THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Australia’s fuel cells and electrolysers prototyping and testing facility. This project aims to address a major gap in Australian infrastructure for researching and developing technologies for Power to X, including hydrogen production and use. The aspiration is to establish an integrated fuel cell and electrolyser prototyping and testing facility to support Australia’s excellent fundamental research in advanced energy materials, electrocatalysis, and engineering design. The aim is to equip the research community with the capability to fabricate electrolyser and fuel cell prototypes at relevant scales to accelerate translational research in these areas. Doing so will also enable the technical and expertise platform needed to support industry's transition toward Australia’s 2050 net zero objective. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering Australia aims to become a renewable energy superpower. Australian-made and supported hydrogen technologies will be essential to this ambition. The Australian government has already announced $127 billion pipeline of large-scale hydrogen investment. This pipeline of projects is diverse, with the potential to help revitalise manufacturing, support regional economies, and create jobs, investment and trade opportunities while assisting Australia in achieving its net zero targets. This proposal seeks support to establish a national fuel cell and electrolyser benchmarking facility, a multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art experimental, prototyping and validation facility. The facility will help fill critical gaps to enable innovation and translation in hydrogen and Power to X conversion (where X is a chemical commodity including hydrogen). It will equip Australian researchers, already punching well above their weight in fundamental research in hydrogen-related technologies, whether in material science, catalyst development, or membrane humidification, … with capability to translate our basic science into commercial products in this nascent and rapidly growing industry. Establishing this facility will also provide industry with validation and testing capability, and help the broader community to transition toward Australia’s 2050 net zero objective.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Dedicated High-throughput 3D-Electron Diffractometer. This proposal aims to install the first dedicated high-throughput 3D-electron diffractometer in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the first in the world. It will be able to rapidly solve the atomic-scale structures of molecules and materials for which this is now extremely difficult and time-consuming – or impossible – due to the inability to grow large enough crystals for traditional X-ray diffraction. It will thus provide a significant advantage for chemists, physicists, biologists, geologists, and engineers who rely on detailed structural knowledge to rationally optimise the properties of their compounds, from pharmaceutical activity to carbon capture to superconductivity, to the substantial benefit of multiple national priority areas. Field of research: 3402 - Inorganic Chemistry Every important property of molecules and materials arises due to the types and arrangements of atoms within them. Rapid and reliable structure determination thus underpins every field of applied science, engineering and medicine. The requested high-throughput 3D-electron diffractometer will rapidly determine the atomic structures of molecules and materials from the smallest possible crystal samples, orders of magnitude below what can be studied using traditional X-ray (including synchrotron) diffraction. By providing structural details of a huge variety of new compounds in a matter of hours, that would otherwise be unobtainable or take months of effort, it will accelerate research projects and revive stalled or abandoned ones, leading to breakthrough outcomes in areas as diverse as energy storage, drug discovery, electronic components and petrochemical processing. The technology is genuinely revolutionary, but now sufficiently proven that installing the first such instrument in the Southern Hemisphere is a low-risk investment with a huge return. It will give Australian public and private sector research a world-leading edge, complement existing national infrastructure for structure determination, and train students and early career researchers in cutting-edge methodology. Its capabilities and outcomes will be promoted beyond academia through the CIs’ current CRC, Linkage and other partnerships, and the networks of university and national structure determination facilities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

In-situ nanomechanical testing for materials under extreme environments. This project aims to establish a state-of-the-art in-situ nanomechanical testing capability for materials under extreme environments. A cutting-edge nanoindentation stage with customisable modules, as well as an optimally configured scanning electron microscope, will enable this capability for the first time in Australia. The expected outcomes will provide valuable insights into how microstructures affect mechanical properties at temperatures ranging from -150 to 1000 °C, strain rates from 10E-5/s to 10E5/s, and liquid environments. The resulting knowledge will guide the development of structural materials that withstand harsh environmental conditions, thereby advancing Australia's advanced manufacturing and sustainable energy sectors. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology The proposed facilities will establish a cutting-edge research capability in Australia by utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation to solve real-world problems. Specifically, the in-situ nano-mechanical scanning electron microscopy technology will enable real-time imaging of dynamic processes within material structures under mechanical loadings, expanding Australia's in-situ capabilities to better understand the structure–property relationships of materials under extreme environments, including high or low temperatures, impact loading, corrosive liquids, and hydrogen environments. The new capabilities enabled by the requested facility will not only enhance Australia's research capabilities but also have practical applications in solving real-world problems. By developing this advanced platform, Australian scientists and engineers will have access to valuable first-hand information to develop advanced materials, giving Australia a significant advantage in burgeoning industries such as advanced manufacturing, space engineering, marine engineering, nanotechnology, and sustainable hydrogen economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Single-molecule Manipulation and Interaction Facility (SMIF). This LIEF project aims to establish Australia's first Single-molecule Manipulation and Interaction Facility (SMIF), providing multidisciplinary researchers with a platform to explore cellular processes and reveal molecular mechanisms at the nanoscale. The SMIF facility incorporates cutting-edge technologies for bio-manipulation, real-time visualisation, and characterisation of single-molecule interactions, overcoming the technical complexity of traditional tools requiring highly specialised personnel. By offering accessible, easy-to-use advanced systems, this project will significantly boost scientific discovery across physics, chemistry, and biology, fostering collaboration and innovation to better understand life at the molecular level. Field of research: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware The Single-molecule Manipulation and Interaction Facility (SMIF) will significantly advance Australia's research capabilities in rapidly growing fields such as mechanobiology, biophysics, biomaterials, biophotonics, and bio-nanotechnology. No such integrated facility exists in Australia today. Catering to strong demand for cutting-edge research infrastructure, SMIF will foster multidisciplinary collaborations and drive innovation across various disciplines. SMIF will enable a deeper understanding of fundamental mechanisms governing biological systems, materials, and nanoscale devices. This knowledge will facilitate the development of advanced functional biomaterials, biosensors, imaging, organ-on-a-chip, and microfluidic systems, ultimately improving the quality of life in Australia. The facility aligns with the Australian Government's National Innovation and Science Agenda and the 2030 Strategic Plan. Moreover, SMIF will contribute to Australia's knowledge economy by enabling the development of new technologies and products with commercial potential, generating revenue, creating job opportunities, and developing a skilled workforce for Australia's future. The SMIF facility will be broadly accessible to researchers from various institutions, including regional and remote institutions. This marks a significant step towards driving innovation and discovery in Australia, with far-reaching benefits for the nation's economy, industries, and society.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

The Forgotten Children, Ten Years On. This project aims to investigate the rippling impacts of immigration detention in the lives of people who were detained as children. Utilising an innovative arts-based, person-centred design, and in partnership with Australia’s national human rights institution and children themselves, the project aims to generate a foundational evidence-base that advances knowledge and provides the basis for improved policy and practice. Addressing the current dearth of evidence concerning the long-term impacts of childhood detention, the project will offer critical recommendations to improve services and reduce harm, while fostering increased public awareness through a high-impact radio documentary that tells the stories of Australia’s forgotten children. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Immigration detention imposes serious harm on child detainees. Yet remarkably little is known about child detainees’ wellbeing and trajectories after their release from detention. This project will set the international benchmark for research in this area by examining the multivarious and rippling impacts of childhood detention over time. Taking an arts-based, person-centred approach – and in close collaboration with Australia’s national human rights institution and allied stakeholders – the project will allow child detainees’ full stories to be heard for first time. The project will provide a critical evidence-based to inform both the delivery of services and supports, and sector advocacy concerning policy and legislative reform. The project will thus contribute to Australia’s Science and Research Priority of ‘Health’, which seeks to improve outcomes for disadvantaged communities. It will also help Australia to meet its international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Key outputs from the project will include a detailed public report, an easy-read child-friendly report, and a radio documentary that examines the legacies of Australia’s (historical and present-day) child detention policies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

High Quality-of-Experience Real-time Video for Smart Online Shopping. This project aims to develop high quality-of-experience real-time video systems for smart shopping applications by devising new deep-neural-network-enhanced video delivery schemes. It will generate new knowledge of combined AI and network solutions to achieve high-quality and low-latency real-time video delivery, addressing unsatisfactory user experience intrinsically caused by network delay and bandwidth. Fundamental principles and an all-in-one platform will be developed to address research problems and the industrial partner’s practical problems. It will significantly benefit all shopping businesses and their customers in Australia, as well as all other video-related services (e.g., online education, video conferencing, etc.). Field of research: 4611 - Machine Learning The project develops solutions to provide high quality-of-experience real-time video delivery, facilitating a great number of online shopping businesses in Australia. The research will address the gap between users’ requirement for high quality-of-experience real-time video and the limited network bandwidth (yet expensive to expand). Our proposed solutions will contribute to intrinsic understanding on online and real-time video systems to provide drastically enhanced performance. A series of new research directions will be opened up for the convergence of AI and Internet video delivery. Theoretically innovative and accomplished analyses and algorithms are expected to break new ground, enhancing Australia’s global research standing in information and computer sciences. Online shopping businesses share a significant portion of GDP and employment, and this project is essential if Australia is to maintain its momentum towards the post-pandemic economy. The expected research outcomes will not only significantly contribute to the academia, but will also be widely adopted in real-world shopping systems, and will be integrated in all types of video systems in different areas such as online education, video conferencing, and eHealth in Australia. We will further promote the project by introductory articles for the public, social events, and engagement with other industrial partners, to maximise understanding, translation, use, and adoption of the research outcome in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Assessing fish connectivity across highly-modified seascapes. This project aims to quantify the effects of large-scale infrastructure on fish connectivity and populations by advancing our understanding of critical ecological processes within these modified coastal seascapes. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fish seascape ecology and management using an innovative approach which considers all life history stages within a metapopulation modelling context. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of an integrated modelling approaches to better predict the effects of habitat modifications. This should provide significant benefits by allowing assessment of development and management actions before they take place, supporting long-term planning. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Healthy fish populations are a fundamental element of thriving coastal ecosystems and indeed an integral part of Australian life. There is an expectation that these ecosystems will be biodiverse and productive into the future, serving to underpin a huge variety of cultural, social, recreational and economic activities that depend upon them. Yet the ecosystem services that we derive from fish are threatened by development pressures which alter their habitat. Understanding the large-scale impacts this coastal development has on fishes is an urgent and critical knowledge gap. This project will for the first time determine the effects of coastal modification on the full life cycle (larvae to adult) of fishes and will provide an understanding of the ways the impacts of such development can be minimised. The project team has direct links with relevant management agencies to ensure the translation of outcomes and their extension to other settings and situations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Portable biosensor for rapid detection of viral contamination in food . The objective of this project is to create a miniaturised and cost-effective electrochemical biosensor device that can detect multiple pathogens, simultaneously, even at very low level of concentrations. This device will be crucial for rapidly detect pathogen contamination in food and water to monitor their safety and quality, particularly beneficial in an outbreak or natural disaster for testing these resources. In addition to food and water, the successful development of this versatile cost-effective sensor will benefit a wide range of companies such as pharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing and farms for controlling product quality where detection of life threatening pathogens is pivotal to prevent risk for consumers. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to develop a diagnostic device for detection of multiple pathogens in a product such as a food or water to reduce the risk of food borne diseases for consumers. This device will be portable and sense very low level of viral contaminations at low cost rapidly that will be superior to existing technologies that rely on specialised, laborious and time-consuming techniques. This sensor will empower Australian Med-tech and agribusiness to capitalise on the rapidly expanding global demand for increasing product safety and quality for consumers in supply chain. This device will be ideal for detection of life-threatening pathogens in food, potable water and other products such as pharmaceuticals and in the long-term will lead to greater socio-economic, environmental and health benefits by reducing the risk of releasing and consuming contaminated products that is a major issue threatening millions of lives and causing massive socio-economic disruption. This work will maximise translation and adoption of the research in the future and will provide for Australian small-to-medium agrifood and medical device enterprises with a rapid and cost-effective portable sensor for pathogenic contamination detection, build a globally competitive Australian med-tech and agriculture industry in the short-term and lay the foundation for an advanced diagnostic devices manufacturing industry in the longer-term.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Making the first osteoporotic fracture the last: Evaluating a new... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Evaluating the time toxicity of cancer treatments in patients with... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Paediatric X-linked Hypophosphataemia in Australia: more than a disease... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Optimising Preconception Health In Women With Overweight And Obesity Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Development of a co-produced community-based kidney health promotion... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Clinical metagenomics for improved pathogen diagnosis, characterisation... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Evidence synthesis in MOTION: Developing and applying Methods Of... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Clinical research for the digital era: embedding analytic technologies... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Epidemiology and equity of kidney failure in Australasia Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Meetings via AI-Enabled Data Assimilation. Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) involve multiple members discussing their relevant data for collaborative decision-making. MDTs improve outcomes, but they are time and resource intensive with complex data preparation, integration, presentation and then summarisation. The project aims to innovate in artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically prepare, integrate, visualise, and summarise MDT data. A Hospital is an excellent microcosm for MDTs where image data are usually the centrepiece for discussion. This project expects to produce a software framework to enhance collaborative decision-making and efficiency. This should benefit healthcare industry and have wide applicability for MDTs across other industries. Field of research: 4603 - Computer Vision and Multimedia Computation Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) bring multiple team members (experts, juniors, staff) together to review the data for collaborative decision-making in a range of setting including hospitals, city planning, finances, astrophysics and structural biology. A key limitation is that current MDTs’ format is constrained due to the time and resource intensive needs in complex data preparation, data integration, presentation, and then summarisation. While MDTs are a preferred option in these co-working settings for decision-making, there use is selective and restricted due to this limitation. This project leverages artificial intelligence technology to provide simplified, robust, and efficient data preparation solution, enabling new collaborative tools, and automated summarisation for MDTs. A Hospital is an excellent microcosm for MDTs where image data are usually the centrepiece for discussion and it will be the setting for the research. The research will be conducted in a secure and privacy preserving manner. The research outcomes will lead to improved decision-making and efficiency in MDTs. This new capability will give Australian healthcare industry a competitive advantage and ultimately improve the wellbeing of all Australians. The project deliverables include a software framework and a repository with modules / tools / applications that will be tested in the key industry partner’s research environment and made available to the public for further adoption into practice.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

The utilisation of carbon materials from methane pyrolysis. Methane pyrolysis is a promising low-emission hydrogen production method that directly splits natural gas or biogas into hydrogen and solid carbon. However, a technological gap exists in dealing with solid carbon. This project aims to economically utilize carbon coproducts from catalytic methane pyrolysis using low-cost Australian iron ore catalysts. Carbon structures will be optimised during synthesis, and a new electrochemical purification method will be scaled up to obtain high-purity carbon materials. Value-added applications of unpurified and purified carbon coproducts will be demonstrated for wastewater treatment and different types of batteries, reducing solid waste and enabling significant cost offsets for hydrogen production. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Hydrogen is used in many industrial processes that underpin our economic prosperity. The current industry releases ten tonnes of carbon dioxide for each tonne of hydrogen produced – unsustainable. Methane pyrolysis can split natural gas or biogas into hydrogen and solid carbon without generating carbon dioxide. Through the long-term collaboration of the Industry Fellow and Key Industry Partner, advances have been made in using low-cost Australian iron ores as catalysts for catalytic methane pyrolysis. However, for each tonne of hydrogen produced, three tonnes of solid carbon materials are produced. They currently have to go to landfill as solid wastes. This Mid-Career Industry Fellowship will enable the development of new technologies to make onion-like carbon structures with graphitic carbon shells. This carbon product will be used as recyclable adsorbents and catalysts to degrade harmful organic contaminants in wastewater. They will also be purified into high-purity graphite materials using a new low-cost electrochemical purification method. The purified carbon products will make fast-charging lithium-ion batteries and new sodium-ion batteries. Selling these carbon products will reduce waste generation and offset hydrogen production costs. Much work is underway on this problem around the world; cracking it will enable Australia to take the lead on this path to tomorrow's economic and environmental security.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Reducing the severity of cracking in fibre reinforced shotcrete linings. This project aims to advance fundamental knowledge on the serviceability behaviour of fibre reinforced shotcrete tunnel linings with respect to early age cracking induced by restrained shrinkage. The project will establish a theoretical framework and best construction practice guidelines to account for different restraint and geometric conditions to ensure stringent crack control requirements are adhered to for the entire design life of newly constructed large tunnels. A framework to assess and predict the remaining service life of existing tunnel structures will be developed. This project is vital for tunnel asset management as detection and monitoring of early age cracking is critical to both safety and reducing ongoing maintenance costs. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering This project is about developing a detailed understanding of the early age cracking behaviour of fibre reinforced shotcrete tunnel linings. The expected outcomes of this project include benchmark experimental data on material and structural behaviour of fibre reinforced shotcrete tunnel linings under varying degrees of restraint, development of robust design procedures for inclusion in design standards for the control of early age cracking in tunnel structures. Total construction works in Australia exceeded $218 billion in 2022 with a significant proportion of this infrastructure on concrete construction in tunnels. Conventional structural concrete can significantly deteriorate with time requiring regular and costly maintenance. With improved understanding of fibres in concrete, improved models can be developed to predict the early-age behaviour of these critical infrastructures. The research will be translated into practice through the development of design guidelines for practicing engineers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Early bird gets the feed: better nutrition and management in poultry. Chicken and eggs are the preferred and affordable sources of animal protein, and essential for national nutrition and food security. Australia produces approximately 14 million chickens every week and, unfortunately, few, if any, meet day 7 growth performance target. Both parental and early post-hatch nutrition influences early growth and ultimately, final body weight in broilers and egg production in layers. This project aims to investigate amino acid metabolism and digestive dynamics in breeders, chicks and pullets in Australian production systems. Expected outcomes include industry nutrition and management guidelines to improve productivity, reduced environmental footprint and strong, ongoing industry-research collaborations. Field of research: 3003 - Animal Production As the nation’s most consumed meat, nearly 70% of Australians eat chicken at least twice a week. The average Australian also consumes 262 eggs per year. Chicken-meat consumption has doubled over the past 30 years and cost-of-living increases continue to push consumer preference for this affordable protein option. More food, overall, is needed to feed the growing population. Such strong demand has highlighted urgent gaps in chicken and egg production; most notably around delayed early chick growth and development. The industry has strong opportunities to boost productivity through improved commercial feed models, based on Australian-grown and sourced ingredients, and potentially transformational early management practices for better animal welfare, increased resource utilisation and reduced environmental footprint. Understanding the cost-productivity trade-off of different nutrition and management choices will support producers in their decision making amidst feed (and other resource) availability and price volatility. This will convey improved profitability to the $3.0B gross value of production chicken-meat and $1.1B (sales value) Australian egg industries, and sustained product affordability for consumers. The Fellowship includes close collaboration with poultry producers, breeders, and world-leading nutritionists to co-develop and directly deliver improved nutrition and management solutions for immediate implementation and long-term industry benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Sustainable Plasma-driven CO₂ Hydrogenation to Methanol. The mounting CO₂ emissions crisis amplifies the need for novel carbon management solutions. When effectively converted to valuable products such as methanol, CO₂ emerges not only as a solution to the greenhouse effect but also as a cornerstone for a sustainable, circular carbon economy. Employing non-thermal plasma technology for gas conversion offers unrivalled energy efficiency and the potential to be directly powered from renewable energy. This project will develop both the underlying science and engineering advances required to bring this innovation to industrial adoption. This project aims to not only mitigate harmful emissions but convert CO₂ to climate-neutral e-Fuels targeting other hard to abate industries such as shipping. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering The accelerating global climate crisis highlights CO₂'s role as a key ingredient in chemicals and fuels production. Proper management of CO₂ can mitigate industrial emissions and promoting a circular carbon economy. Converting CO₂ into methanol using non-thermal plasma aligns with Australia's dedication to sustainability and the well-being of its businesses and communities. More importantly, this project serves Australia's national interest on multiple fronts: 1) The solution developed will be deployable as carbon capture and ultilisation technology for point-emissions from heavy industries like steel & cement, and in conjunction with direct air capture. 2) The project will support Australia’s growing methanol industry and promote circular hydrocarbons, particularly methanol as a sustainable shipping fuel. 3) The project aims to boost Australia's readiness for decentralised Power-to-X solutions. By developing infrastructure that's compatible with renewables, it will enable decentralised chemical manufacturing, which can quickly and dynamically respond to the needs of the National Electricity Market. The project will deliver an integrated approach with R&D input from academia, commercialisation pathways with industry, and regulatory navigation with Government, maximising the potential for the technology’s success and impact. The outlined project plan will accelerate the technology scale-up and reinforce Australia’s reputation as a global-leader in sustainable innovation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

AI & Anticorruption: Unearthing Systemic Corruption in the Public Sector . Corruption is a major challenge to democratic legitimacy but difficult to detect, especially when subtle and systemic in nature. Designed and conducted with the NSW ICAC, this project aims at helping to realise the revolutionary pattern-matching potential of artificial intelligence systems as an anticorruption tool, providing the much-needed legal and policy roadmap that assures it will be deployed well: with the right data, indicia and methods, and properly designed to convey useful and meaningful information to officials. The project is expected to offer vital insights for policy (enabling ICAC and other anticorruption bodies to harness these tools wisely) and scholarship (including a better understanding of systemic corruption). Field of research: 4805 - Legal Systems This project explores how the superb pattern-matching capabilities of artificial intelligence could be used to support anticorruption agencies to find potential cases of corruption within the public sector. Current methods of detection, such as overt warning signs; random audits or tip offs from whistleblowers can lead to selective enforcement and miss subtle, systemic corrupt activities, that progressively erode citizens' confidence and trust in the public sector. Working with NSW ICAC, this project analyses the legal and technical elements necessary for an AI-driven anticorruption system to safely operate and augment the capacities of anticorruption officials. It will provide state and federal anticorruption agencies in Australia and globally with the necessary guidance to procure the most effective, legal and ethical AI tools to fulfil their functions; and ensure through formal research training and collaboration both new capacity building among ICAC staff and a deeper understanding among anticorruption bodies of the promises and limitations of AI. The research will be continuously tested and assessed with local and global agencies and international experts at every stage, ensuring ongoing wide dissemination and translation of its insights. Domestically, ICAC will offer leadership by example. Internationally, OECD is the perfect vehicle for dissemination, amplifying and reaching representatives from a range of countries that would be impossible to engage directly.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Developing next generation biomaterials for implantable technologies. The human body's rejection of foreign materials hinders advances in the development of implantable technologies. This project seeks to decipher the key parameters of implantable material design that lead to failure, utilizing insights from the immune system's foreign body response to synthetic polymers. The project expects to generate new cross-disciplinary knowledge at the intersection of material science and immunology. The expected outcomes include streamlined innovation and manufacture of biocompatible materials, enhancing the durability and function of implantable devices spanning applications from medicine to cosmetics and consumer electronics. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering This project seeks to develop a fundamentally new approach to the innovation and development of implantable biomaterials. Using a unique biologically-informed approach, the project will address a critical research gap by better understanding how materials integrate with the body. Enhancing integration of implantable technologies is a challenge relevant to a wide range of Australian industries. Addressing this need through innovative material designs can lead to significant improvements in commercial outcomes by minimizing complications, extending device longevity, and reducing the need for replacement surgeries. This may also carry added benefit in environmental sustainability by reducing material demand required for replacement devices, minimizing waste and aligning with global efforts for sustainable practices. More broadly, these advancements can impact the implantable materials industry, increasing demand, manufacturing, and commercialization, causing a ripple effect that would generate job opportunities, attract investments, and foster growth in the innovation economy of Australia and international communities. To promote the research outcomes beyond academia, we plan to engage with industry stakeholders, collaborate on commercialization efforts, and communicate our findings through public seminars and media outlets across a diverse range of sectors that include health, cosmetics, manufacturing, and electronics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Portable biosensor for food safety and quality monitoring. The objective of this project is to develop a portable electrochemical biosensor device capable of simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens, even at very low level of concentrations. This device will be a great asset for point of need detection of pathogenic contamination in food and monitor their safety and quality, particularly advantageous in natural disasters or an outbreak for food safety monitoring. In addition to food and water, the successful development of this versatile biosensor device will benefit a wide spectrum of companies such as pharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing and farms for controlling product quality where detection of life-threatening pathogens is pivotal to prevent risk for consumers. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to develop a portable device for point-of-need detection of multiple pathogens in food to reduce the risk of food borne diseases. This device with low limit of detection will be superior to existing techniques that are laborious and time-consuming. This sensor will empower Australian agri-food business and med-tech to capitalise on the rapidly expanding global demand for increasing product safety and quality for consumers in supply chain. This device will prove invaluable in the detection of life-threatening pathogens in various products, including food, potable water, and pharmaceuticals. In the long run, it promises to yield significant socio-economic, environmental, and health advantages by mitigating the risk of distributing and consuming contaminated products—a pressing issue that jeopardizes the lives of millions and leads to extensive socio-economic disruptions. The knowledge developed in this project will be especially beneficial for Australian as small-to-medium agrifood and medical device enterprises by providing them a portable sensor for detecting pathogenic contamination, thereby fostering a globally competitive Australian med-tech and agriculture industry in the short term. These sensors will also reduce the hospitalisation due to foodborne diseases which costs Australian economy AUD 2.5 billion annually. Furthermore, it will set the groundwork for a thriving manufacturing industry focused on advanced diagnostic devices in the long term.