Deakin University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

The regulation of skeletal muscle mass. This project aims to delineate a pathway involved in regulating skeletal muscle mass, and examine whether disrupting mitochondrial phospholipid synthesis affects mitochondrial structure and function, causing muscle wasting. Defining a new atrophy pathway will advance understanding of the mechanisms that control muscle mass. This project could have important economic and quality of life benefits, especially for agriculture, where achieving optimal muscle mass ensures international competitiveness, productivity and economic growth, and successful ageing, where maintaining muscle mass is essential. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Smart aptamer-guided nanoexosome as a novel biotechnology platform. This project aims to develop guided novel nanomaterials as a new biotechnological platform for in vivo targeted delivery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) for gene editing. By systematically engineering the surface properties of natural nanovesicles known as exosomes, a novel nanotechnology platform should be established. The guided nano biotechnological platform should not only enable targeted in vivo precision gene editing via CRISPR but also specific delivery of gene editing machinery across the blood brain barrier for better exploration of fundamental biology of the brain. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Superior Adsorption Capability of Nanosheets for Surface Enhanced Raman. This project aims to create nanotechnologies to sense traces of chemical and biological molecules. Surface adsorption is vital to many scientific and industrial fields, but the intrinsic adsorption property of two-dimensional nanomaterials is largely unknown. This project aims to examine the adsorption capability of nanosheets, such as boron nitride, and understand the thickness effect on their adsorption at the molecular scale. It also aims to demonstrate the use of these nanosheets as substrates in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Their adsorption capability and other unique properties could improve the sensitivity, efficiency and affordability of this technique in chemical and biological sensing for applications such as air, water and food safety; and pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Developing solutions to marine mammal interactions with long-line fisheries. Developing solutions to marine mammal interactions with long-line fisheries. This project aims to use innovative techniques to determine aspects of natural marine mammal behaviour that can be exploited, in conjunction with optimal fishing vessel operations, to minimise their interactions with commercial fisheries. Marine mammal interactions with commercial fisheries are a growing worldwide issue with both ecological (incidental bycatch and increased dependence on fisheries) and economic consequences (annual losses of tens of millions of dollars to the fishing industry). Successful solutions to reduce these interactions have remained elusive. Outcomes from this research are expected to be applicable worldwide, have substantial economic and ecological benefits, and ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry. Field of research: 0704 - Fisheries Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Race, science and indigeneity in Australia. This project aims to re-evaluate the role of biology in Aboriginal studies. Indigenous Australians have attracted intense scientific interest since European colonisation. Their bones, blood and hair have been collected to shed light on human evolution and migration, serology and, more recently, health disparities. This project will develop an account of how the history of race science matters in the present through investigating 20th century scientific efforts to understand Indigenous Australians biologically. It will also study contemporary knowledge-making about Indigenous biological difference in the genomic era. This research aims to ensure that Indigenous genomics offer the most benefit to Indigenous people. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Advanced Synthesis System for Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials. Advanced synthesis system for two-dimensional nanomaterials: This project aims to establish the first synthesis facility in Australia for growing large-area and atomically thin two-dimensional (2-D) nanomaterials including graphene, boron nitride, metal dichalcogenides, metal oxide and nitride nanosheets. Such materials are emerging and innovative materials that possess many properties desirable for energy, electronic, biological, and environmental related applications. This facility is designed to underpin breakthrough science by providing high-quality large-sized materials to researchers for both fundamental and application research. This new synthesis capability would foster advances in the fundamental understanding of 2-D nanostructures and the development of devices with broad applications in energy conversion and storage, environmental protection, and life sciences. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Navigating difference: Children's experiences in Australia and South Korea. This project aims to understand how children in Australia and South Korea navigate racial, ethnic and cultural difference through everyday interactions and experiences as part of an international school partnership. International education aims to prepare students to be active global citizens. However, there is limited knowledge about how students navigate and negotiate these differences and the extent to which such programs encourage positive intercultural contact in their everyday lives. Given worldwide reports of racism and ethnic and cultural intolerance, the intended outcome of this project is to provide robust empirical evidence that advances theories of intercultural relations and informs global citizenship policy and practice. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Food policies for population health: evidence, influence and accountability. The project aims to investigate ways to improve the development and implementation of policies to create healthy food environments in Australia. Currently, Australian food environments are dominated by cheap, heavily promoted, unhealthy food, and governments are seeking ways to reduce the economic and social burden of diet-related ill-health. Policy changes are needed to create environments that encourage healthy food consumption. The project aims to generate new evidence of the economic case for implementation of priority policy options, provide critical insight into the policy process, and identify levers for increasing the accountability of governments for creating healthier food environments. The project intends to identify strategies to improve population health. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Creating food environments that encourage healthy eating. The aim of this project is to trial scalable and sustainable interventions that encourage healthy purchasing and eating behaviours in supermarket settings. Most food in Australia is purchased in supermarkets and unhealthy eating is the greatest contributor to Australian life years lost. The project will assess the effect of a range of interventions on purchases of healthy and unhealthy foods and the financial impact on the retailer in eight supermarkets and a novel virtual supermarket. The economic analysis aims to ensure that successful public policy interventions are translatable to other retailers. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services