THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

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

The dangerous path of self-medicating postpartum stress and anxiety with... Category: Medical Research

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

Development of Novel Anticoagulants with Improved Safety Profiles for... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Understanding the role of compressible mixing in high-speed combustion. This project aims to deepen understanding of fuel/air mixing and combustion in high-speed, air-breathing propulsion engines like scramjets and rotating detonation engines. Through a combination of experiments, direct numerical simulations, and large eddy simulations, it seeks to uncover the intricate relationship between flow Mach number, turbulence intensity, and flame stabilisation mechanisms. Expected outcomes include insights into compressible mixing and effects of novel burner configurations on flow expansions and shock wave structures, and refinement of combustion models for improved designs. This should provide significant benefits, such higher efficiency and reduced weight of space-launch and defence propulsion systems. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering This project investigates compressible mixing in high-speed combustion to advance air-breathing propulsion systems like rotating detonation engines (RDEs) and scramjets, addressing a critical research gap for Australia. Current rocket engines, reliant on heavy onboard oxidisers, limit payload efficiency and increase costs for space access and missile defence—key national priorities. By unravelling how compressibility suppresses fuel/air mixing and flame stabilisation at high Mach numbers, this research fills a knowledge void in supersonic reacting flows, where turbulence, mixing, and combustion interplay remains poorly understood and modelled. The benefits for Australia are substantial. Economically and commercially, efficient air-breathing engines could reduce orbital launch costs, boosting sovereign space capabilities for telecommunications and earth observation satellites. For national defence, this project enhances hypersonic system knowledge. Environmentally, lighter, reusable propulsion systems may lower emissions compared to traditional rockets. Culturally, it positions Australia as a leader in aerospace innovation. As fundamental research, outcomes will be shared through Q1 journal publications and scientific conferences, fostering knowledge advancement. Public lectures, online resources, and collaborations with academic peers will enhance understanding of high-speed combustion physics, laying a foundation for future Australian breakthroughs in propulsion science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Deciphering adolescents’ use and evaluation of digital health information. There are growing concerns among parents, educators, professionals, and governments that the use of inappropriate digital health information can harm adolescents. Federal and State governments have responded to this problem by proceeding with legislation to ban social media use until 16 years of age. This approach fails to prevent misuse of digital health information through education, shifting the problem to a later age. As there is no educational framework in Australia to guide action, and not enough evidence to support the creation of such a framework, this project aims to understand how adolescents’ access, use, and evaluate digital health information to develop Australia’s first scalable adolescent digital health education framework. Field of research: 3901 - Curriculum and Pedagogy Adolescents are avid consumers and early adopters of digital technology. Just over 1 million (91%) of Australian adolescents own a smartphone, with an estimated 78% of them searching health information online, making the internet a primary source of health information for adolescents. However, adolescents are generally unaware of biased, inaccurate, and low-quality digital health information. This has led to growing concerns among families, educators, and government that the use of inappropriate digital health information can harm adolescents. In this innovative project, the researchers will identify how Australian adolescents currently access, use, and evaluate digital health information to inform the proposal of a novel, co-designed digital health education framework that builds adolescent digital health literacy. Collaborations with industry partners, researchers, school leaders, teachers, adolescents and families from primary and secondary schools across urban, regional and rural Australian contexts will be prioritised in the co-design process. The framework will be mapped to identify practical tools, resources and capacity building support needed to implement the framework across school contexts. This research will benefit young Australians, families and educators, as well as assist the Australian government with a collaborative framework and actionable education guidelines that can be used to strengthen adolescents’ digital health literacy.

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

NextGen Digital Health Literacy: a unique Australian platform to make... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mould exposure in Australian homes: from remediation to prevention. Mould is a widespread and life-threatening problem, affecting one in three Australian homes. This project aims to develop an early detection strategy using artificial intelligence and low-cost sensors. It will establish how prevalent mould is in different housing types and how it is affected by indoor air quality and construction factors, such as interior materials. The outcomes include a clear understanding of where mould occurs, indicators for its early detection, and recommendations for healthier indoor environments that can inform policy. Benefits will include more efficient and mould-resilient indoor environments and potential savings of $200 million in avoided treatment. Field of research: 3301 - Architecture One in three Australian homes experiences mould. As mould proliferates, it degrades building materials and releases spores and biotoxins, leading to potentially lethal health threats. Efforts to address it have focused on mould reparation, but by the time mould has become visible it is often too late to apply effective mitigation measures. This project proposes to fundamentally change how mould exposure in Australian homes is addressed, by shifting the paradigm to prediction and prevention. It will provide the evidence to inform policy and guidelines for mould management and create an open-access tool to predict mould occurrence and generate a risk profile for dwellings based on features such as locations, year of construction, type of occupancy and materials. These outcomes will help reduce the enormous economic impact of mould, which in the next 20 years is expected to cost Australia $1.9B in treating mould-induced health conditions, over $200M in remediating damaged buildings, and $2.4B in lost productivity. Ultimately, they will enable healthier housing for all Australians, especially benefiting those with low-income or chronic diseases living in poor quality housing. The new evidence-based data will be shared with policy-makers through existing collaborations with relevant stakeholders. The open-access tool will be made available to all and promoted via public forums, news articles and social-media campaigns, to, ultimately, benefit the Australian housing sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Novel role of RNA splicing and modification in white blood cell formation. This project aims to address how ribonucleic acid (RNA) regulates white blood cell formation. This project expects to gain new insights into the mechanism and conservation of molecular processes governing white blood cell development using advanced molecular, cell biology and biochemical assays coupled with innovative RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Expected outcomes of the project include enhancing knowledge on how white blood cells are continuously replenished for the well-being of vertebrates and promoting international collaboration in the RNA sector. This should provide significant benefit in sustaining food production via knowledge to maintain health and combat blood disease in animals and advance Australia's RNA research. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics White blood cells are critical to protect vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish) from infections. These cells are short-lived and need to be replenished regularly. However, the biological processes that ensure the proper development and maintenance of white blood cells are not fully understood. This project will significantly enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying white blood cell development using cutting-edge molecular, cell biology, and biochemical assays, along with innovative RNA sequencing and bioinformatics techniques. This knowledge will enable the future development of synthetic molecules that can be introduced to maintain and increase white blood cell numbers for health benefits in humans and animals. This project will lead to significant long-term economic and environmental benefits to Australians by contributing to knowledge that can be useful to manage disease in humans and livestock, increasing productivity and domestic food security. It will expand Australia's capacity in the RNA biotechnology sector, in alignment with a priority of the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund. Fundamental findings will be disseminated through the NSW RNA Production and Research Network and partnership will be established with commercial entities (e.g. RNA Australia and Elanco Animal Health) to achieve potential translational outcomes in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

New roads to fault-tolerant photonic quantum computation. The era of useful quantum computing is rapidly approaching. Breakthroughs in quantum fault tolerance promise more computational power, sooner, with fewer resources. This project aims to apply these breakthroughs to PsiQuantum's first generation of quantum computers to make them more powerful and efficient. By designing better protocols for fault tolerance we will unlock the full potential of silicon photonic hardware for performing useful quantum computation. Expected research outcomes include new fault-tolerant protocols that accelerate the timeline for useful quantum computing. This will bring about a technological revolution driven by fault-tolerant quantum algorithms for simulating chemistry and materials science. Field of research: 5108 - Quantum Physics This project focuses on reducing the resource requirements for utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computing. This will make it easier to realise the first generation of useful quantum computers and boost the power of subsequent generations of larger quantum computers. The gap in the Australian research landscape that this project addresses is connecting state-of-the-art breakthroughs in the theory of quantum fault-tolerance with the design of large-scale industrial quantum computing efforts. Accelerating the development of more powerful quantum computers has the potential to generate massive benefits to Australia’s economy by bringing forward the timeline of an industry that is projected to be worth six billion dollars and generate 20,000 new jobs over the coming two decades. The utility scale fault-tolerant quantum computers we will design promise revolutionary benefits to society, the environment, and commerce, via applications in cryptography, the simulation of chemistry, and new tools for logistical optimisation. Our new approaches to efficient fault-tolerant quantum computing will be presented at quantum industry conferences to promote their adoption and translation to other quantum computing hardware platforms. This will accelerate progress in the global effort to build useful quantum computers.

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

NextGen Digital Health Literacy: a unique Australian platform to make... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mapping the neural architecture of human memory with advanced neuroimaging. This project aims to provide the first integrated model of age-related changes in the memory systems of the human brain. Core memory brain structures have been identified but how these structures are connected, their specific roles, and how they change as we age is lacking in humans. Our team has developed ground-breaking neuroimaging analysis methods that will rectify this important knowledge gap. This model will provide the benchmark against which to measure changes in memory functions during life and will provide a framework to understand how disruption in this memory system affects memory capacity. This project will enable human memory research to be integrated and biologically grounded. Field of research: 5202 - Biological Psychology How memories are created in the human brain, and how they change as people get older remains poorly understood. This is despite the fact that changes in memory capacity is the most common complaint as people get older. The benefits of this project will be seen through a better understanding of how human memory systems are organised, by focusing on a set of highly inter-connected brain regions called the medial temporal lobe, and by understanding how memories are processed within these brain regions, and how these changes with age. This project will contribute to the scientific profile of Australia by supporting and enhancing the competitiveness of local researchers in memory research, a fast-evolving field. Findings arising from this research will be relevant to education providers by providing information relevant to teaching methods. Dissemination of the research outcomes to the general public will also increase understanding about how, and why, memory function changes as people get older. Additional downstream benefits will be to the Australian social fabric by providing a benchmark for future evidence-based interventions for individuals experiencing memory difficulties, thereby reducing potential financial burden associated with loss of independence.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

High-damping Multiscale Polymer Composites for Vibration Mitigation. The project aims to develop technologies to enhance damping capacity of fibre-reinforced polymer composites for diverse structural applications such as aircraft and spacecraft. The project expects to generate new knowledge of passive piezoelectric damping enabled by binary piezoelectric and conductive micro/nanofillers. Expected outcomes include new understanding of the energy dissipation mechanism and new techniques to enhance damping of the composite structures to mitigate vibrations and extend lifespan. The project will bridge the critical technological gap for developing lightweight high-damping composites, enabling Australian companies to produce and export high-performance composites products. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used in diverse sectors such as aerospace, automotive, renewable energy due to their high strength and lightweight properties. However, these structures are consistently exposed to unwanted vibration during use, accelerating structural failure and degrading their performance. Therefore, it is pivotal to enhance their damping properties, which remains largely unsolved. This project aims to enhance the damping properties of FRP composites by developing a new approach using binary piezoelectric and conductive micro/nanofillers. This method mimics conventional bulky passive piezoelectric shunt damping systems but with much higher damping efficiency and lighter weight due to the integration of micro/nanofillers into composites. Expected outcome includes fundamental understanding and new knowledge of piezoelectric damping, which will guide future design of high-damping lightweight composites. The ability to more effectively reduce undesirable vibration will represent a game-changing technology to extend lifespan of a composite structure for broad applications where lightweight strong composites play an increasingly important role. To maximise the impacts of the research beyond academia, findings will be disseminated through various media channels and industry conferences. Collaborations with composite manufacturing firms will be sought to ensure practical application of the new knowledge.

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

A mechanistic approach to developing precision therapies for... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Stabilising perovskite photovoltaics by (A,B)-site co-doping. This project aims to experimentally identify the optimal (A,B)-site co-doping recipe to achieve highly stable and efficient FAPbI3-based solar cells, leveraging on the team’s recent discovery that (A,B)-site co-doping is effective in stabilising FAPbI3 and solving the instability of perovskite solar cells. Improving the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells is a major hurdle to commercialise perovskite solar cells and to minimise climate change. Expected outcomes are new knowledge on FAPbI3 phase transformation, A-/B-site mixed doping method and recipe, and more stable FAPbI3 and FAPbI3-based solar cells. These advances are expected to deliver substantial benefits to green-energy technologies, the environment, and the economy. Field of research: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have the potential to generate more electricity at a lower cost than traditional silicon-based solar cells. However, their instability remains a major barrier to commercialisation. This project will develop a novel (A,B)-site co-doping strategy to enhance PSC stability and efficiency, paving the way for widespread adoption. By addressing a critical research gap, this work will provide new insights into perovskite material stability and deliver a practical doping method to improve solar cell performance. Economically, more stable PSCs could transform the solar industry, creating jobs and export opportunities in clean energy technology. Environmentally, they offer a scalable, low-cost solution to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate Australia’s transition to renewable energy. Socially, affordable and durable solar cells will improve energy access, particularly in remote areas, reducing electricity costs and enhancing sustainability. To maximise impact, the research findings will be shared through publications, conferences, and industry collaborations. Engaging with policymakers, businesses, and the public via media and outreach activities will drive awareness and adoption. By strengthening Australia’s leadership in solar innovation, this research supports national priorities in energy, advanced manufacturing, and environmental sustainability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Modern sufficient dimension reduction methods for complex dependent data. This project aims to develop a suite of modern statistical theory and methods for sufficient dimension reduction in data exhibiting complex dependence structures. In doing so, it will address a pressing need for statistical tools that can accurately distil high-dimensional regression and classification relationships, with little to no loss of information, into results readily understood by domain experts. The project is expected to unlock valuable insights into how various spatial, temporal, and sampling processes operate together to drive dynamics in bioinformatics and social network data. This will provide important long-term benefits to enhance biological discovery and combat the spread of misinformation in online digital environments. Field of research: 4905 - Statistics As the collection of high-dimensional datasets with complex dependencies in structure, space, and time becomes increasingly common, there is a critical need for statistical methods that can distil the most relevant information from data into readily interpretable and actionable results, and at the same time preserve the ability to make reliable predictions. This project will develop a suite of cutting-edge statistical dimension reduction methods capable of accurately capturing complex relationships within data that evolve with spatial location, time, and data collection design. By translating these methods into software and collaborating with scientists to accelerate their timely adoption, the project will drive breakthroughs in understanding how complex biological mechanisms contribute to disease pathogenesis, and enhance governance of online digital environments through a greater understanding of social network dynamics. Ultimately, the project will deliver an evidence-based, robust decision-making framework for building a healthier and better-informed Australian society.

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

A mechanistic approach to developing precision therapies for... Category: Medical Research

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

Are histones or transcription factors the codemasters in gene... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

EQUiP-Australia: Co-designing an Equitable Model of Care for... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Uncovering the biochemical basis for age-dependent myelin loss. Myelin is a fatty substance wrapped tightly around our nerves, providing electrical insulation and metabolic support that are essential for nervous system function. Myelin is a pillar of humans’ advanced cognitive abilities but is lost with ageing, causing a decline in cognitive and physical abilities. This project aims to solve the mystery of why vertebrates lose myelin with ageing, using innovative mass spectrometry methods. Specifically, the project will determine if the generation of new myelin decreases and break-down of existing myelin increases with ageing, and identify the cell types mediating normal myelin turnover with ageing. This will create a technical and knowledge platform to fuel advances in healthy and productive lifespan. Field of research: 3209 - Neurosciences Australia’s population is ageing, increasing the need for aged and health care services while decreasing government revenue. Ageing is associated with a deterioration in nervous system function that reduces our cognitive and physical capabilities. This project employs advanced cell and molecular science to understand why the function of our nervous system declines with ageing, resulting in reduced cognitive and physical capability. Specifically, it will explain why myelin, the fatty substance that provides electrical insulation for our nervous system, deteriorates with ageing. Myelin controls cognition, emotion, and movement, and its deterioration is almost certainly a key cause of declining capability with ageing. Future benefits will include the development of interventions to preserve or restore myelin, thereby improving Australians’ productivity and quality of life as we age, and preventing age-related dementia. Outcomes will be highlighted through social media, media releases, and international conferences attended by industry partners and aged care professionals. Australia must maintain its competitive position in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary brain science to keep pace internationally and create opportunities in the AU$1 trillion neuroscience market. The technological innovation in this project will fuel collaborations with biotechnology partners, and students will receive training in interdisciplinary skills that are highly valued in the biotechnology industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Are histones or transcription factors the codemasters in gene regulation? All organisms switch thousands of genes on and off in a precisely orchestrated manner, but through mechanisms that are still mysterious in many ways. This project aims to redefine our understanding of the regulation of gene expression in complex organisms by defining the molecular choreography executed by three essential classes of proteins working in concert. The project will leverage our recent discoveries and use advanced approaches in cellular, molecular and structural biology to challenge existing dogma. The outcome will be a deeper understanding of a process conserved over hundreds of millions of years, which will significantly benefit future efforts to modulate gene activity in fields such as agriculture and medicine. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This application investigates one of the most fundamental and long-standing questions in biology – how does an organism ‘read’ the right parts of its genome at the right times and in the right places to develop and thrive? The answers to this question are largely shared by all complex organisms, ranging from fungi to plants and animals and beyond. The delineation of the mechanisms by which the genome is interpreted will have significant implications across medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. As well as providing a deeper understanding of life on earth, determination of these mechanisms will potentially enable the Australian agricultural industry to deliver more efficient and higher-quality agricultural production and provide new avenues for the Australian biotechnology sector to develop innovative approaches for the treatment for a range of human disorders. Important examples already exist of such applications and a stronger grasp of the underlying mechanisms will significantly expand opportunities to have economic, therapeutic and agricultural impact. As one example, the outcomes of this project will be used as the foundation for translational research projects aimed at modulating gene expression patterns in agricultural pests, through engagement with Rural Development Corporations and their stakeholders.

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

Catalytic Air-gap Electrochemistry - a New Way to Fix Nitrogen Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Addressing childhood trauma to prevent substance use and mental... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Cellular targets and mechanisms of action of C. barnesi Irukandji venom. This project investigates the cellular targets and mechanisms of action of Carukia barnesi venom, the cause of Irukandji Syndrome, a life-threatening condition linked to severe pain and autonomic dysfunction. With warming waters expanding the habitat of C. barnesi toward populated areas, understanding its venom is crucial. Using cutting-edge functional genomic and CRISPR screening technologies, we aim to identify bioactive peptides in the venom and their mammalian targets. This globally unique research combines expertise in venom biology, genomics, and toxin biology to address a critical knowledge gap, advancing venom science and informing strategies to manage and mitigate the impacts of Irukandji Syndrome. Field of research: 4103 - Environmental Biotechnology This project will uncover how the venom of Carukia barnesi—a jellyfish responsible for Irukandji syndrome—affects the human body. This venom triggers intense physiological and psychological symptoms, including extreme pain and a sense of impending doom, yet no specific treatments exist. As ocean temperatures rise, the geographic range of this species is expanding toward densely populated coastlines, increasing the risk to Australians. Using globally unique genomic technologies developed by the research team, this project will identify the biologically active toxins in C. barnesi venom and determine their effects on human cells. It will also identify the specific human genes targeted by the venom, providing the molecular insight needed to guide antivenom development or the creation of new bioactive tools. The research addresses an urgent national need in environmental health and marine toxinology. Findings will support Australia’s emergency medicine and public health preparedness and may also create commercial opportunities in drug discovery. Outcomes will be disseminated via high-impact publications, international conferences, public media, and open-access platforms. Key tools and data will be made available to researchers and industry worldwide, ensuring broad translation, uptake, and long-term benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

A Novel Platform for the Discovery of High Affinity Mirror Image Peptides. Virtually all biomolecules on our planet are homochiral, including human proteins that bear amino acids with the same ‘L-handedness.’ Peptides possess exquisite biological activity but their use in medicinal chemistry is limited by cleavage of these L-molecules into inactive fragments by protease enzymes. This project aims to use our innovative methods for the synthesis of ‘mirror image proteins’ made entirely of D-amino acids. These will be used in a novel peptide display platform for the discovery of structurally diverse D-peptides with high affinity for natural L-proteins and stability to proteases. This project has the potential to revolutionise future medicinal chemistry efforts by overcoming a key limitation of peptide therapeutics. Field of research: 3404 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Peptides and proteins are nature’s functional molecules essential for all life on our planet. Despite their exquisite activities, they are susceptible to degradation and inactivation by natural enzymes called proteases, which limits their practical use in biological systems and in medicinal chemistry. This proposal will path-find a solution to the problem by creating a breakthrough technology called mirror image display to enable the discovery of peptides with non-natural, mirrored structures (“D-peptides”) that possess remarkable activity and stability. D-peptides have the potential to unlock an entirely new area of medicinal chemistry. The display technology this project will develop—leveraging innovative protein synthesis and driving rapid discovery of modified, topologically distinct molecules—will catalyse the discovery of novel classes of D-peptides with exceptional biological activity, high selectivity and excellent degradation resistance. Project success will not only advance scientific knowledge but may stimulate the growth of a new, high-impact industry in peptide-based therapeutics in the future. Dissemination of research findings will span diverse audiences of wide reach (research, industry and popular science), reflecting the ground-breaking mirror image display platform and D-peptide scaffolds this project will advance. There is also strong potential for commercially valuable IP, which will be protected to maximise future benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Understanding the interplay between chromatin architecture and DNA repair. Chromatin architecture is crucial for many biological processes, the most well described being transcriptional regulation; however, the interplay between 3D chromatin organisation and DNA repair pathway engagement remains to be characterised. The overarching aim of this project is to investigate how chromatin architecture regulates DNA repair. We will focus on the role ATR-activating proteins play in recruiting the nucleosome remodelling and deacetylase (NuRD) chromatin remodelling complex to promote long-range chromatin interactions and homologous recombination (HR)-mediated repair. This project will create new knowledge of how DNA repair pathways are activated, and characterise a level of DNA repair regulation not previously comprehended. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics Accurate DNA repair is of central importance to biology across all domains of life. Cells constantly face endogenous and exogenous threats that can cause DNA damage. To counteract these threats, cells activate a comprehensive and multifaceted DNA damage response. Ineffective or mismanaged DNA repair leads to genome instability. Enacting the DNA damage response requires cells to modify the complex highly-ordered three-dimensional structure of DNA. While we know these modifications occur, we know little about the chromatin remodelling complexes involved. This project will address this critical gap in knowledge through investigating the role of the NuRD chromatin remodelling complex in the DNA damage response. The outcomes of this project will significantly advance our fundamental understanding of the genome repair mechanisms that are essential for maintaining cellular health. This knowledge has wide-ranging benefits, with particular utility in cellular biotechnology and manufacturing, including agriculture, precision fermentation, recombinant DNA, DNA-based data storage, and cellular systems for food manufacturing. Additionally, accumulated DNA damage can impact normal cell function, tissue health, and cellular aging. Knowledge advancement of DNA repair mechanisms is therefore important for understanding how cells preserve genome integrity, and will support healthy aging, longevity, and overall cellular resilience throughout life.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Toxic Living: Exposure and Immunity in the Time of ‘Forever Chemicals’. This project aims to develop new sociological understanding of exposure and immunity in the time of ‘forever chemicals’. Using innovative qualitative methods and research translation strategies, it will adopt a person- and community-centred approach to investigate experiences of a) living with forever chemicals, and; b) the various forms of autoimmunity with which they have been linked. This will generate foundational knowledge, leading the international scholarship in health sociology. The project will create significant benefit through improved understandings, publicly accessibly resources and targeted policy advice to reduce the inequities and harms of living with pervasive chemical risk in the often toxic conditions of late capitalism. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology ‘Forever chemicals’ – a class of >14,000 synthetic compounds that have been used extensively in industry, textiles, food packaging and consumer products since the 1940s – are now a durable and pervasive part of our world. Because they do not break down in the body or in nature, forever chemicals have been found to contaminate virtually every natural environment worldwide and virtually every bodily system, too. Up to 98% of the world's population are thought to have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. Yet very little is known about how people understand or experience exposure to forever chemicals or the many negative health effects which with they have been linked. Using innovative qualitative methods, stakeholder engagement and research translation strategies, this project will develop urgently needed person- and community-centred understandings of the growing problem of living with forever chemicals to inform policy improvements, advance health equity and environmental justice and promote wellbeing. Project findings will be widely disseminated among scholarly networks, positioning Australia as a research leader in the field, and among public audiences and policy stakeholders via a public exhibit, informational and advocacy resources, and policy reports. This will yield considerable social and environmental benefits aligned with Australian Government priorities areas supporting healthy and thriving communities and restoring and protecting Australian Environments.