THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

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

Medicinal Cannabis Use in Young People: Health Outcomes, National... Category: Medical Research

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

Modern sufficient dimension reduction methods for complex dependent data Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Reducing Otherness: Blurring Category Boundaries to Decrease Prejudice. People tend to believe that members of social groups share an underlying essence or nature that makes them who they are. This essentialist thinking often shapes how we navigate our social world, with research identifying a host of (mostly harmful) attitudinal and behavioural outcomes (e.g., prejudice, stereotyping). The proposed research examines the discreteness bias, a neglected aspect of essentialist thinking, to improve our conceptual understanding of its role and modify destructive perceptions of groups stigmatised on the basis of sexuality, mental health, and race. The proposal offers a promising new approach to reducing prejudice and maladaptive, internalised self-beliefs by blurring group boundaries and promoting continuum thinking. Field of research: 5205 - Social and Personality Psychology Psychological essentialism is a group of cognitive biases that lead people to believe that members of a social category (e.g., race) share a basic nature that makes them who they are. Much research indicates that these biases predict mostly deleterious interpersonal (e.g., prejudice) and intrapersonal (e.g., self-rejection) outcomes. Whereas attempts to reduce essentialism as a whole show limited efficacy, the proposal aims to directly target a specific essentialist bias, the discreteness bias, which has been largely overlooked despite evidence identifying it as the most detrimental one. This bias revolves around erroneously perceiving the boundaries of social categories as fundamental and rigid – amplifying alienation from outgroup members and prejudiced beliefs. Recent research demonstrates that challenging the premise of the discreteness bias is possible and can lead to improved outcomes; this proposal will extend this research conceptually, geographically, and temporally. Attenuating the discreteness bias and its unsavoury effects can reduce tensions between different social groups in Australia and save billions of dollars annually in health and productivity enhancements from improved social cohesion and well-being. Thus, the project’s findings will be shared directly with the public using both traditional and new media; it will also be shared with relevant stakeholders (e.g., advocacy groups) directly to initiate real-world implementation in a timely manner.

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

Improving post-kidney transplant outcomes with a patient-centred causal... Category: Medical Research

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

Investigating the inclusion of spillover effects in economic evaluation... Category: Medical Research

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

Stabilising perovskite photovoltaics by (A,B)-site co-doping Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Sleep-printing: unique sleep traits for predicting memory consolidation. This project aims to develop new analysis methods via advances in brain monitoring to study and understand the variability in sleep and memory. By exploiting the wealth of information contained in mapping the brain’s activity patterns, this project expects to develop innovative 'fingerprints' of sleep that characterise memory performance. Expected outcomes include reliable and robust predictors of memory capability, novel naturalistic imaging techniques for studying human memory, and providing clearer understanding of the relationship between sleep and memory. This will provide significant benefits, such as the identification of sleep targets for optimising memory performance and mapping trajectories of normative memory ageing processes. Field of research: 5204 - Cognitive and Computational Psychology Poor quality sleep has an impact on the physical and mental performance of everyone. Sleep is a universal phenomenon and plays multiple roles in maintaining our physical and mental abilities. There is a need to better understand both memory formation and sleep, given the foundational role memory plays in personal wellbeing, the development of expertise and skills, and human productivity. This project plans to leverage advanced methods and multiple approaches to study unique sleep patterns and discrete memorys of individuals. Together, these discoveries will overcome a current stalemate and answer key questions relating to how memories are stored and strengthened over time. Finally, this project will also address how does the process of remembering events change with age and how do changes in sleep contribute to this. It will also identify markers of sleep that can predict memory performance, which will inform a range of future advances in human health and clinical interventions, as well as targets for boosting performance in the general population. It will generate new knowledge that will lead to strategies directed towards keeping adults engaged as they age, productive and valuable in the workplace, thereby increasing quality of life and reducing economic loss.

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.

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

Mechanistic and Epidemiological Evaluation of Long-Term Complications in... Category: Medical Research

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

Making the Modern Middle East: The New Artist-Illustrators, 1842-1890 Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) 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

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.

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

Understanding the interplay between chromatin architecture and DNA... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Development of culturally appropriate household food security indicators... Category: Medical Research

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

Designing new-to-nature carbon fixing systems to improve crop... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Advancing 3D Generative Foundation Model for Multi-scale Biomedical Images. This project aims to enhance 2D multi-scale biomedical image analysis by leveraging 3D information through advanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. While 3D biomedical imaging offers detailed insights, its high-cost limits accessibility, making 2D imaging more common. We propose developing a 3D generative foundation model for multi-scale biomedical images (3DGBio), trained on extensive multi-scale 2D-3D images, to generate 3D images from 2D counterparts. Our goals include creating a 2D-3D generative algorithm, fine-tuning it for specific biological scales. This approach will make advanced 3D insights more accessible and practical for various research applications and lead to potential long-term health sector benefits. Field of research: 4603 - Computer Vision and Multimedia Computation This project aims to revolutionise biomedical image analysis by developing a 3D generative foundation model (3DGBio) that leverages advanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to transform 2D images into 3D image volumes. Given the high cost and limited accessibility of 3D biomedical imaging, the project will democratise access to 3D images that offer detailed spatial insights and make them available for a broader range of research applications. By training the proposed model on extensive multi-scale biological images, the project will create a tool that allows researchers to generate 3D images from 2D scans quickly and accurately for novel biomedical applications. This innovation will significantly enhance the depth of biomedical image analysis research, potentially leading to improved quantification and understanding of biomedical image data. This research brings potential long-term benefits to the health sector including better disease models, improved decision support tools, and reduced healthcare costs. This project promotes Australia’s leadership in AI and biomedical innovation, aligning with national priorities in healthcare and technology. Outcomes will be shared through open-source tools, partnerships with medical and research organisations, and public engagement to support widespread use and benefit across sectors.

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

Evolution of paediatric thyroid cancer management: from an orphan... Category: Medical Research

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

Evolution of paediatric thyroid cancer management: from an orphan... Category: Medical Research

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

Access to kidney transplant waitlisting and transplantation Category: Medical Research

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

New approaches for arrhythmia management using innovative ablation... Category: Medical Research

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

A Novel Platform for the Discovery of High Affinity Mirror Image... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Statistical methods for the analysis of spatial omics technologies. This project aims to develop bioinformatics methodology to analyse data generated by advanced spatial proteomic and transcriptomic technologies, enabling deep characterisation of cells in their native tissue environment. This project expects to generate multiple quantitative frameworks essential for studying complex cell relationships with these technologies using an innovative combination of statistical and bioinformatics techniques. Expected outcomes of this project include an enhanced analytical capacity to understand how cells interact with each other and their surroundings. This should provide significant benefits by strengthening Australia’s research capabilities in spatial biology, bioinformatics, and data analysis. Field of research: 3102 - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology This project addresses a critical gap in the ability to analyse complex spatial omics data generated by cutting-edge technologies such as spatial proteomics and transcriptomics. While these technologies provide unprecedented detail about how cells and molecules are organised and interact within their natural environments, existing analytical methods are not equipped to fully harness the richness of these new datasets. This project will create innovative analytical methods that are needed to help researchers make sense of the complex spatial data these technologies are generating and will provide a clearer picture of how different cells and molecules are organised and interact in diverse systems. By creating more powerful and accessible analytical tools, this project will strengthen Australia’s capabilities in data science, spatial analysis, and bioinformatics. The improved methods will help researchers from diverse fields—such as biology, medicine, ecology, and environmental science—better understand how cells in complex systems function and respond to change. The project’s results will be shared through freely available software, training workshops, and collaborations with researchers across Australia and internationally. This approach will ensure the methods developed are accessible to a wide range of users, encouraging innovation and enhancing Australia’s reputation as a leader in advanced data analysis.

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

Improving decision-making in health services: from system-level change... Category: Medical Research