MONASH UNIVERSITY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Advanced Membrane Engineering for Direct Lithium Extraction from Salt Lakes. This project aims to advance the development of innovative, loose-structured nanofiltration membranes using state-of-the-art fabrication techniques to enhance lithium and magnesium extraction from salt lakes. It is expected to generate valuable knowledge for advanced membrane development, focusing on membrane material design and ion transport theory within tailored polymer frameworks. The anticipated outcomes include improved direct lithium extraction technologies and integrated strategies for resource utilisation in salt lakes. This should provide significant benefits to our society by positioning Australia as a leader in lithium production, minimising environmental impact, maximising resource utilisation, and boosting economic prosperity. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to develop an innovative direct lithium extraction technology, offering a sustainable alternative to existing extraction methods from salt lakes. Unlike current technologies, our approach will integrate lithium and magnesium recovery, reduce production time, and minimise freshwater use. Addressing key gaps in the lithium extraction industry, this technology will support Australia’s rising lithium demand, driven by growth in energy storage and electric vehicles, essential to the nation’s energy transition. This technology will strengthen Australia’s role in the global lithium market, creating jobs and supporting growth in the mining, manufacturing, and tech sectors. Environmentally, reduced water use and pollution align with Australia’s sustainability goals, helping preserve ecosystems. This balance of resource development and environmental stewardship will enhance Australia’s reputation as a reliable lithium supplier, attracting international partnerships and cementing Australia’s leadership in sustainable resource management. To ensure widespread adoption and maximise impact, we will promote the technology through targeted industry workshops, collaborations with mining companies, and comprehensive media outreach, including conferences, press releases, and social media engagement. These efforts will cultivate awareness among the public and industry stakeholders, supporting our goal of real-world application of this technology within 3-5 years.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Reconfigurable Integrated Meta-Photonic Platform On-a-Chip. This project aims to develop a chip-scale meta-photonic platform by integrating multifunctional reconfigurable metasurfaces with on-chip optical waveguides. This project expects to generate new knowledge of meta-waveguide designs and laser-induced reconfigurability in phase-change materials through advancing metasurface functionality and applicability. Expected outcomes include new photonic functions for both off- and on-chip applications such as active spatial light modulation, ultracompact endoscopes, integrated light detection and ranging, reconfigurable photonic circuits, and sensitive photonic sensors. This should provide significant benefit by transforming practical photonic applications in manufacturing, healthcare, and security. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology Optical (or photonic) systems are essential in communication, imaging, energy, and quantum technologies, where miniaturisation can reduce costs and unlock new applications. Metasurfaces, just a few hundred nanometres thick, offer a novel approach to miniaturising optical systems, significantly advancing fields like flat lens imaging, holographic displays, LiDAR, and virtual/augmented reality. However, most metasurfaces are passive and static, and integrating them with light sources, waveguides, detectors, and other components remains challenging, hindering functionality and translational impact. This project aims to create the first integrated meta-photonic platform by combining multifunctional reconfigurable metasurfaces with on-chip optical waveguides. The resulting meta-photonic chips will enable groundbreaking functions, including ultracompact endoscopes for imaging small, delicate organs, integrated LiDAR for high-resolution imagery and environmental monitoring, and highly sensitive chips for enhancing quantum emission. The project will develop advanced manufacturing capabilities for cost-effective metasurface photonic chips with laser-induced reconfigurability. Research outcomes will be shared at conferences, industry workshops, and through social media and outreach programs. These efforts promise economic benefits for Australia by translating this new optical chip manufacturing platform to local photonics companies, with the potential for global market reach.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Multi-modal generative models of brain function. This project will advance brain mapping by developing innovative models to understand how different brain regions interact to process information. Current techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, offer limited insights as they provide only indirect measurements of brain activity. Using a combination of imaging methods—functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion imaging, and electromagnetic recordings—this project will create models to measure brain connectivity with greater accuracy. Its goals are to integrate anatomical data with functional imaging, enhance mapping through electrical activity data, and validate these models by predicting behaviours, offering new insights into brain function and connectivity. Field of research: 5202 - Biological Psychology Australia is globally renowned for its brain imaging expertise, yet the potential of computational modelling in this field remains underutilized. This Fellowship will bridge this gap, positioning Australian neuroscience at the forefront of computational methods to decode brain function. The project will deepen our understanding of how brain regions interact across various spatial and temporal scales, with outcomes that extend well beyond academic discovery. We aim to partner with industry and technology sectors to drive innovation in neural-inspired algorithms, supporting the development of cognitive robotics and advanced brain-machine interfaces, thereby contributing to Australia’s economic and technological growth. By sharing open-access tools and engaging with policymakers and industrial partners, we will ensure the research is accessible and relevant to those who can apply it. This project will also strengthen Australia’s role in predictive analytics, supporting early identification of psychological challenges, while fostering a collaborative ecosystem for future breakthroughs in brain research. In summary, this Fellowship will propel Australia’s brain research capacity forward, positioning it as a leader in global scientific discovery and innovation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Reaching Net Zero Transport: Integrating Place-Based Neighbourhood Planning. This project aims to develop a novel modelling framework to guide Australia’s policy pathways to net zero transport. The increasing emissions from transport have rendered past policy attempts ineffective. This project expects to generate new knowledge on net zero transport pathways by integrating bottom-up, place-based neighbourhood planning approaches with top-down transport sector policies. Expected outcomes include a policy-relevant neighbourhood classification framework, Australia’s first transport emissions database for all neighbourhoods, and neighbourhood-specific emissions models to inform place-based yet nationally scalable policy pathways to net zero transport. The outcomes benefit Australia in meeting its net zero commitment. Field of research: 3304 - Urban and Regional Planning Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity. To address this threat, the Australian Government has committed to reach net zero by 2050. Transport is the second largest emissions sector in Australia with a share of 20%, and crucially, the one experiencing the fastest growth. Estimates show that technology-centric policy actions for the sector are inadequate to meet the target. This project proposes a step change by providing a framework for cross-sectoral policy actions that mobilises local resources through the deliberation of local stakeholders, to develop customised place-based policy pathways to net zero transport. The project contributes to reducing the cost of climate change, estimated as $600bn by 2042, and co-benefits the economy by reducing congestion, improving public health, safety and social well-being. The approach to pathways to impact builds on my extensive academic and policy networks. Empirically validated place-based policy pathways to net zero transport will be shared through policy and scientific advisory groups with the local, state, and national governments for implementation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

How Does Ageing Affect GPCR Signalling: Focusing on Pro-resolving Receptors. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are evolutionarily conserved cell surface proteins crucial for regulating human and animal physiology by transmitting signals essential for growth and ageing. This project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying GPCR-mediated signalling in physiological ageing, utilizing state-of-the-art experimental methods and multi-omics platforms. By exploring GPCR-driven cellular biology and dynamics in both 'young' and 'aged' systems, the project seeks to transform our understanding of mammalian ageing. The outcomes will advance biological knowledge, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and promote cutting-edge research training, placing Australia at the forefront of global life sciences innovation. Field of research: 3214 - Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences This project seeks to elucidate the fundamental role of GPCRs in mammalian ageing, addressing a critical knowledge gap in how GPCR-mediated cellular processes adapt and change with age. By investigating age-related alterations in GPCR signalling, particularly in impaired inflammation resolution, this research seeks to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ageing-related physiological and cellular processes. The study will focus on how these changes affect the integrity of vital biological systems, offering insights into GPCR signalling at both the cellular and organismal levels during ageing. This research aims to identify novel molecular markers to modulate GPCR pathways, potentially enhancing healthy ageing. While advancing scientific knowledge, it may inform strategies to mitigate ageing-related decline. Given Australia's rising economic burden from its ageing population (~$36 billion/year), the findings are timely and relevant, addressing both scientific and societal challenges. Our findings will be shared through industry collaborations, publications, and presentations, promoting broad academic impact. Engaging with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, the project will drive innovation in GPCR research, developing new cellular and physiology platforms to study GPCR in the ageing context. It will also strengthen international partnerships, enhancing Australia's global competitiveness in life sciences and ageing research.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Cell death at the host-pathogen interface Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Understanding the role of meningeal barriers in brain immune privilege. This project investigates how the arachnoid barrier in the meninges supports immune privilege, protecting the brain from inflammatory damage. This project will explore arachnoid barrier function and dysfunction to open up a new frontier that unravels the fundamental principles that regulate neuro-immune interactions to safeguard the brain. This interdisciplinary study will offer paradigm-shifting insights into the communication between the nervous and immune systems, transforming our understanding of how the immune system and nervous system interact. These findings will pave the way to harness these protective mechanisms, with future applications that will help protect brain health and preserve brain function during healthy aging. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology Immune privilege is critical to protecting the brain from immune attack but little is known about the mechanisms that govern it. Indeed, many neurological diseases have a significant immune component, suggesting that dysfunction in immune privilege contributes to disease. This project focus on the role of the arachnoid barrier, an important but understudied neuroimmune interface, that defines the boundary of immune privilege in the CNS. Novel tools will be employed to dissect how the arachnoid barrier regulates neuroimmune interactions and identify mechanisms that trigger dysfunction. The aging population presents a major challenge in developed countries, in part because brain function diminishes during aging. The immune system plays an important role in brain aging, and understanding the principles of neuroimmune interactions will enable biotechnology to harness these to preserve healthy brain function and resilience during aging. We will ensure the dissemination of our findings through engagement with the public in lectures, articles, and through social media, as well as experts through seminars, conferences, and publications. As the population ages, and the prevalence of neurological diseases rises, understanding these processes will be critical to maintain the health and well-being of Australians, and their participation in the economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Multi-functional electrochemical imaging with a miniaturised lab-on-a-tip. This project aims to understand the functional properties of nanomaterials in minute detail by making and utilising a unique new probe: the lab-on-a-tip. This project expects to generate new knowledge in energy conversion and storage by simultaneously measuring multiple functional properties of such materials at a microscopic scale. Expected outcomes of this project include an enhanced capacity to design new high-performing, longer-lasting and safe energy technologies. This should provide significant socio-economic and environmental benefits, by developing next-generation electrochemical devices that efficiently convert electrical energy into chemical energy and store it safely as carbon-neutral fuels derived from carbon dioxide. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry Australian and global research is enabling the continual emergence of diverse electrochemical technologies that can reliably generate, convert and store energy from renewable sources. It is an ongoing goal to design new materials to make these technologies more efficient, cheaper and safer, and to do so, we must understand the functional properties of these materials in minute detail. This proposal presents a new tool that makes use of a special probe to measure the functional properties of materials in unprecedented detail, which can be related to microscopic structure to guide development of more effective renewable energy technologies. My miniaturised “lab-on-a-tip” is an enabling technology, with the proposed research poised to generate blueprints for the next generation of electrodes for use in electrolysis for clean energy production. The development of this technology would have wide ranging socio-economic and environmental benefits, including: supporting environmental initiatives on climate change mitigation; providing safe, clean, secure and sustainable energy production and storage; and placing Australian industry in a strong position to compete internationally on the emerging carbon neutral energy market. To facilitate adoption/translation, the project outcomes will be promoted at (industry) workshops, through social media and through an established network of potential industry partners and stakeholders via the GETCO2 ARC Centre of Excellence.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

The Moral Significance of Being Human. This Fellowship aims to explain and justify the moral significance of being human. This will be done through the development of an original philosophical framework, focused on addressing three critical challenges: human rights, aged care, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The resulting framework will enable the generation of new knowledge about the foundations of human rights; which practices constitute dehumanisation; and what separates humans from AI. Expected outcomes of the project include advances in philosophical theorising; enhanced research capacity, through the development of an Early Career Researcher Network; and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Field of research: 5003 - Philosophy This project aims to explain and justify the moral significance of being human. While there has been much philosophical work attempting to provide such a justification, none has yet been able to show why all humans are equally morally significant. Without a clear understanding of why being human matters morally, though, we lack the ability to adequately defend institutions such as human rights; determine what forms of treatment are dehumanising, and what harms such treatment causes; and recognise the dangers as well as the opportunities of emerging artificial intelligences. An explanation and justification of the moral significance of being human would aid social cohesion, both globally and within Australia. This project will collaborate closely with stakeholders in the refugee sector, the aged care sector, and the information technology sector to ensure the research is informed by real-world priorities. These collaborations will also provide pathways to disseminate the research into the public domain, increasing the impact of the research beyond academia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Crisis, Insurance, and the Techno-Politics of Climate Risk Governance. This project aims to investigate the crisis of uninsurability as many Australians are unable to access or afford insurance due to severe climate catastrophes and breakdowns in risk governance. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex conditions of climate vulnerability through an interdisciplinary approach that synthesises ethnographic studies of technical risk models, reinsurance practices, and communities on the frontlines of crisis. Expected outcomes include a strong empirical basis for developing techno-political theories of risk governance and responses to climate crisis. This should provide significant benefits, such as innovative policies that contribute to climate justice and advance Australia’s resilience. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Insurance is the bedrock of modern society. It is the often-overlooked infrastructure that supports a diverse range of other valuable activities. Yet, due to recent upheavals in the global insurance industry caused by severe climate catastrophes and breakdowns in risk governance, a growing number of Australians are unable to access or afford the coverage they need. Recent inquiries by the Australian Senate into insurance availability and insurers’ responses to catastrophes have highlighted the wide-reaching impacts of this risk crisis for Australia’s economy, communities, and national resilience. Through interdisciplinary research and in-depth engagement with climate risk modellers, the reinsurance industry, and communities on the frontlines of crisis in Australia, this project will provide urgent insights into the complex socio-technical conditions that have catalysed and stoked this ongoing crisis. This original empirical and theoretical work will directly guide the development of innovative policies designed to strengthen social systems of risk governance, thus improving the security of vulnerable communities and advancing Australia’s national resilience to climate change. These policies will be created in collaboration with a leading think tank and through a process of iterative, direct feedback from partners in industry and government—which further enhances their adoption and impact. The policies will also be promoted via forums like public events and opinion columns.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

G protein-coupled receptor Response Mechanisms to Environmental... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Mobility-oriented development: marrying mobility hubs and land use planning. This project aims to develop the first methodological framework to guide the planning and design of mobility-oriented development (MOD)—a new concept that integrates mobility hubs (MH) with transit-oriented development (TOD). It seeks to generate new knowledge in integrated transport and land use planning, demonstrating how MH can drive densification beyond traditional walking catchments, thereby boosting transit patronage. Expected outcomes include a best-practice benchmarking framework for MH and TOD, models to optimise MH locations for densification, and an MOD implementation plan. The project benefits citizens with multimodal travel choices and supports the transition to a net zero future through sustainable urban planning practices. Field of research: 3304 - Urban and Regional Planning Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity. To address this threat, the Australian Government has committed to reach net zero by 2050. Transport is the second largest emissions sector in Australia with 20% share, and crucially, the one experiencing the fastest growth. Transport and urban planners are devising independent policy actions in their respective sectors to address the challenge. Research has shown that these actions produce better outcomes when integrated. Mobility hub (a node with a range of sustainable transport choices) and transit-oriented development (development centred on stations) are the two popular concepts in recent transport and city plans across Australia. This project proposes a new approach, combining the two concepts into mobility-oriented development to inform pathways to net zero transport. It will contribute to reducing the cost of climate change, estimated as $600bn by 2042. Australians will have choices of low-carbon, multimodal and accessible transport services. Transport operators will gain passengers and reduce costs and property owners will benefit from increases in land value. The research findings will be used directly by the industry partner to transform their operations. Project findings will also inform local, state, and national governments through the policy advisory group; and knowledge will be shared with researchers and the public through journals, conferences, news agencies and social media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

ARC Training Centre in Sustainable Materials and Responsible Technologies for Packaging (SMaRT-Pack). We seek to unite a group of researchers and organisations (industry, academia, government and NGOs) with a common goal of developing clearer standards around sustainable technologies and a more representative, environmentally responsible policy framework for packaging. This will encompass not only new materials, manufacturing and recycling methods, but also standards, measurement methods and policy insight concerning the recyclability and degradation of current and future packaging materials. We seek to understand authentically the role that different aspects of packaging materials and their life cycle have in both intended waste / recycling streams and within the broader terrestrial and marine environment. Field of research: 3006 - Food Sciences This project will provide the knowledge and skills needed to build a truly circular packaging economy in Australia that replaces single-use plastics with recyclable and compostable, fibre-based alternatives. By learning how to use cellulose fibres from a range of different plant sources, genuinely sustainable packaging will be developed, focusing on food packaging but also other key sectors, including fighting the challenge of medical waste. This will represent a huge opportunity for the Australian fibre industry to reinvent itself as world leading in this field, creating jobs and providing safe and effective packaging for consumers. Researchers trained in this project will become skilled leaders and advocates to help implement this urgently needed 'packaging revolution'. We will develop new test methods to ensure that materials generated are truly sustainable and ecologically sound. This will have knock-on benefits for the environment, reducing plastic pollution in our soil and ocean ecosystems. By partnering with a diverse set of key industry stakeholders and associations, we will ensure that the outcomes of this research are rapidly taken up and utilised commercially to bring new, sustainable products to market. Through outreach and policy recommendations, all made publicly available, we will also seek to raise public awareness of progress on this key issue and to educate consumers on the impact of packaging, empowering them to make better, more informed choices.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Unravelling evolutionary effects of mitochondria on sperm and male... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

ARC Training Centre in Sustainable and Green Economy Manufacturing. This project aims to train the next generation of scientists to be experts in advanced sustainable and green catalysis technology. This project expects to deliver highly skilled industry-ready, entrepreneurial workers that can bring advanced catalysis chemistry to the sustainable manufacturing, bioactives, and energy sectors. Expected outcomes include providing partners, and the broader manufacturing industry, with new products and novel catalytic processes that are intrinsically safe and benign, with strong export potential, and the ability to respond to market pressures. Significant benefits include increased competitiveness for Australia's manufacturing industry and securing internal supply chains that reduce impact on the environment. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry The creation of ever-increasingly sophisticated materials through a chemical manufacturing supply chain is of immense importance as such technologies enable modern society to thrive and advance. There is also the need to address increasing regulatory and societal pressures for the manufacturing supply chain to utilise more sustainable and safer chemicals and catalytic processes. To achieve such goals requires a strong and continuous “skills pipeline” of scientists who are experts in advanced modern cutting-edge catalysis chemistry and technology. This project aims to develop a highly skilled Australian industry-ready and entrepreneurial workforce through improved training of HDR students and postdoctoral fellows, and training of the broader industry in use of sustainable and green catalysis principles. It will train scientists with the skills to develop new patentable and indispensable catalytic methods and materials that will give Australia the cutting-edge in research capacity to gain a greater share of the global ~US$37B catalysis market. It will also develop scientists with the skills to address the urgent global issue of the impact of chemical manufacturing on the environment by establishing and utilising new, low-cost and sustainable solutions. Research outcomes will be promoted at industry workshops, through (social) media, and by leveraging existing industry collaborations to enable translation and commercialisation as well as provide increased export opportunities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

ARC Research Hub in Cyber-Farming for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture. The Hub aims to transform Australian agriculture by pioneering cutting technologies across the agricultural production lifecycle to add values to agriculture and achieve sustainability and resilience. Aligned with the 2030 Agricultural Roadmap and National Robotics Strategy, the Hub increases yields and efficiency, improves quality and consistency, and enhances decision making through innovation and adoption of technologies in robotics, AI, Internet of soils and plants, and data-driven automation. With effective engagements in science, engineering, and all critical stakeholders, this Hub addresses pressing challenges, invigorates the economy and communities, and ensures sustainable agriculture development in Australia and the world. Field of research: 4007 - Control Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics Australian Agriculture is faced with significant challenges such as labour shortage, climate change, and declining productivity, threatening its resilience and sustainability. The Hub of Cyber-Farming addresses these critical challenges by advancing robotics and embodied AI tailored to agriculture, establishing sensor networks of soils and plants, and implementing data-driven automation into daily agricultural practices. The Hub invigorates the economy and communities, and ensures the sustainable and resilient environment and culture for Australian Agriculture, through 1) improved productivity and added value to agricultural produce, 2) alleviated labour uncertainties and upgraded skill for local workers, and 3) optimised utilisation of resources and reduced waste. Aligned with the National Robotics Strategy, this Hub promotes innovation and adoption of advanced technologies in robotics, AI, and automation for agriculture, contributing to achieving Australia's $100 billion agriculture vision. The Hub’s transformative impact is maximised by effective collaborations and engagements with all major stakeholders, including local growers, high technology industry, OEMs, and government bodies, ensuring the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in agriculture domestically and internationally. This Hub positions Australia at the forefront of innovation in cyber-farming technologies, leading to aggrandised investments, wider collaborations, and increased commercialisations.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Spatiotemporal control of microbial and biogeochemical activity in... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

ARC Research Hub for Critical Energy Separation Materials. The ARC crest hub will change our relationship with the materials of the green energy future. A leading group of Australian researchers and local companies have been carefully assembled to develop technology that can separate an energy carrier out of a complex mixture. This technology will both lower the cost and improve the sustainability of how we create, transport and use energy. The CREST Hub will also rethink what it means to have developed a new sustainable technology by engaging properly with the community so that a ‘true’ green solution can be developed collaboratively. We will deliver recycling of lithium ion batteries, means to cleanly transport hydrogen globally and circular materials economy. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The CREST Hub addresses a crucial gap in our national knowledge, that of how we relate to the materials used to store, transport and use energy. The team will change how we extract the minerals needed for these technologies, and furthermore, offer a viable path to recycle them after their natural lifespan has completed. All of this is centred around some world leading materials developed by the team that are capable of recognising the target energy carrier form a complex mix. This could drastically improve the profitability of many mineral resources, and open up a local recycling industry. The company partners should have products in use locally, or even available for sale to the general public by the end of the hub, based on this technology. This hub could also open up a local recycling industry. These are very tangible concepts and well understood by the general public in the mass media market, in which the team have featured regularly. Expected outcomes of this project include processes to support a sustainable renewable energy industry for achieving net zero emissions, and improvement in how we define what a technological solution looks like, taking into account learnings of First Nation peoples. This should provide significant local employment, improved environmental impact and the ability to scale clean energy.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Unravelling evolutionary effects of mitochondria on sperm and male... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Spatiotemporal control of microbial and biogeochemical activity in... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

How does RNA regulate gene repression? Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Total Body Neuroscience . This Fellowship aims to create foundational new knowledge about how the brain and body interact to drive cognition in young and older adulthood. To do this, a new sub-field of neuroscience will be developed, total body neuroscience, enabled by two breakthrough innovations in biomedical imaging. The outcomes will be a paradigm shift in the understanding of how cognition emerges from the brain across the lifespan, and a new technical framework for measuring brain and body interactions. This Fellowship will provide significant benefits by identifying mechanisms that can be developed in the future to help Australians maintain their cognitive function and quality of life into advanced age. Field of research: 5202 - Biological Psychology Australia has a rapidly ageing population, and over 50% of older Australians will experience cognitive decline in their later years. A fundamental problem we face in addressing the burden of age-related cognitive decline is that we do not understand the biological underpinnings of cognition. Cognition is usually considered to be related to the structure and function of the brain, but the brain does not operate in isolation from the rest of the body. The brain is reliant on the effective functioning of the body, which declines during ageing. Here, I will develop a new understanding of brain-body relationships, and how changes in brain-body relationships in older age manifests as age-related cognitive decline. The technical advances in this Fellowship will position Australia at the international forefront of frontier biomedical imaging technology. The new understanding developed during this Fellowship will be the launchpad for future research to develop interventions to help people maintain their cognitive function into old age. By understanding how cognition is linked to interactions between brain and body, this research will benefit Australians by accelerating the development of new precision interventions: tailored not only to the person, but specific organ systems within the person. The research outcomes will be communicated to the community to help people understand how maintaining their bodies - not just their brains - contributes to their cognition in their later years.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Leveraging electron microscopy to study receptor structure and function Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Asian voyagers and First Nations people in Australia's Gulf of... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Knowledge Enriched Approach for Effective Personalization Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research