under construction in Western Australia. A key outcome will be the development of a software pipeline for transient searches, which will be made available as an open-source tool for the global astronomy community. The project will enhance national capacity by equipping researchers with transferable skills in data science and high-performance computing, which are valuable in careers not only within astrophysics but also in finance and IT. The intriguing nature of these objects and their potential for exploring extreme physics have sparked considerable public enthusiasm for science. Results will be actively communicated to the public through social media, television, newspapers, podcasts, public talks, and school visits. This project will solidify Australia's position as a world leader in the study of long-period radio transients.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Dynamic cell membrane remodelling regulates nutrient homeostasis. The cell surface provides a major barrier to all external molecules. We propose that eukaryotic cells have evolved a mechanism to transiently modify its protein composition by regulating the entry and/or exit of nutrient regulatory molecules to this barrier. This serves as a major mechanism by which cells make decisions about the choice of nutrient entry to maintain nutrient homeostasis in the face of a changing environment. In this proposal we will examine the full repertoire of the regulated cell surface nutrient regulatory mechanism by identifying regulated membrane proteins and the mechanism by which they undergo regulated transport to and from the cell surface. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project investigates a fundamental biological process: how cells sense and respond to the environment. Despite its essential role in life, little is known about how this process is precisely regulated. This project aims to fill this gap by investigating how solute carrier (SLC) transporters—an ancient and conserved protein family—are dynamically trafficked to and from the cell membrane to control nutrient uptake. Understanding this mechanism is particularly important for Australia, where climate change, overpopulation, and biodiversity loss threaten food security and native ecosystems. These findings could inform strategies to improve nutrient resilience in agriculture and conservation, offering long-term environmental and economic benefits. By uncovering how organisms adapt their nutrient intake, this may pave the way for biotechnological or therapeutic innovations. The study team is committed to sharing all research findings beyond academia. CI James’ popular podcast on personalised genomics and his active participation in public events at University of Sydney reflects his passion for public engagement. The evolutionary significance of SLC transporters makes this research ideal for storytelling about life’s origins, evolution, and adaptation—topics with wide public appeal. Through podcasts, media, and public talks, the research team aims to make all discoveries accessible and impactful, maximising their understanding, translation, and future adoption across sectors.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Project Governance and Governmentality as Collaborative Challenges. This project aims to investigate governance and governmentality practices in major complex projects, focusing on enhancing social integration and fostering efficiency, inclusion, and sustainability. It seeks to generate new knowledge by positioning governmentality as a central lens, advancing beyond traditional contract-based governance models. Expected outcomes include effective strategies and solutions for governance and governmentality, fostering non-contractual stakeholder engagement, and achieving societal and environmental objectives. These outcomes will benefit Australia by improving project efficiency, fostering social cohesion through equitable partnerships with indigenous communities, and supporting national sustainability goals. Field of research: 3507 - Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour This research tackles a pressing challenge in governing Australia’s major infrastructure projects, vital to national prosperity. Traditional governance, reliant on contracts and formal rules, often fails to manage complex relationships, meet community expectations or deliver value. This project explores how shared norms within organisations as well as collaboration with non-contractual actors, such as local communities, can be cultivated, developed and better integrated into project governance. The potential benefits are significant for all Australians. Economically, streamlined governance could save millions in taxpayer funds by reducing delays and disputes, delivering more efficient infrastructure that boosts productivity. Socially, fostering trust between project teams and communities mitigates conflicts over issues such as noise or land use, ensuring projects align with public needs. Environmentally, inclusive governance encourages greener outcomes, responding to calls for sustainable urban development. These outcomes directly serve citizens who depend on reliable infrastructure daily. Findings will reach beyond academia through public seminars, accessible industry guides, and media engagement, enabling builders, councils, and policymakers to adopt better management practices. By demonstrating how teamwork and community input can elevate project outcomes, this research ensures lasting economic, social, and environmental value for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Targeting an essential bridge between bacterial membranes. This project aims to reveal the function of a protein bridge that is found prevalently across bacteria. These bridges allow bacteria to transport molecules that they use to build membrane barriers which stop antibiotics from working, and appendages that they use to cause infections. The project expects to leverage networks between USA and Australia to structurally and biochemically observe how these bridges form and to invent innovative ways to block the formation and function of these bridges inside bacterial cells. The knowledge gained from this project will improve our understanding of how bacteria generate their cell surfaces and will likely benefit the future development of antibiotics that target these bridges to kill superbugs. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The bridges investigated in this project allow bacteria to transport molecules to their cell surfaces. The consequence of this process is that bacteria can grow, persist on surfaces and in the environment, and establish infections in Australians and people globally (e.g. E. coli “food poisoning”). These protein bridges also assist bacteria to create membrane barriers around their surfaces to resist antibiotic treatment. The goal of this project is to uncover how these bridges transport molecules at the molecular level inside bacteria. Aligning with the Australian Government’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy, this analysis may uncover new avenues to make better antibiotics in the future. This project also expects to use more advanced methods to target cell surface structures which will increase national capability. This project will also enable the transfer of scientific resources and technologies from the USA to Australia, help maintain a strong international profile for Australian research in this highly competitive field, and support research student training in advanced technologies. The project is also cost efficient for the ARC given in-kind contributions from the University of Sydney, the Australian National University, and by a collaborating US institution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Unravelling grain boundary network plasticity for high-performance alloys. This project aims to quantitatively unravel the coordinated plasticity of grain boundary networks in high-performance alloys and their impact on the exceptional mechanical properties, through in situ nanomechanical testing and theoretical modelling. The research will bring about new fundamental knowledge and innovative scientific framework to predict material behaviours, guiding the design of high-performance alloys with inherent defect architecture rather than extensive alloying. These advances will push the boundary of material properties through a more sustainable approach, directly contributing to Australia’s transition to a net zero future and delivering substantial economic benefits by supporting critical industrial applications. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to bridge a critical knowledge gap between the exceptional mechanical properties of advanced alloys and the complex interface networks within these materials, profoundly enhancing our current understanding of high-performance alloys’ response to external stress at multiple scales. The fundamental knowledge and innovative scientific framework developed through this research will be pivotal for designing robust and durable alloys, directly benefiting the development of next-generation infrastructure in Australia, including transportation, offshore platforms and renewable energy. Particularly, the development of cutting-edge alloys with optimised interface network architectures will promote sustainable manufacturing practices by reducing reliance on extensive alloying, aligning with the National Science and Research Priorities for transitioning to a net-zero future. Furthermore, this fundamental research will drive continuous innovation in high-performance materials, advancing Australia's leading stand in material engineering and manufacturing. Therefore, it is expected to enhance Australia's global competitiveness in both fundamental research and advanced manufacturing, fostering emerging industries and stimulating future economic growths.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Frozen frontiers: Exploring Australia's oldest high-altitude occupation Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Long-Run Macroeconomics of Housing Affordability and Homeownership. This project aims to investigate long-run drivers of declining Australian and international housing affordability. It expects to generate new knowledge about the causes of rising house prices and falling homeownership by combining historical housing data with macroeconomic housing market models. This innovative approach can help disentangle the effects of changing housing demand and supply factors such as declining interest rates, rising incomes, growing populations, and tighter constraints on new home construction. Expected outcomes include new insights into long-run housing market dynamics and the effectiveness of housing policy interventions, which should benefit Australian households through improved housing affordability and access. Field of research: 3801 - Applied Economics A long-running housing crisis has seen sharp declines in housing affordability around the world, but especially in Australia. Since the 1980s, Australian house prices have grown from two- to nearly six-times the average income and it now takes more than 10 years for the typical household to save for a deposit on their first home. As homeownership continues to decline, the crisis poses both economic and social risks for families while putting strain on government resources directed to housing support. This project investigates and compares the macroeconomic drivers of house prices and homeownership across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA since the mid-20th century. It quantifies the roles of housing demand and supply over the long run via falling interest rates, rising incomes, growing populations, and tighter constraints on new home construction. The project fills gaps in knowledge since existing research tends to focus on non-Australian housing markets, short-term fluctuations, and isolated macroeconomic factors. The project aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers seeking to improve housing affordability. Lower housing costs will provide significant economic and social benefits by improving housing access, reducing housing stress, and alleviating pressure on government budgets. Research findings will be shared with macroeconomic and housing policymakers and with the public via conferences, lectures, school visits, and writing and interviews with the media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Challenging the limits of RNA virus genome size. This project will expand the known diversity of RNA viruses and the proteins they encode, challenging foundational principles in the field of RNA virus evolution. Combining innovative methods in molecular and computational biology, this will be the first study to define the mechanisms that RNA viruses use to replicate during infection. Expected outcomes include the first comprehensive catalogue of RNA virus diversity in Australian sea sponges that will inform reef conservation strategies and new knowledge of virus-host interactions. The benefits of documenting RNA virus ecology and evolution in marine ecosystems extend to the broader community who depend on Australia’s iconic fauna for their livelihood and are threatened by climate change. Field of research: 3107 - Microbiology Understanding the factors that determine virus ecology and evolution is essential for combating outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, both those that lead to pandemics and those that threaten Australia’s ecosystems. This DECRA will perform ground-breaking work using Australia’s iconic fauna – reef sponges – to provide a new perspective on RNA virus diversity and evolution. Sponges are projected to supplant corals as primary reef builders as the climate changes, profoundly impacting the composition of reefs on both macro and micro scales. Yet little is known about the RNA viruses that currently infect sponges, creating knowledge gaps in our understanding of RNA virus diversity and feasible strategies for reef conservation. To address this pressing topical issue, this DECRA will work in collaboration with academic and government keyholders to generate a comprehensive catalogue of RNA virus diversity in healthy and diseased ecosystems in Australia. This catalogue will serve as the foundation for the monitoring of emerging pathogens in Australia’s coral reefs. Aligned with the National Science and Research Priorities (Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment) and the Australian Government Priorities (Securing Australia’s place in a changing global environment), this project demonstrates Australia’s commitment to safeguarding the rich biodiversity that supports the livelihoods of communities across the country.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Reducing Otherness: Blurring Category Boundaries to Decrease Prejudice Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Boosting Algorithm Performance with Imperfect Advice. This project aims to develop a suite of new methods to design algorithms that perform best with AI-derived advice, even when imperfect. Recent advances in AI show its power and compel its application. This project is a significant and timely contribution to knowledge, with principled methods of integrating AI into algorithms, without sacrificing safety or robustness. Expected outcomes include practical algorithms with provable guarantees that leverage advice to achieve better solution quality and memory utilisation, especially when data is streamed. These new algorithms will provide significant benefits in effectiveness and efficiency gains, and robustness guarantees, for real-world problems arising in transport, energy, and cybersecurity. Field of research: 4613 - Theory of Computation Artificial intelligence is the great revolution of our time. Partnering with artificial intelligence, society can expect to expand its capabilities in communication, in analysis, processing, and inferences from massive datasets, in the development of autonomous vehicles, in remote and AI-supported medicine. In a world that seems increasingly fractured, it is incumbent on Australia, a middle power, to develop sovereign capability in the best application of AI technologies. This project expects to develop a groundbreaking new framework to incorporate advice from not-yet-perfected AI systems into the best operation of fundamental computing algorithms. For the last 60-plus years, algorithm design has necessarily been pessimistic: the robust approach, when the input is largely unknown, is to optimise worst-case performance. With AI models able to rapidly analyse data, and opine on its properties, there is the opportunity to design systems of algorithms that harness this advice, even when the advice is misleading. This project expects to generate new knowledge that can be translated to support Australia's developed industries in finance, health, transport, and mining. The algorithm design methodology, carefully prepared experiments, and prototype code, will be presented to benefit numerous applications of fundamental algorithms for analysing massive high-throughput datasets. In augmenting algorithms with AI inferences, Australia becomes more effective, resilient, and secure.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Unravelling nocebo effects: the role of personal and social experiences. Nocebo effects - where negative expectations trigger adverse outcomes - cause significant personal, societal, and economic harm. This fundamental science project aims to use novel experimental methods to uncover the psychological mechanisms underlying nocebo effects acquired via social observation and direct experience, namely social dynamics, attention, and learning processes. Outcomes include a new evidence-based model of the nocebo effect, leading to improved identification of when and why these effects occur. Results will significantly advance scientific understanding of the nocebo effect, providing enormous benefit to the Australian community by paving the way for future translational research, reducing the cost of nocebo effects. Field of research: 5204 - Cognitive and Computational Psychology Nocebo effects occur when negative expectations cause harmful outcomes. As everyone can hold these negative expectations, nocebo effects can impact all Australians. Nocebo effects can significantly reduce treatment adherence and delay recovery. On a societal level, they can lead to mass ‘communicated’ illnesses, resistance to new technologies (e.g., 5G wireless and wind turbines), and refusal of life-saving treatments like vaccines. When treatment non-adherence is considered, nocebo effects are estimated to cost Australia over $900 million annually (Cutler et al., 2017, Howard et al., 2021). However, nocebo effects cause a multitude of additional costly harms. Observing others undergo treatment - in hospitals, clinics, or on social media - can trigger nocebo effects. Despite their broad societal impact, the mechanisms driving these socially acquired nocebo effects are poorly understood. This project addresses how nocebo effects acquired through social observation differ from direct experience, examining interpersonal dynamics, attention, and learning processes. Outcomes include an evidence-based model addressing socially and directly learned nocebo effects, outlining how and when they arise. Results will significantly increase our understanding of the nocebo effect, enhancing Australia’s global leadership in nocebo-related research. This understanding will support future targeted interventions that reduce the personal and societal harm caused by the nocebo effect.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Sex technology to support sexuality for people with physical disability. People with physical disability in care are denied their sexuality, but sex technology unlocks a future without sex stigma and limitations. This project aims to determine the role, ethics, and requirements of sex technology to support sexuality for this group. This project expects to create new knowledge in human-computer interaction, digital media studies, and design using a new method and framework that introduces queer theory. Expected project outcomes include new research methods co-designed with experts and people with lived experience and practical know-how about sex technology design, implementation, and governance. This should provide significant benefits, such as major new collaborations, awareness-raising, and demystification. Field of research: 4608 - Human-Centred Computing In Australian healthcare environments and services, people with physical disability are denied their sexuality. Sex technologies like smart vibrators, virtual reality pornography, romantic chatbots, and sex robots could empower this group to achieve sexual wellbeing, justice, pleasure, and health. Yet, little is known about sex technology use, attitudes, design, ethics, social impact, regulation, and governance in care. This DECRA develops a ground-breaking and taboo-busting research study that will uncover this information, pave a way forward to best design, regulate, and implement these technologies, and demystify stigma about the sexuality of people with physical disability that persists in care services and the public. New collaborations, ongoing consultation, and regular research-to-plain language translation of practical research insights will be established between care services, the sex technology industry, people with lived experience, community groups, and the general public. This project aligns with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 by exposing new avenues to equitably meet each individual’s needs in care with emerging technologies. As the Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme continues to dismantle funding for sex and intimacy support for people with physical disability, developing practical, meaningful, and sustainable alternatives is essential going forward.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust (MathQuEST) strives to build critical expertise to protect against the expected breakdown of cybersecurity protocols on quantum computers and build trust in artifical intelligence. Deep, untapped reservoirs of mathematical problems and structures will be mined to establish complexity foundations for security and create accelerated methods for AI. MathQuEST will assemble leading researchers from diverse disciplines to deliver a mathematically trained, technologically agile workforce, ensuring Australia’s preparedness for grand challenges arising from future quantum computers with dual-use impact across agriculture, defence, health and industry. Field of research: 4613 - Theory of Computation Quantum computing is an era-defining technology, with such extraordinary promise of impact on agriculture, banking, defence, health, industry and national intelligence that the Australian government has invested almost $1B and predicts that this sector will add $48B to GDP and 240,000 new jobs by 2040. The prospect of discovering unforeseen new medicines or surprisingly efficient materials for sustainable batteries has resulted in significant investments in quantum computing and AI across the world. However, the quantum-computing era presents two diabolical challenges, arising from the expected break-down of widely used public-key cryptographic protocols and unexpected difficulties in designing algorithms at the scales and speed necessary to make trailblazing discoveries on quantum computers. This Centre of Excellence aims to counter both challenges. The Centre's program is deeply aligned with the Australian Cybersecurity 2023-2030 strategy. It will deliver novel algorithms for Australian industry to take early advantage of the benefits of quantum computing and train industry to accelerate the adoption of post-quantum cryptographic recommendations to meet the 2030 deadline set by the Australian Signals Directorate.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Peptide and Protein Engineering. Leveraging emerging technologies and a global competitive advantage, this ARC CoE aims to transform the engineering and translation of peptides and proteins – molecules essential for all life on Earth – for human and planetary benefit. CAPE will uncover unique molecules, including from Australia’s flora and fauna, using advanced computational methods; design ‘new-to-nature’ structures with unprecedented applications; and step-change production technologies to an automated and eco-friendly new paradigm. CAPE will unite diverse research leaders for a legacy of impactful translation in agriculture, conservation and biotech, while engaging the Australian public in the peptide and protein revolution via extensive outreach and creative pedagogy. Field of research: 3404 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Peptides and proteins are essential molecules for all life on Earth, from diverse microbial communities to native Australian flora and fauna. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Peptide and Protein Engineering (CAPE) will harness breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), automation and robotics to enable new ways to engineer Nature’s peptides and proteins to benefit humanity and the planet through advances in agriculture, environmental protection, healthcare and manufacturing. For example, the Centre will create novel molecules like eco-friendly pesticides and those needed to tackle urgent challenges like antibiotic resistance, food security and biodiversity loss. CAPE’s end-user partners will fast-track discoveries for uptake, while community partnerships will promote Indigenous co-design and benefit-sharing from Australian science. Our training programs will build an agile, multidisciplinary workforce to secure Australia at the forefront of this biotechnology revolution, and our STEM outreach will inspire communities and students. Ultimately, CAPE will provide global leadership in sustainable peptide and protein innovation. The outcomes will stimulate economic growth, generate high-skilled jobs in Australia’s biotechnology sector and open new export opportunities to drive Australia’s global competitiveness.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Topology Optimisation for Active Mechanical Structures. The project aims to develop novel design approaches for active mechanical structures capable of responding to diverse external stimuli. It addresses a critical methodological gap in “inverse design” of active structures by creating new topology optimisation algorithms within a nonlinearly coupled multiphysics context, enabling to attain programmable mechanical behaviours. The research will establish a systematic design framework, significantly enhancing our ability to develop advanced active structures. The proposed methodology and novel designs promise transformative applications in soft robots, wearable devices, adaptive actuators, smart implants, with potential to drive technological innovation and deliver broad socioeconomic benefits. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering With recent discovery of new active materials capable of reversibly morphing 3D shapes in response to external stimuli such as heat, light, solvent, and electromagnet fields, has led to emergence of active structures, accomplishing desired functional goals. Such programable functionalities largely broaden the scopes of advanced structures, offering new opportunities for technological breakthroughs in emerging fields ranging from soft robotics, flexible electronics, wearable devices, and smart implants to energy absorption/impact mitigation. However, existing studies on active structures have largely followed intuitive or bio-inspired trial-and-error procedure, exhibiting considerable geometric similarities in structures and being restrictive in design freedom for realising more complex functional characteristics. This project will develop new topology optimisation methods for inverse design of programmable, smart structures with various active materials and physical stimuli. The new design framework will be applicable to groundbreaking technology, e.g. artificial muscle, wearable sensors, smart stents/implants, impacting on mechanical, space, biomedical, and manufacturing sectors, and benefiting our socioeconomic system. The research training will provide the postdoc, PhD and Hons students with an excellent opportunity to work on an exciting research frontier. It will promote collaboration with leading institutions and develop academic/industrial partnerships in the field.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enabling VLA Assistive Robotics for the Future of Aged Care in Australia . This project aims to address the growing challenges in aged care by developing intelligent assistive robots that can see, listen, and act to support older Australians. It will create Australia’s first vision-language-action robotic system specifically designed for real-world aged care environments—where interactions are socially nuanced, physically sensitive, and built on trust. The project will deliver new AI and robotics capabilities, a reusable national data resource, and practical strategies for safe and adaptive robot behaviour. These advances will help improve the safety, dignity, and independence of older people, ease the burden on carers, and strengthen Australia’s leadership in ageing and care innovation. Field of research: 4007 - Control Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics Australia faces an urgent national challenge in delivering safe, equitable, and person-centred aged care as the population rapidly ages. Workforce shortages, rising care demands, and growing expectations for dignity and independence are straining carers, families, and service providers. While assistive robotics offers a potential solution, current systems are not designed for the realities of aged care—they lack relevant training data, cultural adaptability, physical safety mechanisms, and robustness in real-world settings. This project addresses this gap by developing the first end-to-end vision-language-action robotic system tailored to Australian aged care environments. It will deliver a national multimodal dataset, AI models that understand natural and culturally diverse instructions, physically safe and adaptive robot behaviours, and real-world evaluation frameworks with continuous feedback. The outcomes will benefit Australians by improving the safety, independence, and wellbeing of older adults, easing the workload of carers, and enabling more sustainable care delivery—particularly in rural and underserved communities. Economically, the project will contribute to workforce resilience and advance Australia’s position in inclusive care technologies. We will promote adoption through open datasets, co-design with aged care providers, deployment-ready systems, and engagement with policymakers and industry partners to guide standards and uptake across the sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Light Activated Bioresins for High Resolution Biofabrication. The emergence of light-based biofabrication technologies now enables high-speed fabrication of constructs with superior resolution, suitable for high-throughput drug screening applications. Despite significant progress in their hardware and process automation, the development of bioresins has not kept pace, creating a critical bottleneck in the field. This project will combine unique macromolecular chemistry and advanced cell characterisation technologies to develop the next-generation bioresins for light-based biofabrication technologies. Successful outcomes from this project will unlock next-generation applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing, positioning Australia at the forefront of biofabrication innovation. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering This project will advance Australia’s strategic interests in health, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology by developing next-generation bioresins for light-based biofabrication - an emerging technology with transformative potential across pharmaceutical research, regenerative medicine, and sustainable biomanufacturing. By integrating proteomics into bioresin design, the project will deliver biologically informed materials that enable the creation of human-relevant tissue models, reducing reliance on animal testing and accelerating drug development. The collaboration between the University of Sydney and Bio INX will strengthen sovereign capability in high-value manufacturing and support the commercialisation of scalable, plug-and-play bioresin kits. These innovations directly contribute to the Future Made in Australia agenda by fostering industry-academic partnerships, building national expertise in critical technologies, and positioning Australia as a global leader in ethical and sustainable biomedical innovation. Through targeted training of early-career researchers and the development of advanced materials, this project will build capacity in key scientific disciplines and support the growth of Australia’s biotechnology sector - delivering long-term economic, health, and environmental benefits for the nation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Symbiotic Synergies: How the Body Became a Chimera (1950-2000) . This project aims to investigate how central concepts in today’s revolutionary microbiome paradigm formed in earlier microbiology. We seek to study how the microbes inhabiting us came to be seen as symbiotic, and how certain concepts of symbiosis led to a new view of human bodies as multi-species chimeras. The project aims to generate historical and philosophical knowledge that can inform the metamorphoses biomedicine is now undergoing in the light of discoveries showing that health and disease depend on our microbes. Expected outcomes are novel interdisciplinary insights into the conceptual transformations that led to microbiome science. Benefits include a public-facing combination of scientific, historical and philosophical knowledge. Field of research: 5002 - History and Philosophy of Specific Fields Microbiome science is expected to bring great health benefits to Australians, which is why the nation has invested so heavily in this research area. This project will help bring about those benefits by addressing conceptual problems that leading scientists of the field have identified as obstacles to achieving microbiome discoveries and applications. These obstacles have arisen from the interaction of foundational concepts with research approaches. Project researchers will apply a novel historical and philosophical analysis of how microbiologists have used key concepts such as “homeostasis” and “normal” in their work on the microbes of human digestive systems over the past three generations. By showing how these focal concepts have shaped technologies and theories, the planned research will reveal the origins of current problems and how to untangle them. The project will also bring Australia cultural benefit by building on its already prominent scholarship in history and philosophy of science, especially around microbiology, by generating a node of expertise in the humanities to match Australia’s world-class microbiome science. In addition to contributing to long-term health benefits through advances in microbiome science, the researchers will engage in multimedia outreach with the broader Australian community by advancing critically informed discussion of the health and environmental implications of microbiome knowledge.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

TechToys co-designed with children with cerebral palsy: Reimagining play . For 240 million children with disabilities, play is essential for development—but often inaccessible. Mobility challenges and the high costs of raising a child with cerebral palsy limit access to suitable toys. Despite a booming global toy industry, most products remain unaffordable or unadapted, leaving many children as spectators rather than participants. TechToy Library is a co-designed Australian initiative creating inclusive, tech-enhanced toys to support imaginative play for children with cerebral palsy. Through open-source design sharing and collaboration with families and professionals, it makes play more equitable—empowering children to learn, grow, and connect through play. Field of research: 4007 - Control Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics Children with severe disabilities often miss out on one of the most vital parts of childhood—play. Most toys aren’t designed for children with complex physical or cognitive needs, and adapted toys are often costly, hard to source, or unengaging. The TechToy Library addresses this gap by creating a library of inclusive, co-designed toys that are fun, affordable, and accessible. Developed in collaboration with families, allied health professionals, and people with disabilities, these toys harness technologies like 3D printing and augmented reality to support meaningful, imaginative play. As Australia’s first open-source adapted toy library, it will reduce financial pressure on families and increase access to developmentally rich play experiences. Beyond improving quality of life for children, the project promotes inclusion, reduces social isolation, and supports cognitive and social learning outcomes. It also builds national capacity in inclusive design by offering practical training for students and professionals, and producing open-source resources for families, educators, and service providers. Aligned with the goals of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the TechToy Library has potential for commercialisation and international replication. By making play more inclusive, it delivers long-term social, economic, and cultural benefits—ensuring every child, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to imagine, explore, and belong.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Carbon-Neutral Demand Forecasting: Supporting Australia's Energy Transition. This project will develop a novel forecasting methodology to predict energy demand under carbon-neutral scenarios, supporting the global transition to net-zero emissions. By incorporating key drivers such as electrification, fuel-switching to hydrogen and ammonia, and improvements in energy efficiency, the methodology addresses a critical gap in demand-side forecasting. Developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Australia, the project will generate detailed, scenario-based demand projections to guide infrastructure investment, policy development, and the deployment of clean technologies. The outcomes will support strategic energy planning and contribute to sustainable economic and environmental outcomes in diverse contexts. Field of research: 4008 - Electrical Engineering This project addresses Australia's national interests by supporting the critical transition to a sustainable, net-zero emissions economy. By developing advanced forecasting methodology tailored to carbon-neutral energy demand, the research directly aligns with national priorities, including Australia's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The outcomes will significantly enhance strategic infrastructure planning and investment, driving the efficient deployment of renewable energy and low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia. Collaborating closely with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Australia, the project ensures immediate relevance to industry, enabling practical application and commercialisation of results. This partnership enhances Australia's economic competitiveness by equipping industry stakeholders with sophisticated tools for strategic decision-making and investment risk reduction. Additionally, the project's precinct-level focus supports local and regional economic development initiatives, such as the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, contributing to broader economic resilience and job creation. Environmentally, the project promotes efficient resource use and emissions reductions, underpinning Australia's environmental sustainability goals. Socially, it facilitates an equitable and informed energy transition, benefiting communities through clearer planning pathways and reduced uncertainty in energy supply and infrastructure development.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

From Diversity to Disease: Viral Ecology, Evolution and Persistence in Bats. Bats are a source of diverse viruses that can be fatal in humans, yet we know little about how this diversity is maintained. This project aims to determine how ecological stress and immune strategies in colonial-living bats generate diverse viral communities. We will use phylodynamic and community ecology approaches to construct a novel framework explaining how these ecological and immune factors facilitate transmission of new viruses to humans. Our ecological framework will help shift the paradigm of pandemic prevention research from single viruses to real-world viral communities. This will provide benefits through targeted pathogen surveillance, enhanced global pandemic prevention strategies and stronger One Health capacity in Australia. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Bats host viruses that can be fatal in humans and other animals. Generally, we expect that closely related viruses compete, with one or the other emerging as the dominant circulating strain. We saw this in COVID-19 as delta, then omicron, overtook the original outbreak strains. But in bats, many closely related viruses can circulate within populations—or even the same individual—at the same time. Our research examines how diverse viral communities are maintained in bats and the implications for spillover to other species. Australia is uniquely positioned to lead this work, using Hendra and related viruses in flying foxes as a model system. Our project builds on a foundation of nearly 30 years of ecological, environmental, climate and virological data and insights that have enabled successful prediction of spillover events. Understanding these processes will underpin development of ecological interventions that could prevent spillover of multiple viruses simultaneously—a fundamentally new approach to pandemic prevention. This will protect Australia's public health, livestock industries, and economy from costly outbreaks while preserving essential bat ecosystems. We will translate our findings into practical tools for disease surveillance and prediction for high priority bat pathogens globally, through collaborations across human, animal and wildlife health government departments, supporting Australia’s strategic positioning as a global leader in One Health.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Catalytic transformation of waste plastics into valuable monomers. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic technology for converting non-degradable polyethylene and polypropylene plastic waste into valuable monomers, which can be repurposed for the production of biodegradable polymers, promoting a circular plastic economy. This will be achieved through the design of bi-functional catalysts capable of breaking down persistent plastic waste into short-chain chemical compounds with a highly product selectivity in a tandem reactor system. The outcomes of this project will provide an advanced solution for efficiently managing plastic waste while upcycling waste to high-value and environment friendly chemicals, contributing to both Australia's environmental sustainability and economic growth. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Effective management of plastic waste is a critical challenge in reducing white pollution in Australia. This project addresses this challenge by developing an sustainable process for upcycling plastic waste into valuable monomers while minimizing by-products. By leveraging advanced catalysts, the research aims to enhance reaction efficiency, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic growth. The initiative will drive innovation in plastic waste upcycling, providing domestic and global environmental benefits. It addresses key technological barriers in chemical recycling, enabling high-value biodegradable material production and advancing Australia’s circular economy goals. The expected advancements include improved resource recovery, reduced plastic pollution, and lower economic burdens associated with plastic waste. The project aligns with national strategies like the National Waste Policy Action Plan and the National Plastics Plan, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to a greener future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Catalytic Production of Formic Acid as a Green Hydrogen Storage. This project addresses the urgent challenges of rising greenhouse gas emissions and the need for alternative fuels. It aims to develop cost-effective catalysts for carbon dioxide hydrogenation using green hydrogen, producing formic acid, which serves as a safe and efficient hydrogen storage medium. By constructing a continuous-flow reactor for converting CO2 with hydrogen, we plan to create a system that integrates green hydrogen generation and CO2 capture. This innovative approach not only supports Australia’s net-zero emission goals but also enhances the country's strategy for green hydrogen, promoting economic viability while reducing environmental impact. The outcomes will significantly contribute to sustainable energy solutions. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australia’s ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is supported by this project’s innovative approach to reducing greenhouse gases through CO2 upcycling. By leveraging green hydrogen to convert CO2 into formic acid, a stable hydrogen carrier, this project provides a safer, more efficient solution for hydrogen storage and transportation. It addresses the challenges of Australia’s limited hydrogen infrastructure, enabling broader domestic use of green hydrogen and facilitating its export to global markets. Beyond environmental sustainability, the project offers significant economic benefits, creating opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and engineering, while building critical skills for the emerging green energy industry. Aligned with national strategies for hydrogen, carbon capture, utilization, and sustainable gas development, this project positions Australia as a global leader in clean energy technology. It represents a key step toward a low-emission future, showcasing Australia’s commitment to innovation in its transition to a carbon-neutral economy. This initiative not only supports environmental goals but also fosters economic growth and technological leadership on the international stage.