La Trobe University

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-03

Evidence-based interventions to improve working conditions for nurses Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-03

Employing radiotherapy to augment glofitamab bispecific antibody immune... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Recycling PV Panels into Thermal Insulation for E-Waste Valorisation Category: Scientific Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Broad molecular characterisation of the vertebrate T cell complex Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Broad molecular characterisation of the vertebrate T cell complex Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Quantum Enhanced Optimisation for Energy Efficient Data Centres Category: Technology

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

Novel regulators of immune cell development in the digestive tract Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Novel regulators of immune cell development in the digestive tract Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

What limits species ranges? Empirical tests in native pollinators. The project aims to reveal why species have restricted geographic ranges and do not adapt to environments beyond their range. This knowledge is important for conserving vulnerable species, managing agricultural species, and forecasting species occurrences as climates change. By combining physiological and genomic data of wild native pollinators – stingless bees – we will test different mechanisms theorized to enforce species range limits. Expected outcomes include new insights into why species occur where they do, enhanced potential to predict species responses to climate change, and knowledge of stingless bees which benefits the application of these insects as pollinators of Australian crops. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology Most species live only within certain areas (their range), but why this is the case remains unresolved. Understanding why species have range limits is key to conserving biodiversity and predicting how species will shift their distribution as climates warm. This project will use Australian stingless bees, to understand range-limiting processes. Wild bees play a critical role as pollinators in natural ecosystems and agriculture and are estimated to pollinate 75% of crop species, with their contributions to global food production estimated at ~$215 billion annually. Due to the emergence of honeybee pests, alternative pollinators are critically needed, and native stingless bees are currently viewed as a key emerging pollination alternative. Using innovative field-based approaches and genomics, this study will improve our understanding of the processes that underpin species range limits and inform the conservation and selective breeding of stingless bees. The project team will work with the horticulture industry to develop evidence-based recommendations for supporting pollination services in agricultural systems, thereby supporting our food security. In addition, we will raise awareness of the importance of native pollinators to healthy ecosystems and sustainable food production. These benefits will be shared with the general community via public workshops and media engagement.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Broad molecular characterisation of the vertebrate T cell complex. T cells play central roles in vertebrate immunity yet we lack molecular insight into how the T cell receptor complex triggers development and cellular activation. This project aims to establish how a cell-surface protein complex on T cells, orchestrates their development and function. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and membrane receptor biology. This proposal uses advanced microscopy, including advancement of cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule light microscopy capabilities, this will enable advanced postgraduate student training. Other outcomes include influential publications, building expertise at Australian universities and establishing international collaborations. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Vertebrates—from humans to lampreys—share a common adaptive immune system built on B cells and T cells, which have co-evolved over 500 million years to provide coordinated protection. T cells detect external signals (antigens) through surface receptors, but how these cues trigger internal immune responses remains a major unresolved question. Understanding T cell activation—the main regulator of immune development and function—is a critical frontier in immunology. This project seeks to understand how T cells trigger immune responses in different species because this process governs the development and function of these cells. Thus, molecular detail of how T cell triggering occurs will generate fundamental insights that will broadly inform molecular and cellular immunity, advancing future research on protective immune responses and enabling future basic research collaborations. This is critical for understanding immune homeostasis, which is important for protecting livestock herds, wildlife, humans and companion animals. Beyond the scope of this basic research, these findings could lead to the development of novel immunotherapies and precision medicine, led by biotechnology. This project will employ advanced microscopy, providing cutting-edge training for researchers and students. Methods will also be shared through national microscopy workshops, building capacity in the national science and technology workforce.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Micro and nanoplastics: measurement, toxicokinetics and cardiac impacts . This project aims to address the biological effects of micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure by investigating their toxicokinetics and impacts on the cardiovascular system. Leveraging a cutting-edge platform to produce environmentally relevant plastic particles and integrating advanced single-cell RNA sequencing, the research will identify mechanisms of particle uptake, clearance, and cellular toxicity. Expected outcomes include new tools to improve MNP measurement capability in biological samples, and critical insights into particle behaviour and toxicity pathways. This will provide benefits including advancing toxicology research capacity and providing foundational knowledge to inform environmental policy and regulatory frameworks. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology Australians are increasingly affected by micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), tiny plastic particles that accumulate in our environment—polluting waterways, soils, and food systems, and potentially disrupting ecosystems, industries, and communities. Despite their widespread presence, we know very little about how these particles behave once they enter living systems, or what long-term environmental impacts they may pose. This project will fill a critical research gap by developing new tools to detect, measure, and understand the movement of MNPs in biological systems. It will also test the impact of MNPs in the cardiovascular system—the primary conduit for MNP distribution within animals. The outcomes of this research will directly benefit the Australian population by helping protect food safety, reduce exposure risks, and ensure cleaner agricultural and aquatic environments. The findings will inform stronger environmental regulations and provide evidence to support policy decisions that safeguard environmental health, protect biodiversity, and preserve food safety and security. Importantly, this project will increase national awareness and understanding of what MNPs are, how they accumulate in the environment and food chains, and why they matter. This deeper public understanding will empower informed decision-making, promote sustainable behaviours, and foster informed public dialogue around plastic pollution and its impacts.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Carboranes as a scaffold for next generation hypervalent iodine oxidants. This project aims to invent methods to directly convert simple C-H hydrocarbons into value added fine chemicals by inventing a new class of organoiodine based oxidising agents where the organic group is a nearly indestructible carborane. The intended outcome of the project is generation of iodine reagents that can to be tuned to be much more oxidising which will allow for the conversion of unreactive, simple and cheap C-H sources such as propane into valuable chemicals, but without the need for high pressures or temperatures. The new iodine reagents will also be easily recyclable. These features will offer benefits, in an improved safety and cost profile than currently available methods for achieving this important chemical transformation. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry Transforming one chemical into another is the core of the multi-billion dollar global chemical industry, and nearly every single consumer product, from foods to vehicles to medicines depends on chemistry and chemical transformations. Chemistry is central to all aspects of modern society and to push the chemical industry forward, new chemical reactions must be invented. The most profitable chemical reactions use abundant natural sources of chemicals and convert them into useful commodity chemicals. Australia boasts plentiful supplies of basic natural chemicals such as methane. Yet, these abundant materials remain underutilized in Australia’s chemical industry today. This project aims to devise new chemical agents and processes to directly transform these basic, low-cost substances, priced at mere cents per kilogram, into premium fine chemicals with increased value of multiple orders of magnitude using much less harsh conditions than what are currently required. The outcomes will hold significant appeal for small-to-medium enterprises in Australia’s chemical sector, offering cost-effective methods achievable with the chemical synthesis infrastructure currently available in the domestic market. To ensure widespread adoption, project findings will be shared via the team’s existing connections in Australia’s fine chemical industry and CSIRO, alongside outreach through social and mainstream media channels to ensure reach into relevant stakeholder networks.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Virtual Reality and Knowing What It Is Like. This project aims to investigate the idea that virtual reality (VR) is an ‘empathy machine’ that can simulate the experiences of other people and thereby give us knowledge of what it is like to have those experiences. The project expects to advance our understanding of this issue by bringing together philosophical work on ‘what it is like’ knowledge and work in psychology on immersive VR. Expected outcomes include a theory of how VR can give us degrees of ‘what it is like’ knowledge, and a normative analysis of what can go wrong when we try to use VR to understand other people. This should provide significant benefits, including guidelines for the ethical use of these 'empathy machines', and practical advice on improving their accuracy. Field of research: 5003 - Philosophy It is widely believed that empathy is a key driver of prosocial behaviour – voluntary, intentional actions that help others – bringing many benefits to individuals and society at large. It has been argued that virtual reality (VR) is the “ultimate empathy machine,” and there have been many VR applications designed to increase empathy. Scholarly opinion, however, is mixed on whether this is possible or desirable. This project will determine the extent to which VR can give one knowledge about ‘what it is like’ to have a given experience (WIL-knowledge), which in addition to advancing the state of the art regarding WIL-knowledge, will bring clarity regarding the cognitive, moral and ethical impacts of VR used to increase empathy. This research will benefit Australia and Australians socially and culturally, by identifying strategies that might increase empathy, especially toward marginalised populations. These strategies will be developed in collaboration with, and shared to, VR researchers and developers, enabling commercial benefits as well through more effective training for work where empathy is core to the role (e.g. aged care, policing, and social work) and more compelling calls to action (for, e.g., charities, NGOs, and museums). The project will promote practical and ethical guidelines for the use of VR to generate empathy, through public lectures, conferences and a book. This will ensure that the research outcomes can influence developers, policymakers and the public.

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

Remote Symptom Monitoring in people with Cystic Fibrosis Category: Medical Research

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

'Splitting' of dying cells by neighbouring phagocytes to aid cell... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Out In Suburbia: Improving LGBTQ wellbeing in outer suburban Australia. LGBTQ people living in Australia's outer suburbs experience significant barriers to wellbeing. This project aims to understand how living in outer suburban areas shapes LGBTQ belonging and inclusion. This project intends to use qualitative methods to explore LGBTQ people’s experiences in outer suburbs and discover how local government policy and action impacts LGBTQ wellbeing and community connection and how these can be improved. Expected outcomes of the project include identifying approaches to LGBTQ-inclusion in outer suburban areas that can be translated into policy. It should provide significant societal benefits, enhancing local government responses to diversity and inclusion and promoting social cohesion and suburban liveability. Field of research: 4206 - Public Health This project investigates the under-researched experiences of LGBTQ people in Australia’s outer suburbs. Using innovative place-based methods, this research will provide practical insights into how outer suburbs shape LGBTQ lives, health, and social connection. Without this knowledge, policies and services risk being inner-city-centric, neglecting LGBTQ people in outer suburbs and worsening health and social inequalities. Findings will have broad benefits, informing strategies to improve wellbeing and social inclusion in Australia’s fastest-growing areas. This project is the first of its kind to work directly with local governments, responding to increasing demand from councils for guidance on LGBTQ inclusion. By embedding results in local government processes, this project will produce tailored, evidence-based strategies that not only support LGBTQ residents but also enhance social cohesion more broadly. To maximise impact, results will be shared through national networks, peak bodies, and local governments. A key component of this knowledge translation strategy is the adaptation of the How2 program—an established capacity-building initiative that helps organisations embed LGBTQ inclusive practices. By integrating results into How2, we will inform sustainable mechanisms for change, ensuring long-term improvement in services and policies that benefit LGBTQ people in outer suburbs.

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

Enduring safety from family violence in and beyond family court... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Mechanisms of bacterial adaptation: from persistence to innovation Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Cultivating Connections: A Transregional History of Australian Rice. This project aims to produce the first transregional history of Australian rice that reflects the industry’s diverse and environmentally responsive multicultural pasts. The project intends to use this single commodity to generate innovative insights into Australia’s social, cultural and economic interconnections with the Asia and Pacific region. Expected project outputs will include an accessible book, refereed articles, a hybrid exhibition, a policy brief, and an oral history archive. This should provide the benefit of new historical knowledge about rice agriculture, its social and environmental impacts, and changing cultures of consumption, aiding preparations for a more open market, in a warmer world, with more diverse consumers. Field of research: 4303 - Historical Studies This project will produce the first large-scale social, cultural and environmental history of Australian rice. This history will examine how rice production and consumption created trade links and cultural connections between rural and urban Australia, and between Australia and the Asia-Pacific. It will outline underexplored longitudinal changes in consumer tastes and document rice producers’ successes and failures, providing historical context for Australia’s contemporary food security initiatives. Social and cultural benefits to Australians include explaining how and why rice became such a major dietary staple, and how it has functioned as a key marker of cultural heritage in our diverse society. The project will enhance public understanding of, and thus contribute to the successful management of, the environmental impact of Australian rice farming. It will also benefit future decision-making by deepening policy makers’ historical knowledge of Australia’s rice industry and its local and regional specificities. Research outcomes will be created in collaboration with, and communicated to, community, industry, and museum partners. The research team will widely promote project findings by producing a general-audience book, a hybrid exhibition, a food security policy brief, and an oral history archive.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Decoding deep-red and infrared heat sensing in beetles. This project aims to uncover how animals with miniature brains can efficiently process multisensory stimuli. Insects use tiny systems to detect and rapidly integrate information from multiple senses to inform behaviour. The underlying processes are poorly understood, particularly for less common senses. Using a powerful combination of techniques – high-resolution imaging, intracellular recordings and behavioural experiments – this project is expected reveal how beetles detect and respond to deep-red stimuli and infrared (heat) information. Results have the potential to unlock biological solutions for modern problems, including improved efficiency of sensors and image processing, which has implications for robotics and autonomous vehicles. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology Insects have miniature brains and sensory systems and are remarkably efficient at processing vast amounts of information to perform complex behaviours. These behaviours usually require integration across multiple senses, including sensory abilities beyond human experience. However, current research rarely examines integration between different senses and frequently overlooks less common senses, such as deep-red vision. This project will address this gap by combining anatomy, physiology and behaviour to uncover how insects detect and integrate two uncommon sensory modalities. Specifically, we will investigate deep-red vision and infrared heat sensing in buprestid fire beetles. This group includes multiple species that can detect both deep-red light and heat, but heat sensors differ entirely in structure and function between species. This inherent difference will allow insights into integration across functionally different systems. Results will provide a comprehensive understanding of the sensory ecology of buprestid beetles, which is relevant for conservation programs and integrative pest management. In addition, we will reveal mechanisms for efficient multisensory processing that could benefit Australians through improved sensor design and image processing algorithms relevant for autonomous vehicles. Beyond academia, our team will communicate findings through public talks and popular media such as The Conversation to connect Australians with science and the natural world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Structure, function and engineering of plant osmolarity sensors. This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which plants sense drought using specialised protein sensors. By integrating cutting-edge computer simulations, artificial intelligence and molecular biology, this project will unravel the molecular basis of plant osmosensation and how this is converted to cellular signals. Expected outcomes include the advanced knowledge of plant stress sensing, innovative computational tools, proof-of-concept drought-tolerant plants and novel molecules for regulating plant behaviour. This offers a promising route for engineering climate-smart crops with enhanced drought resilience, leading to better water use, increased yields and strengthened food security. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Australia faces widespread droughts of increasing severity, causing an average annual loss of $1.1 billion in the agricultural sector. When experiencing water shortage, plants employ various water-saving mechanisms to reduce further water loss, but how plants sense the water deficit remains largely unknown. Recently it was found that specialised sensing molecules within plant cells convert the external water stress into an internal cellular signal, allowing for rapid responses to drought conditions. Poor understanding of how these sensors work has greatly restricted our potential to grow crops in the face of increasingly frequent droughts. Utilizing supercomputers and advanced molecular biology tools, this project will generate new knowledge to address the significant gaps in plant water stress sensing and provide novel insights into the design principles for crops with enhanced drought tolerance. Results from this project, aligned with the Australian national priorities, will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits. Targeting of these molecules for crop improvement could enhance water efficiency, boost yields, mitigate drought impact, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Australian agriculture. New intellectual property based on these findings will position Australia at the forefront of biotechnology and facilitate the knowledge transformation to practical applications by engaging with existing and new partners in government and industry.

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

Decoding deep-red and infrared heat sensing in beetles Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Listening in the dark: acoustic ecology of deep-sea fishes. This project will investigate how deep-sea fishes use sound to survive in their dark, extreme environments. By analysing soundscapes, the structure of hearing organs, measuring and reverse-engineering their hearing function, we aim to uncover the unique adaptations of these fishes and their reliance on sound, especially as human-made noise increases in the deep sea. Expected outcomes include an assessment of the sensory abilities of these fishes, providing a foundation for conservation and fisheries management, as well as the first analyses of Australian deep-sea sounds. This study will help protect Australia’s vast and largely unexplored deep-sea habitats, contributing to conservation efforts and sustainable management of marine resources. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology Australia’s deep oceans are among the least understood ecosystems on Earth. However, they hold enormous scientific, ecological, and economic importance for the nation’s future. This project aims to uncover how deep-sea fishes detect and respond to sound in their environment by linking inner ear structures to hearing ability and the acoustic conditions of the deep-sea. Despite the growing interest in activities such as deep-sea mining, carbon sequestration, and offshore infrastructure development, there is almost no baseline knowledge about how life in these depths perceives and interacts with the environment. This project will fill that gap, providing foundational insights into Australia’s vast underwater territory. The outcomes will inform responsible ocean use, providing significant environmental benefits to Australia. The research will also inspire public interest in deep-sea exploration and be promoted through public talks, school programs, digital media, and engagement with government and industry, ensuring the findings are accessible, translated into policy, and used to inform sustainable decisions in managing our marine future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

'Splitting' of dying cells by neighbouring phagocytes to aid cell clearance. This project aims to investigate how fragmentation of dying cells could aid their removal. More than 200 billions cells die daily in the human body. It is critical that dying cells are rapidly cleared as their buildup can interfere with normal tissue functions. This project will use a suite of contemporary molecular/cell biological approaches to study a newly identified process that occurs during cell clearance. Expected outcomes include a paradigm-shift in understanding the process of cell death and clearance. This project is expected to generate fundamental new knowledge of the mechanisms by which dying cells are efficiently removed from tissues. This should provide significant benefits to the cell death and general cell biology fields. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The economic burden of autoimmune, inflammatory and cardiovascular disease costs Australia more than $10 billion annually in lost lives, pressure on health services and lost ability to engage in work. Impairment of the timely removal of dead cells in the body has been linked to these diseases, due to the accumulation of dying cells interfering with tissue functions. Importantly, we still lack fundamental understanding of how billions of dead cells are cleared efficiently by the human body on a daily basis. This project aims to investigate how dead cells are removed; in particular how neighbouring cells could aid the fragmentation of dead cells by directly splitting them apart into smaller pieces for removal. This will generate new knowledge of how cellular waste is removed rapidly, which has significance in cell biology, biochemistry and immunology. This project results may in the future inform new therapeutic approaches for autoimmune, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. We will share research outcomes with clinical researchers and pharmaceutical companies, helping to inform the development and commercialisation of new therapeutics to improve human health. The findings will also be communicated to the general public through social media and media releases.

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

Cultivating Connections: A Transregional History of Australian Rice Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research