UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Understanding How Serotonin Modulates Sensory Associative Learning. This project aims to understand how serotonin affects sensory learning. Current research has not fully explained when, where, and how serotonin influences learning and memory in the brain. Using advanced neuroscience techniques, this project will explore these questions at the level of brain circuits, cells, and molecules. The expected results include identifying important receptors and cell types involved in sensory learning. The benefits of this research include gaining new knowledge in biological psychology, advancing cognitive research, strengthening Australia’s neuroscience education, and encouraging growth in the health industry. Field of research: 3209 - Neurosciences To navigate and adapt to a constantly changing world, animals—including humans—need to learn from experience, particularly through sensory associative learning. One way this occurs is by linking a sensory input (e.g., sound or touch) with a reward or danger. While brain chemicals called neurotransmitters play a crucial role in learning, how serotonin—a chemical linked to mood and memory—shapes this process remains unclear. This project will use cutting-edge imaging tools in neuroscience to investigate when and where serotonin is released in the brain and how it affects associative learning. The findings will advance our understanding of serotonin’s dynamic changes and its role in learning and memory, refine existing theories of brain function, and uncover key mechanisms underlying cognitive processes. In the long term, this research is expected to provide fundamental insight that, in the future, could lead to significant health and social benefits to Australia by enhancing quality of life and reducing the burden of memory-related conditions in aging populations and individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. To ensure research outcomes reach beyond academia, the results will be made publicly available through blog posts on school social media and the lab page, as well as through talks at local high schools and public events.

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

An Interventionist Approach to Explainable Artificial Intelligence Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Improved wheat and soybean for the Australian agrifood sector. This project aims to develop high-yielding, nutrient-dense wheat and soybean crops tailored to the Australian food and feed industries and builds on multiple discoveries arising from a previously awarded ARC Linkage project. The project will employ innovative plant breeding methods to boost levels of naturally occurring phytonutrients that enhance iron and zinc uptake in plants and improve dietary absorption in animals. Expected outcomes include novel health claims for bread, improved livestock feed formulations for poultry and pigs, and crops with stacked nutritional traits. The benefits encompass higher-value food and feed products, greater returns for Australian growers and stronger national resilience to global supply chain disruptions. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Australia consistently ranks among the world's top three exporters of wheat, however, nutrient-poor soils often limit the growth and nutritional quality of Australian wheat crops. Conversely, Australia is a net importer of soybean and heavily reliant on other countries to secure sufficient soybean meal and flour for livestock feed and food applications. This research will improve the nutritional quality and yield of Australian wheat and soybean using innovative breeding methods that have quick paths to market, resulting in increased productivity and sustainability of the Australian cropping, livestock feed and breadmaking industries. The research findings will be promoted to the grains industry through Living Farm, a Western Australia-based R&D company with deep connections to a wide range of agribusinesses throughout the Wheatbelt, and to the livestock feed industry through the biotech startup company 121SEED. The research will also be shared with millions of bread consumers by Bakers Delight, Australia’s most successful bakery franchise, through the development and promotion of novel bread types containing high levels of bioavailable iron and other essential nutrients. The project will provide invaluable opportunities for an established team of higher education researchers at the University of Melbourne, University of South Australia and Cornell University to translate several recent discoveries in crop and food nutrition into tangible products for the agrifood sector.

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

Balancing the burden and responsibility of fertility between women and... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Building the Financial Capacity of Australia's Cooperative Housing Sector . This project aims to tackle Australia’s housing crisis by addressing the financial gaps of the affordable cooperative housing sector. Using novel techniques of scenario-based prototype modelling, it expects to: uncover the sector’s financial possibility; foreground new finance progression pathways; and propose policy reforms for sector growth. Expected outcomes include new sector knowledge, enhanced investment confidence, actionable financial toolkits and policy guidelines to scale the sector as a new tenure class. Key benefits derived from novel sector finance and policy support mechanisms will include: a completed national affordable housing continuum, significant public saving, empowered communities, and a vibrant cooperative economy. Field of research: 3304 - Urban and Regional Planning Australia is experiencing a housing affordability crisis. A top-down reform agenda reinforces private rental/ownership duopoly and an incomplete housing spectrum. Cooperative Housing – where ownership is shared for affordability rather than profit – offers an intermediate option that is affordable, sustainable and empowering. Although mainstream and fast-growing globally, this sector is marginal in Australia. Three crucial research gaps in: the sector’s financial capacity; novel yet feasible financial partnerships; and enabling policy frameworks, have handicapped its growth, impeded investment confidence, and delayed innovative and proactive public sponsorship of sector growth. Taking a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, and multi-method approach, this project aims to fill these gaps and offer effective levers in mitigating the housing crisis. In doing so we can expect: economic benefits due to employment and productivity gains and reduced public spending; social benefits due to enhanced agency, security, and wellbeing; commercial benefits through new financial and policy toolkits; and environmental and cultural benefits by empowering and facilitating common-interest groups. Outcomes will be promoted via a dedicated academic-cooperatives-policy advocacy coalition built through this project. It will support government actions via 14 roundtables and frequent briefs; upskill industry with demo workshops, guidelines and talks; and generate public support via multimedia.

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

Robotic Trainers for a Skilled Workforce of the Future Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Student wellbeing:Identifying key supports and high-impact school practices. Schools are a critical platform for a more equitable and productive Australia. This project aims to better understand the social determinants for life outcomes through an examination of early and proximal predictors of learning, engagement and well-being. It will transform educational research from small-scale, cross-sectional studies to sector-wide, longitudinal analyses using advanced new analytic methods (e.g., Machine learning, Person-centred). Expected outcomes are a cutting-edge student longitudinal well-being databank and datalab and new knowledge about when certain predictors matter most across the schooling years. Findings will be translated to support schools in ensuring high impact strategies at critical developmental stages. Field of research: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology Schools are central to the nation’s future health, wellbeing, and productivity. As near-universal institutions, they are uniquely positioned to support the development of the whole student—beyond academic learning—by fostering wellbeing and engagement. Despite this emphasis there remains limited, high quality evidence that can guide schools as to the early and proximal predictors of future positive learning and socio-emotional growth. In collaboration with key partners, this project will bring together new data science techniques (Machine learning, Person-centred) and large-scale longitudinal education and health survey and administrative information. It will be a world leading data infrastructure utilised to broaden our understanding of factors that have the strongest influence on student well-being, engagement and learning in schools and when certain factors matter most, across primary and secondary schooling. Importantly, the project will also provide a model for schools on how to translate and embed research findings to affect practices that can effectively and efficiently support positive student outcomes.

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

Proactive pregnancy care: Developing a risk calculator to identify women... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Transforming the diagnosis and treatment of a degenerative equine disease. This project aims to investigate how the misfolded protein, alpha synuclein, causes muscle atrophy in a common disease affecting 1 in 5 older horses and ponies; using in vitro and clinical studies. This would generate new knowledge about how this misfolded protein causes disease in horses. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a more accurate diagnostic test for this condition, enabling the earlier identification of affected individuals, and testing novel drug treatments. The project should provide significant benefits, positioning Australian equine researchers at the global forefront as well as addressing a critical research gap and delivering benefits to the Australian horse industry and improving equine welfare. Field of research: 3009 - Veterinary Sciences The Australian horse industry is a major economic contributor, generating several billion dollars annually and supporting over 75,000 jobs across various sectors, particularly in rural communities. One in five senior horses suffer a degenerative condition that results in muscle wasting. Currently, many horses suffer from delayed or inaccurate diagnoses, reducing their quality of life. This project will develop a more accurate diagnostic test for this condition and will pioneer a novel approach to preventing welfare limiting muscle wasting in these animals. Addressing a critical research gap, our work positions Australian equine researchers at the global forefront. Our test will enable early, effective treatment and significantly improve animal welfare and veterinary capability. This research will benefit the veterinary and pharmaceutical industries by providing more effective tools to treat and diagnose equine degeneration. Horse owners will enjoy longer, healthier, and more productive animals. To broaden impact, we will share our outcomes through industry and horse owner publications, engage with veterinarians at conferences, seminars and through continuing professional education; and build strong industry partnerships with the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. By promoting understanding, translation, and adoption of our findings, we will deliver lasting economic, social, and cultural benefits to horse owners and allied industries across Australia.

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

How does the U2 spliceosome complex regulate transcription Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Guarding Asia’s Democratic Pillars Against Backsliding. The project aims to collaboratively develop and refine the Asian Parliamentary Transparency Index over three years, to assess parliamentary openness in Asia. Its significance lies in enhancing legislative transparency and integrity, crucial factors for fostering proactive resilience against democratic backsliding in the region. Key expected outcomes include finalising the index and making a public announcement, alongside comprehensive training for parliamentary monitoring organisations on its effective utilisation. The project supports civil society by providing a robust, evidence-based tool to directly inform and strengthen advocacy strategies for greater accountability, ultimately empowering citizens. Field of research: 4499 - Other Human Society This project is developing the Asian Parliamentary Transparency Index, a new tool to assess how open parliaments are across Asia. It addresses a key gap as existing tools are not specifically designed for Asia, particularly when democratic practices are under pressure. The project aligns with Australia’s commitment to open government, as outlined in the Third Open Government Partnership National Action Plan (2024-2025), which seeks to improve public participation and strengthen integrity. Australians could benefit by seeing Australia take a global lead in promoting democratic values and accountability in our region. By contributing valuable knowledge to the global open government agenda, the Index can help inform parliamentary initiatives to enhance legislative transparency in the Asia-Pacific, fostering stronger regional governance. This supports Australia’s interests in a stable and transparent neighbourhood. To promote outcomes beyond academic circles, the project plans events to disseminate the Index and a comprehensive report analysing parliamentary transparency detailing country-specific findings. Training will be provided to civil society organisations so they can effectively use the Index to advocate for greater parliamentary openness. Advocacy materials will be developed, and successful strategies will be shared. The Index will be designed as a living document, refined over time based on user feedback.

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

Evolution of comammox bacteria and their contribution to soil N2O... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Bloomguard: Smart diagnostics for toxic algae in recycled water. We aim to develop and deploy rapid diagnostics to improve management of toxic algal blooms in Australian recycled waters. Recycled water provides $19 billion pa in economic benefit to Australia. Toxic algal blooms regularly threaten recycled water supplies, particularly over summer when they are most needed. Current diagnostics are inadequate, leading to early and unnecessarily intervention to avoid supply disruption, which costs the national water sector an excess ~$200 million pa. Rapid, accurate toxic bloom diagnostics at source will greatly improve toxic bloom management, reduce costs associated with pre-mature or unnecessary interventions and support long-term sustainablility of vital recycled water resources. Field of research: 4103 - Environmental Biotechnology Recycled water (RW) underpins long-term water sustainability of Australian agriculture, industry, urban supply and environmental flows. It provides an annual economic benefit of $19 billion, expected to rise 45% by 2050. Toxic algal blooms are a major risk to RW facilities, contaminating and disrupting supply when it is most needed. Reducing this risk requires diagnostics that support a nimble and effective response. Yet current methods take days, forcing operators to act pre-emptively. Unnecessary interventions cost the sector $200 million per year and still leave it vulnerable to sudden contamination and shutdowns. Working with the Australian water sector, we will develop rapid deployable diagnostics to support effective bloom management, meaning fewer, more cost-effective, responses. This brings major benefits to Australian water security, agriculture, industry, the environment and consumers via reduced costs and interruptions to the RW supply. The same technology is readily transferable to drinking-water and coastal or inland waterways, amplifying national benefit. Our partnership with WaterRA, the peak body uniting Australia’s water utilities, regulators and researchers, will drive rapid adoption and skills transfer, ensuring benefit to the entire sector. Strengthening Australia’s ability to manage blooms proactively delivers tangible economic, environmental and social dividends and positions the nation at the forefront of smart, climate-resilient water management.

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

Evolution of novel coronaviruses at the poultry-wild bird interface Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Australian Cancer Journey in Historical Perspective. This project proposes the first comprehensive history of cancer and its control in Australia, 1925-2025. An interdisciplinary approach will allow us to better understand cancer as a lived experience, uncover social inequities, interrogate cultural representations, analyse policy and power, and understand advocacy and education. The project aims to explore the national response to cancer as a population health and individual challenge by working with industry to examine the history of the national effort across science and medicine; surveillance, screening and education; policy and law; advocacy and education; and as manifested in Australian cultural life. The results should significantly inform improved future practice and health outcomes. Field of research: 4303 - Historical Studies One in every two Australians is diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. The endurance and pervasiveness of the cancer problem, its changing forms, and its unequal effects, help to explain why it continues to strike fear in Australians as a powerful cultural force. This major challenge exists despite significant advances in scientific knowledge and medical treatment over the past century, as well as work in advocacy, education, and legal and policy responses for cancer control. This project aims to investigate the long history of the national response to cancer as a cultural conundrum. Using an innovative public health humanities framework, it will work in co-design with industry to ensure that its research will directly inform health promotion, education and policy for improved future health outcomes. The project seeks to develop enhanced community understanding of the cancer journey as a cultural phenomenon influenced by complex and intersecting factors including institutional priorities, health messaging, social norms and expectations, geographic location, class, gender and ethnicity. The project will produce concrete results of use to scholars, policy makers, legislators, educators, students and the public. Books and journal articles will be augmented by three key translational outputs: a curated digital archive of historic material on cancer control, a digital map of cancer control organisations and interventions, and an Australian Cancer Stories website.

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

Unlocking the fundamental log-law constants for turbulent flow... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

A One Health Strategy for Companion Animal Health in Aboriginal Communities. Companion animals share strong cultural and familial ties with Aboriginal people. However, their health is deeply affected by parasitic diseases, overpopulation, and limited access to culturally appropriate care. This project will use advanced diagnostics to create the first genetic database of parasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs and cats in Indigenous communities. Using an Indigenist approach, it will support First Nations-led identification of current strengths and gaps in practice to guide the co-design of educational resources. This project aims to reshape how animal health is managed in Aboriginal communities and support the delivery of long-term, culturally appropriate strategies by governments and service providers. Field of research: 3009 - Veterinary Sciences This project addresses persistent challenges in remote Indigenous communities, where companion animal overpopulation, limited access to veterinary care, and high parasite burdens impact the health of animals, people, and the environment. Dogs are deeply woven into the cultural and social fabric of many First Nations communities, featuring in Dreamtime stories and kinship systems, with some communities having up to 62 dogs per 100 people – twice the national average. Using advanced molecular methods, this project will create the first genetic database of parasites found in dogs and cats in these areas. It will also engage First Nations Peoples to identify local priorities to guide the co-design of culturally appropriate education resources and support strategies grounded in community knowledge, values, and practices. In collaboration with our partners, this project will reduce disease risk, improve animal wellbeing, and guide the development of new treatments for animal parasites living in Indigenous communities. Outcomes will be shared through public databases, education materials, and engagement with community leaders, animal service providers, and policymakers. This nationally significant, community-led project will offer a scalable model for sustainable animal health, strengthen Indigenous leadership and biosecurity measures, and inform policies that connect animal, environmental, and human health across Australia.

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

Breaking Barriers: The Role of the Intestinal Barrier Ageing in... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Cementless carbon-negative activated clay concrete structures. This project aims to develop a cementless carbon-negative concrete technology that relies on materials widely available in Australia. The project will generate new knowledge to establish an activated clay concrete technology providing a secure and significant carbon sink while remaining structurally sound and durable. The technology will be suitable for mass production and for applications in buildings and the built environment. The project is expected to transform the current concrete industry by replacing traditional cements and calcination processes to address decarbonisation needs of the cement industry that is responsible for about 8% of the world’s CO2, with significant benefits for the Australian building and construction industry. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering The building and construction sector accounts for 37% of the world’s CO2 emissions. As cement, a key component of concrete, produces about 8% of the world’s CO2, it alone has a significant carbon footprint. This sector is not on track to achieve Australia’s net zero operational emissions by 2030 or net zero by 2050 due to a widening gap between the required and actual decarbonisation pathways. Yet, partially replacing cement in concrete is not an effective solution for decarbonisation because the industry remains hesitant to adopt non-traditional mixes. Instead, a shift to cementless concrete, supported by industry-driven research and innovation, is essential. This project will develop a new activated clay concrete technology that is cementless and carbon-negative. Importantly, these activated clay materials are abundant industrial waste in Australia and the new technology will use the same equipment used in concrete production. Project results will be shared to government and the sector via workshops, articles and media. This project has important economic, environmental, and social benefits for Australia. Production costs will be lower as the manufacturing process will use less energy and repurposing waste reduces costs of materials. Landfill and production emissions will be reduced. Overall, reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure will support the implementation of effective strategies to achieve our net zero goals.

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

Targeting whole genome duplication as a therapeutic vulnerability in... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Liquid biopsy multi-omic approaches to optimise precision medicine in... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Transcriptomics at exquisite resolution Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Proactive pregnancy care: Developing a risk calculator to identify women... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Identifying and targeting epigenetic mechanisms of therapeutic... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Optimising lifestyle care to reduce the burden of knee and hip... Category: Medical Research