MONASH UNIVERSITY

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

Innovating bacteriophage diagnostics and therapy to combat antimicrobial... Category: Medical Research

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

Antecedents and lifelong consequences of perinatal brain injuries Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Relational Return: a new model for returning Indigenous Cultural Materials . The project aims to develop a new framework for returning Indigenous cultural materials through an Indigenous understanding of relationality and practice-led research. The project expects to generate new knowledge about cultural materials, exhibition methods and repatriation. Expected outcomes include facilitating the return of select Indigenous cultural materials from international museums to source communities, and fostering cultural revitalisation and contemporary creative practice. This should provide significant benefits, such as transformed museum practices and fulfilling cultural obligations of Indigenous peoples to restore relationality with cultural materials whilst building global collaborations and establishing new standards. Field of research: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History This project aims to establish a new framework for the return of Indigenous cultural materials from international museums to source communities in Australia and follows research that has revealed the extent and significance of Australian Indigenous cultural materials in international collections. This Indigenous-led project addresses the gap between museum knowledge about cultural materials and the growing community demands for repatriation by developing a new model of Relational Return through practice-led research. In collaboration with museum partners and source communities, this project will facilitate the return of cultural materials in two Swiss museums to communities in southeast Australia and investigate the impact of these returns on both communities and museums. The process will foster cultural revitalisation and contemporary creative practices, and spearhead new methods of exhibition making. Led by Indigenous researchers with kinship connection to the cultural materials selected for study, the project will enhance the capacity of Indigenous peoples to work constructively with cultural institutions on the management of their cultural heritage. To maximise understanding and adoption of the research, the project will produce an exciting array of exhibitions and publications, designed to communicate the value of these cultural materials to broad audiences in Australia and Switzerland, alongside developing a toolkit for industry and communities to guide future returns.

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

Unravelling the mitochondrial role in climate adaptation Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Combining biomechanics and biomarkers to establish brain injury thresholds. This project aims to define biomechanical thresholds for brain injury, overcoming limitations of prior efforts reliant on peak acceleration metrics and controlled lab tests that fail to capture the complexity of brain tissue mechanics. By integrating head kinematic data from instrumented mouthguards, MRI-based finite element modelling of brain strain, and brain injury-specific blood biomarkers, this project seeks to link mechanical strain with biological responses. Expected outcomes include identifying strain thresholds derived from wearable sensor data, facilitating timely detection of high-risk impacts. This approach promises significant benefits, enhancing injury detection and informing helmet design for sports, military, and transport. Field of research: 4207 - Sports Science and Exercise This project will define scientifically validated thresholds for brain strain by identifying the levels at which head impacts lead to brain cell disruption, using real-world head kinematic data from athletes, advanced computational models of brain mechanics, and biological evidence of injury. These thresholds will inform the design, evaluation, and standards used for helmets across sport, transport, and defence settings. They will also support improved identification of high-risk impacts—such as in community sport and military training—where significant impacts may otherwise go unrecognised. This will help ensure that safety standards reflect how impacts actually affect brain tissue, rather than relying on indirect measures such as skull motion or acceleration alone. The outcomes will strengthen Australia’s capability in biomechanics, risk modelling, and equipment safety innovation, with broad benefit across sport, defence, and transport. Findings will be translated into practice through collaboration with standards agencies, industry, and sporting organisations. This will support the adoption of biomechanically grounded protocols to guide impact assessment and contribute to the development of objective testing methods and performance standards across key sectors.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Integrating Communication and Sensing: Connecting the Cyber-Physical World . Integrating sensing and communications (ISAC) is crucial to unlock the full capabilities of future cyber-physical fusion, yet is challenged by limited network resources and diverse user requirements. The project will tackle these challenges by devising new ISAC techniques offering robust performance in both functions. Anchoring theory with practical requirements, the project expects to develop new methods leveraging advanced mathematical tools and machine learning techniques. The outcomes will break through the bottleneck of ISAC under stringent application requirements of high accuracy and high rates. The project will benefit Australia in advancing knowledge base in key wireless technologies and supporting future critical infrastructures. Field of research: 4006 - Communications Engineering The integration of sensing and communication (ISAC) technologies represents a key advancement enabling diverse applications ranging from autonomous navigation to smart infrastructure management. This integration demands sophisticated optimization of critical resources: power consumption, computational capacity, and spectrum allocation, to meet performance requirements for both functions simultaneously. The project will pioneer novel ISAC systems that maximize resource efficiency while delivering reliable, high-fidelity communication and sensing capabilities across challenging environments. The fundamental advances will be followed by a software-defined radio demonstration, showcasing our novel systems. Our innovative design will serve as a foundation for developing a variety of practical solutions to be implemented in the next generation wireless networks. The outcomes will break through the integration bottlenecks under a range of application requirements on power, bandwidth, and seamless user experience. To promote our new techniques, workshops, demonstrations, and tutorial sessions will be conducted among industry stakeholder groups and academic researchers. This will open up new opportunities for industrial innovation in the telecommunication sector, boosting economic growth and strengthening Australia’s leadership in this strategic field. The project will present valuable opportunities for young researchers to have world-class training in the area of ISAC technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Cooler leaves: optimising protective heat release by plants. This project aims to understand how plants protect themselves from high light stress to produce more resilient and productive crops. The project expects to provide new knowledge about the fundamental structural and molecular means by which plants regulate stress responses through the examination of a newly discovered protein that controls protective heat release in grasses, some of the most resilient plants. Expected outcomes include a novel, non-genetically modified route for increasing plant resilience by enabling faster and more precise stress response and recovery. This should produce significant benefits, including improved productivity of major Australian crops and enhanced agricultural adaptation to changing climate conditions. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology With its $71.5 billion contribution to the national economy, agriculture accounts for 10.8% of Australia’s goods and services exports. However, increasingly hotter and drier conditions are already causing losses of 35% in some crops. Temperate crops, like canola, potato and grape, are of particular concern. Novel strategies are needed to improve crop resilience and productivity: this is critical for protecting food security, securing rural jobs and communities, and maintaining Australia’s competitiveness in international markets. This project aims to address this challenge by investigating whether a protein found in naturally resilient plants, and only just identified by our team, can enhance crops’ ability to withstand a stressful combination of conditions common in Australia: heat and high light. While doing so, we will produce fundamental knowledge on how plants evolve to adapt to new challenging environments. This project aims to pioneer a novel approach to offset climate-driven yield losses, offering a sustainable solution that could be applied across multiple crops. Resulting improved water, land and nutrient use efficiency would help to reduce agriculture’s negative environmental footprint. Beyond agriculture, this research has the potential to advance protein design technologies, which are actively used in areas, such as drug discovery. Our strongly connected team will communicate findings to research and industry colleagues, including Australian farmers and breeders.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Electrical Control of Spaser Dynamics via Quantum Electrodynamic Principles. The project aims to develop an electrical interface model of spasers—nanoscale devices that generate coherent light by amplifying surface plasmons through stimulated emission. Nanoscale lasers do not exist due to mirror inefficacy from a fundamental physical limit; spasers enable nanoscale applications. By creating a Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics model, this research will allow spasers to be powered and controlled electronically, making integration with existing electronic devices feasible. The project addresses the challenge of determining spaser electrical parameters, allowing for accurate control and application in sectors like telecommunications and lab-on-a-chip devices, and advancing Australia’s position in nano-optics innovation. Field of research: 4008 - Electrical Engineering This project aims to develop electrically powered spasers—nanoscale devices that generate coherent light by amplifying surface plasmons through stimulated emission. Unlike traditional lasers, spasers can confine and transmit light within dimensions just a few atoms wide, enabling unprecedented miniaturization and performance.​ Integrating these cutting-edge spasers into nanophotonic circuits could revolutionize optical computing by enabling ultra-fast data processing and communication, paving the way for more efficient and compact devices. Additionally, their application in sensing technologies offers single-molecule detection capabilities, enhancing environmental monitoring and chemical analysis. In renewable energy, spasers could improve the efficiency of solar energy collectors, marking a significant advancement in sustainable technologies. ​ The knowledge generated will position Australia at the forefront of nanophotonics research. It will benefit the defence industry by developing advanced sensing technologies and contributing to the global strategic microchip ecosystem. The resulting intellectual property will open avenues for licensing and commercialization, bolstering Australia's critical manufacturing capabilities and economic growth.​ By advancing this cutting-edge technology, the project aligns with national interests, fosters innovation, and secures a competitive edge in emerging technological domains.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Radar Integrated Body Area Networks. This project aims to unlock the potential of incorporating radar sensing into wireless body area network systems, thereby initiating a new era of transformative applications focused on human-centric needs. The project will generate AI-powered, radar-based sensing techniques integrated into wireless signal transmission within a body area network system. Anticipated outcomes include a suite of technological solutions that seamlessly integrate radar into body area networks, enhancing environmental perception and interaction capabilities. Integrating sensing capabilities through radar technology can facilitate the development of new technologies in healthcare, sports, the military, security, and safety applications. Field of research: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware While major technology companies invest substantial resources in innovating joint sensing-communication technologies to establish next-generation (6G) communication systems, this research focuses on cutting-edge approaches for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). WBANs are short-range, body-centric networks of wearable sensing and computing devices. This project aims to develop the first microchip based on joint sensing and communication principles for wireless body area networks, advancing practical, translational research. The outcomes will be disseminated through scholarly publications and will provide open-source technology solutions, including hardware design tools, AI algorithms, and signal processing concepts for researchers and communication engineers. Additionally, the findings will be shared with Australian telecommunications authorities, preparing the nation for future communication network technologies. This research will drive economic growth by fostering innovation and connectivity, and advancements in remote monitoring will offer deeper insights into our living environments through continuous data collection from wearable sensing and computing devices. The project promises revolutionary applications across healthcare, sports, entertainment, and security sectors, advancing Australia's manufacturing and technology industries, creating jobs, and enhancing its global standing in the telecommunication technology field.

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

Do mitochondria transfer horizontally into the mammalian female germ... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Empowering households in resource-efficient sustainability transitions . This project aims to investigate how households can play an active role in system change toward resource-efficiency across energy, water, food and waste. Urban resource inefficiency is a complex and significant problem. Expected outcomes are the first national picture of household resource efficiency, identification of intervention points in context and new policy and service provision pathways. The team also expects to produce a novel transitions conceptual framework. Expected environmental, economic and social benefits will be delivered by working with householders, policy makers, and government and industry stakeholders to identify practical solutions for householders, and knowledge to support policy makers and service providers. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Transitioning to a resource efficient household sector is crucial but requires societal and policy innovation. However, we have limited knowledge of which households are keen to be resource efficient and why, how they engage with interlinked systems (energy, food, waste and water), and how to support their transition. The research will contribute long term solutions to the interlinked sustainability challenges that Australia is currently experiencing. The project will contribute environmental, economic and social benefits to Australia by identifying resource efficient strategies and pathways for householders, community organisations, markets and policy makers. The research will deliver practical and affordable bottom up strategies to build resource efficient households, cities and towns. The project will generate useful information for householders, policy makers and practitioners seeking to promote energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste reduction and household resilience. Adoption pathways will be developed by bringing together householders with local and state level policy actors and service providers. The findings will be disseminated through presentations to government departments and industry forums. Social media friendly documentaries, news articles and plain English summaries of findings will be developed to share findings with the public.

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

Targeting the bi-directional relationship between diet and microbes to... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Hitting the Limits: Intersectional sexisms in Australian universities. This project responds to the limits of Australian university culture by examining the conditions that limit social cohesion in relation to gender. The project generates new theoretical, cultural and practical knowledge about how experiences of intersectionality, gender, power and complexity shape universities. Innovation comes with multi-method design and pathway to impact via a suite of creative responses focused on raising awareness of the gender problem in universities and providing possible solutions. This project provides significant national benefits as the gender problem that shapes universities shapes Australian society, and will enables universities to lead the way in ameliorating gender-based inequalities. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education The Australian Government identifies Higher Education as a key site for improving social cohesion, but gender equity remains a significant and unresolved problem within Australian Higher Education. Since 2018, there has been a 53% rise in the number of university employees who experience sexual harassment, sexism and gender bias. While universities in Australia have Gender Action Plans, processes and policies, and are part of award schemes that reward gender-equitable participation, the benefit of these is not always felt by women academics with diverse characteristics. This project investigates how universities can improve support for marginalised women and gender diverse academics and to understand how men academics perceive university policy and practice in relation to gender equity. This research will be translated into a series of resources for universities, individual academics and the broader public. These include data-driven filmed performance works, and associated activities housed on a project website. Improving gender equity in higher education will enable this important economic sector to foster resilient workplaces with vibrant, engaged and productive employees who contribute to research excellence and the reputation of Australian research internationally. Further, universities will better be able to train the next generation to participate in the Australian workforce in equitable and cohesive ways, promoting future gender equity across other industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Ethical, social and regulatory implications of informal sperm donation. This project aims to address ethical, social and regulatory issues in sperm donation for family formation in Australia to ensure that all people who need the assistance of a sperm donor to become a parent can do so safely. The project expects to generate new knowledge to address the the informal provision of sperm via the internet, while also improving the formal and regulated system of sperm donation. Expected outcomes include a more ethically robust and equitable system for accessing donor sperm for family formation achieved through cohesive, stakeholder-informed recommendations. It is expected to have long-lasting benefits for people who donate sperm, people who need to access donor sperm and for people conceived through sperm donation. Field of research: 5001 - Applied Ethics Using donor sperm to conceive a child is a well-established practice for people who are otherwise unable to achieve a pregnancy. While Australia has a well-regulated system of sperm donation through fertility clinics and sperm banks, a new unregulated informal source has recently emerged here and internationally: online sperm donation. Because it is a new phenomenon, very little is known about who is using online sperm donation and why. This project will be the first in Australia to investigate why people donate or seek out donors through unregulated online platforms, despite the potential harms for donors, recipients and future children. It will combine social research with ethical and legal analysis to generate recommendations for ways to improve our sperm donation system to ensure that the interests of all parties are protected, including those of children conceived with donor sperm. The project endeavors to benefit Australians affected by infertility and seeking to form a family by improving the regulation, safety and accessibility of assisted reproduction, including sperm donation. Results will be developed and shared with stakeholder organisations and the public through workshops, accessible reports and media engagement throughout.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enhancing learner feedback literacy using AI-powered feedback analytics. The project aims to advance the understanding of learner feedback literacy in higher education contexts by proposing an analytics-based mechanism to innovatively capture and analyse trace-data-based behaviour when learners interact with feedback. This innovative approach will enable personalised support using AI techniques to help learners reflect on feedback critically and take meaningful actions. The project addresses a critical challenge in supporting learners to develop the capabilities needed to benefit from feedback, due to an inadequate understanding of how they use feedback. This will, in turn, enhance feedback effectiveness and contribute to improved learning experiences, better graduate outcomes, and lifelong learning success. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education Feedback is one of the most powerful tools to enhance learning success and work productivity across educational and work contexts. However, effective utilisation of it requires critical capabilities known as feedback literacy. To address a critical gap of the underutilisation and inconsistent effectiveness of feedback in Australian higher education, this research project will enhance learner feedback literacy by offering a new approach to measuring and supporting it, focusing on automatic capture and analysis of trace data on learners’ real-time engagement with feedback.This innovative approach will overcome the limitations of existing self-report measures of feedback literacy, which are susceptible to bias, poor memory, and delays in providing timely support. By advancing feedback literacy, the project directly supports national priorities in education, innovation, and workforce readiness. Our project has significant social and economic benefits, including improved graduate outcomes, workforce readiness, and a reduction in costs associated with student attrition. Our pioneering research into AI-powered analytics in feedback literacy support will increase Australian expertise in effective and responsible use of AI in education. The results will be developed into training modules for professional development delivered through open-access resources and free workshops. We will also organise conferences open to policymakers and the technology industry to promote project results.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Polymer network engineering of membranes for precision ion separation. This project aims to develop a novel polymer network engineering approach to address a longstanding challenge in polymer membranes for precision ion separation. It seeks to provide new insights into the synthesis of stable, functional polymer networks and their impact on ion selectivity and transport properties. Expected outcomes include the development of next-generation polymer-based membranes with superior single-ion separation efficiency, innovative methodologies for polymer membrane fabrication, and enhanced theoretical frameworks for ion transport in confined channels. This research should contribute to Australia’s leadership in sustainable technologies for extracting and recycling critical resources and clean energy materials. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australia is a leading producer and exporter of critical minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements. However, current extraction and recycling processes for these resources are inefficient, energy-intensive, and environmentally harmful due to heavy chemical usage. There is an urgent need for more efficient refining technologies to address these longstanding challenges. This project seeks to bridge fundamental knowledge and technology gaps by developing advanced polymer membranes as ultrafast and ultraselective filters for the sustainable extraction and recycling of lithium and rare earth elements. The proposed research is expected to generate new intellectual property, fostering commercial development and accelerating the adoption of advanced membrane technology in partnership with Australian industry. In particular, these advanced membranes would play a crucial role in the environmentally friendly recovery of lithium and other valuable metals from the vast quantities of spent lithium batteries generated by Australia's rapidly expanding electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. This will contribute to the growth of Australia’s manufacturing and resource industries while reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact. Therefore, the scientific breakthrough achieved through this project will enable the development of novel membrane technology, positioning Australia as a global leader in critical mineral refining and recycling technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

From Care to Corrections: Preventing the criminalisation of care leavers. This project investigates the criminal justice system involvement of young people transitioning from foster, kinship or residential out-of-home care systems in early adulthood. Through strong Aboriginal leadership and governance, analyses of linked administrative data and consultations with young adults and professionals will be undertaken to develop knowledge of the characteristics and service system pathways of care leavers experiencing criminal justice system contact. Outcomes will include the identification of innovative strategies to prevent the criminalisation of young adult care leavers, enhancing their civic and social inclusion. Other project benefits include increasing community safety and reducing criminal justice expenditure. Field of research: 4409 - Social Work In 2022-23, 4200 young people aged 15-17 around Australia were discharged from state out-of-home care placements with kinship, foster, or residential caregivers. A wealth of evidence shows that compared with their peers in the broader community, care leavers face poorer outcomes across several life domains, including higher rates of criminal justice system contact. This is a highly costly and concerning outcome for a group whose circumstances have often been long-known to social and health services. This project investigates the criminal justice system involvement of young people transitioning from out-of-home care in early adulthood, and aims to identify evidence-informed and culturally appropriate strategies to address these outcomes. It will also produce new knowledge regarding the implementation of Indigenous research governance. The study aligns with several nationally agreed policy priorities including the need to improve outcomes for care leavers, and to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander criminalisation. Other study benefits will include evidence-informed strategies to enhance community safety and reduce criminal justice expenditure, alongside strengthened opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination, research opportunity and capacity. The research findings will be publicly shared via journal articles, webinars and policy briefs to maximise dissemination, and enhance translation to socially-useful policies and programs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

SNIFF, CRAVE, BITE: How Smell Drives Feeding and Physiology. This project investigates how the sense of smell influences food-seeking behaviour and physiologic responses. While it is well known that smells like freshly baked bread can increase the "desire for eating", how the brain uses smell to control appetite, food preferences and even influences physiology is not fully understood. This research will explore how smell interacts with brain circuits responsible for hunger and fullness, aiming to uncover new insights into the link between the olfactory sense, feeding behaviour and physiology. The findings could lead to new strategies for managing animal welfare, reproduction, pest control, human conditions related to unhealthy eating habits, improving health and quality of life of various species. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology Smells like freshly baked bread can trigger a desire to eat, however the way the brain uses smell to control food preferences, appetite, and even bodily functions is not fully understood. This project addresses a critical gap in understanding the link between olfaction, eating behaviour, and physiology by exploring how smell interacts with brain circuits for hunger and fullness. The research could deliver significant benefits for Australia. Economically, it may lead to innovative strategies for agriculture, animal welfare, conservation, and pest control, boosting productivity. Environmentally, it may help animals adapt to changing conditions, such as after bushfires or floods, by linking smell to novel feeding strategies. Culturally, it could deepen our understanding of how smell influences common feeding patterns, promoting social cohesion and social tolerance. To maximise impact, findings will be shared in the community through workshops, media, and online resources. This will ensure our research is widely understood and translated into practical applications, such as improved animal management or public health strategies. It will also enhance Australia’s international competitiveness in neuroscience, support various industries, and provide training opportunities in cutting-edge techniques, contributing to the nation’s health, wellbeing, and economic growth.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

NextGen Blockchain Privacy & Security: Practical and Quantum-Safe Solutions. Our project aims to enhance blockchain security and privacy for practical use. By proposing new cryptographic tools and protocols for improving confidential transactions, securing digital wallets, and creating privacy preserving payment channels, we seek to make blockchain safer and more efficient. The expected outcomes include more secure transactions, reduced costs, and increased trust in digital payments through blockchain. This will benefit businesses and consumers by protecting financial activities, conserving energy, and fostering innovation. Overall, our project contributes to making Australia a leader in secure and private blockchain technology, with positive impacts on the economy and society. Field of research: 4604 - Cybersecurity and Privacy This project aims to make blockchain technology more private, secure, and future-proof for use in Australia. While blockchain has great potential in finance, healthcare, education, and supply chains, its current designs expose sensitive information, are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and are not ready for future threats like quantum computing. Our research will develop practical solutions to protect users' privacy, enable safe digital wallets, support private payments across different blockchains, and upgrade blockchain security to resist future quantum attacks. These advances will directly benefit Australians by reducing the risk of data breaches and fraud, improving trust in digital services, and supporting the safe adoption of blockchain in industries critical to the Australian economy. With better privacy and stronger security, more people and businesses will feel confident using blockchain for daily transactions, contracts, and record-keeping. To ensure real-world impact, we will actively promote our results through workshops, partnerships with government and industry, and open-source tools for developers. We will also engage with policymakers to help shape national standards on blockchain security and privacy. By doing so, we will help Australia lead in safe and responsible use of next-generation digital technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Ageing Primate Brain: Molecular, Cellular and Systems-Level Insights. This project is focused on understanding the process of natural (not disease-associated) ageing of the nervous system. We know that even healthy brains change with age but still lack comprehensive knowledge of what exactly these changes are, particularly at the level of single cells and the neural circuits they form. The project will capitalize on new technologies developed in our laboratories to create the first comprehensive map of the ageing primate brain, at resolution sufficient to allow detection of changes associated with specific cell types and functional areas. The combined structural and functional data will provide unique insight on the process of ageing of the nervous system. Field of research: 3209 - Neurosciences This project aims to understand the process of natural (not disease-associated) ageing of the nervous system. At present, we lack fundamental knowledge to address questions such as what makes some people “good agers”, versus those who may suffer from decline associated with changes in the brain. Understanding the process of ageing is important not only at the individual level, but also at the societal level: the number of people aged 60 and older is gradually increasing, with most of this growth occurring in developed countries. A better understanding of what exactly can change in brain cells as we grow old can benefit Australian society through knowledge with various potential uses, including intellectual property relevant for future biotechnology and MedTech industries. For example, by combining non-invasive measurements (obtainable in humans) and cellular insights (only obtainable in animals) we can learn about neurobiological features which predict how different people may experience cognitive decline with age, before it happens. Brain ageing is a topic of wide interest, but unfortunately a lot of what reaches the public is scientifically inaccurate, or poorly supported by mechanistic understanding. This project will serve as an Australia-based focal point for rigorous research on the mechanisms of adult brain ageing, with its reach and sharing of findings facilitated through established links to industry, community groups, and the international scientific community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Towards effective goal-based governance for sustainable development. This project aims to develop a novel theory to enhance the effectiveness of the next global sustainable development agenda, building on experience with the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assumption underlying the SDGs was that policymakers would rally behind them, create institutions and dedicate resources to achieve them by the 2030 deadline. However, the SDGs effectiveness in driving action and policy change has varied substantially across contexts. Through analysing empirical data from different countries, interviews and workshops, this project will systematically explain those variations. This is crucial knowledge as the world begins to shape the next sustainable development agenda in the lead up to 2030. Field of research: 4407 - Policy and Administration Goal-setting in policy making is an approach to drive policy and action towards desired outcomes. This project investigates why the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the most ambitious global goal-setting exercise, have had varying effects on policy and action across countries. Despite global adoption in 2015, the SDGs have had little effect in Australia, while in countries like Indonesia or Germany they have had extensive impact and become the basis of national strategic planning. We don’t know what factors drive these varied effects. This knowledge gap is problematic, not only for the success of the SDGs, but also for effectiveness of other current and future goal-based agendas, such as Australia’s wellbeing agenda or Closing the Gap agenda. By identifying critical factors that drive policy mobilisation around goals, this research will enhance the effectiveness of these agendas, which aim to deliver wide-ranging economic, social and environmental benefits for Australians. The outcomes will also inform future global policy by providing much needed insights to improve the feasibility of the next global sustainable development agenda, as we approach the SDGs deadline in 2030. We will engage with UN agencies and policy makers in Australia, New Zealand and Europe to disseminate findings and inform deliberations for the post-2030 agenda. We will use the 2027 UN SDG Summit as one significant platform for engaging with policy makers and media outlets about this research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Transforming CO2 Utilization into Sustainable Resource Recovery Solutions. This project introduces a transformative approach to CO2 utilization in sustainable subsurface resource recovery, using CO2 foam as a stimulation fluid to convert CO2 from waste into a tool for efficient extraction. This dual-purpose method enhances recovery while sequestering CO2 in deep geological formations, providing a sustainable alternative to water-based stimulation. By optimizing CO2 foam properties for high-pressure environments and analysing fracture networks, this research aims to improve extraction efficiency with minimal environmental impact. Expected outcomes include a realistic, scalable framework that aligns with global carbon neutrality goals and advancing Australia’s leadership in sustainable resource management. Field of research: 4019 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy Australia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and substantially reduce its carbon footprint by 2035. This research supports these national objectives by pioneering a geothermal energy solution using innovative CO2 foam technology. Unlike conventional methods reliant on limited water resources and prone to seismic risks, our CO2 foam approach reduces water usage by 80–90%, minimises seismic impacts, and significantly improves energy efficiency. By repurposing CO2 as the primary stimulation and circulation fluid, this technology uniquely addresses both emissions reduction and renewable energy generation. Implementation will deliver economic benefits through reduced energy costs, the establishment of sustainable industries, and enhanced energy security. To maximise adoption beyond academia, we will engage industry stakeholders, government agencies, and peak bodies through targeted workshops, industry forums, and policy briefings, notably with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Mineral Forum. Collaboration with industry partners will demonstrate feasibility and relevance. Accessible summaries, technical reports, and policy documents will inform policymakers, industry, and the wider community, enhancing practical adoption. Environmentally, this initiative advances sustainability commitments by sharply cutting emissions, conserving water, and reducing ecological impacts, thus strengthening Australia's global leadership in low-carbon innovations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Engineering enzymes for controlled peptide modification. This project aims to (1) understand the mechanism and control the specificity of peptide crosslinking by engineered enzymes and (2) to exploit these enzymes as biocatalysts to produce complex bioactive peptides. This project intends to generate new knowledge on the biocatalytic synthesis of peptides using a highly interdisciplinary approach and essential tools that have been developed. The anticipated outcomes of this project are an enhanced understanding of how to the control the function of biocatalysts for peptide synthesis and to use these biocatalysts to synthesis complex bioactive natural products. This knowledge is vital for future efforts to develop biocatalytic methods for peptide production. Field of research: 3404 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry This project will invent new biocatalytic methods to chemically manipulate peptides, which are the building blocks of proteins. These methods aim to transform the way complex peptides are manufactured by chemical synthesis. The new processes emerging from this research will expand Australia's research capability and global competitiveness in the field of biotechnology, delivering significant commercial benefits to the third largest manufacturing sector in Australia. Social benefits may also be realised through the discovery of new bioactive molecules, which will have value in agriculture, health and medicine. This project will support the training of researchers together with international collaborators in the fields of chemical biology, biotechnology, and computational biology, who will implement these processes through partnerships with Australian and international biotechnology companies. Engagement with these companies will lead to adoption of the research outcomes, leading in turn to new inventions and discoveries that will provide Australian-owned intellectual property.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Revealing Order in Organic Semiconductors with Cryo-Electron Microscopy. This project aims to utilise cryo-electron microscopy as a disruptive tool to uncover the functional microstructure of organic semiconductor devices. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how structure relates to processing and function in organic semiconductor devices by utilising the ability of cryo-electron microscopy to image organic samples with high resolution, high contrast, low beam damage and in their true operating conditions. Expected outcomes of this project include new strategies to design and optimise a range of devices to drive new technologies. These technologies would provide benefits in the energy, health, communications and manufacturing sectors. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry This project aims to develop new ways to measure the molecular packing structure of organic electronic materials using cryoelectron microscopy. This research is of both fundamental and commercial importance. Organic semiconductors and electrochemical materials are important materials that have myriad applications in low energy lighting and displays, flexible solar cells, conformable electronic devices and wearable sensors. They are formed through solution-processing, a manufacturing technique that creates thin films in which the organic molecules pack in many different semi-crystalline structures that contain a lot of disorder. The performance of these materials is critically dependent on the molecular-level packing in the device, but currently there is no method that can sensitively measure their semi-crystalline structure. This project will develop innovative cryoelectron microscopy methods to provide new ways to measure the structure of organic electronic materials for Australian researchers and industry and enable them to solve difficult problems and accelerate materials discovery and design. This could generate novel materials, manufacturing techniques and products for energy, health, communications, and manufacturing. These new microscopy tools will be promoted at workshops for materials scientists and chemists and implemented in electron microscopy facilities that are open to all Australian researchers and industry.

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

Defining how pluripotency is controlled by live imaging of RNA dynamics Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research