La Trobe University

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

Unlocking the protective nature of Human Leukocyte Antigens in the fight... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

An Evidence-Based Strategy to Advance Modular Hempcrete Panels in Australia. This project aims to develop an evidence-based strategy to position modular hempcrete panels as a leading solution for affordable, low-carbon housing in Australia. It will assess the economic, environmental and regional development potential of hemp-based construction. The significance of the research lies in creating knowledge at the intersection of sustainable building, emissions, and economic diversification, using modelling and stakeholder input. Outcomes include practical guidelines and a decision-support framework to inform planning and investment decisions for government and industry. The benefits include enhancing a local industry that will increase housing affordability, create jobs, and improve regional development prospects. Field of research: 3509 - Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains Australia faces a pressing challenge: delivering affordable housing while reducing carbon emissions. The construction sector is one of the largest sources of emissions due to its heavy reliance on carbon-intensive materials, making the adoption of cleaner alternatives imperative. This project will investigate how modular hempcrete panels, a sustainable and carbon-absorbing building material, can become a practical solution for low-cost, sustainable housing. While hempcrete offers substantial environmental benefits, the national supply chain required for its large-scale use in construction remains underdeveloped. This project will develop a scalable business case and investment roadmap to accelerate the growth of an integrated national modular hempcrete panel industry. It will establish manufacturing standards, assess costs and environmental impacts, and identify economic opportunities for farmers, regional manufacturers, and builders. These insights will support job creation, sustainable land use, and emissions reduction, delivering environmental, economic, and social benefits across urban and regional Australia. To maximise impact, the research will be co-developed with industry and government stakeholders. Outcomes will be shared through policy briefs, investment reports, workshops, and tailored resources for councils, regulators, builders, and financial institutions. The project directly contributes to Australia's housing, climate, and regional development priorities.

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

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.

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

Virtual Reality and Knowing What It Is Like Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Privacy-Aware Resource Optimisation for Distributed AI in SMEs. This project aims to develop a secure and privacy-preserving AI system that enables many users to train large models without sharing their data. It expects to generate new knowledge in managing delays and interruptions in distributed training and in designing intelligent scheduling tools for efficient use of shared computing resources. Expected outcomes include scalable training algorithms, smart resource schedulers, and deployable prototypes supporting privacy-preserving AI services. This should provide significant benefits by making advanced AI more accessible and trustworthy for small and medium businesses, while reinforcing Australia’s leadership in digital capability, cybersecurity, and data privacy. Field of research: 4606 - Distributed Computing and Systems Software This project addresses a critical research gap in enabling secure, collaborative AI model training on decentralized, privacy-sensitive data, especially for Australian SMEs. Most current AI solutions require centralised data and high-end infrastructure, which are inaccessible to many businesses. This project will develop a privacy-preserving, resilient AI training framework that works under real-world constraints such as limited connectivity, heterogeneous data, and shared computing resources. It aligns with the National Framework for the Assurance of Artificial Intelligence in Government by advancing ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy AI systems. The research will deliver economic and commercial benefits by helping SMEs adopt advanced AI technologies without compromising privacy or incurring high costs. It supports business growth, productivity, and innovation across key sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. Socially, it promotes equitable digital participation and ensures AI benefits are broadly distributed to support national prosperity. To maximise non-academic impact, the project will engage industry through pilot trials, technical workshops, and knowledge exchange. Outcomes will be shared via industry reports, policy briefings, open-source tools, and contributions to national AI standards. Broader outreach includes media engagement, public talks, and government consultation, with commercialisation pursued through university innovation channels.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enduring safety from family violence in and beyond family court litigation. Our study seeks to examine modifiable family and service systems factors associated with long term safety of parents and children at risk of domestic and family violence (DFV) during and beyond involvement in family court litigation. To our existing substantive multi-informant data, and supported by established ethics and consent agreements, we will add a comprehensive third year follow up with parent cohorts, and examine the interaction of family and system responses over time. Well translated findings would aid court and allied services in optimising safety enhancing actions for lasting outcomes. This project furthers our national partnership research and may narrow the global evidence-to-action gap in reducing DFV likelihood and harms. Field of research: 4804 - Law In Context Domestic and family violence causes more harm and cost to women and their children than any other preventable risk factor. Risks of violence are high during separation, and highest of all for the thousands of Australian families entering the family court system each year. The causes, epic scale and severity of domestic and family violence are well known. There is however a critical gap in knowledge that prevents progress. We do not know what personal, cultural, court and systems factors improve safety during court processes and maintain it afterwards. In partnership with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, our project will address this gap, with never-before collected data of over 4,000 Australian parents in varying levels of risk. From their stories, we will produce new knowledge about how people, services and policies can effectively promote continued safety from domestic violence. First Nations people will benefit from our focus on how optimal safety pathways may differ. Our publications and reports to the Court and Government will inform new investment in safety-enhancing interventions. In time this is likely to result in significant personal, financial, and productivity savings. We will create a unique e-hub for parents that will offer potentially life-changing information for parents, with capacity to link to other services, to support safety over time. Beyond commercial potential, these resources at scale offer clear social benefit, nationally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Improving Teacher Retention in High-Turnover Areas: A Geo-Spatial Approach. This project aims to improve teacher retention in high-turnover areas by developing a Workforce Distribution Dashboard to map teacher employment patterns and identify Teacher Exodus Zones in VIC, NSW, and QLD. It expects to generate new knowledge about successful retention practices through geo-spatial analysis and case studies of schools achieving high retention under challenging conditions. Expected outcomes include a scalable strategic framework for teacher retention, showcasing successful practices and providing actionable insights for policymakers and schools. This project will significantly benefit rural, remote, and disadvantaged communities by addressing workforce shortages and supporting sustainable, data-driven workforce planning. Field of research: 3902 - Education Policy, Sociology and Philosophy This project aims to address the ongoing challenge of teacher retention in rural, remote, and disadvantaged areas across Australia, where high turnover rates impact educational quality. By integrating geo-spatial analytics and in-depth case studies, the project will develop a Workforce Distribution Dashboard to map teacher movement, identify patterns, and assess factors that influence retention. The research will help improve workforce stability and ensure that students in high-turnover regions receive consistent, high-quality education. Economically, reducing teacher turnover can lower recruitment and staffing costs while enhancing student outcomes, which are crucial for building resilient communities. Socially and culturally, stable teacher populations create stronger school-community ties and supports long-term positive impacts on local development. To maximise understanding and impact beyond academia, the research outcomes will be shared through targeted workshops with policymakers, schools, and stakeholders. These collaborative workshops will co-design practical, evidence-based strategies for teacher retention. The use of the Workforce Distribution Dashboard will facilitate data-driven decisions at local, state, and national levels, and the success stories from schools that excel at retention will inspire scalable models. This will inform the application of the research in schools nationwide, stabilise teaching workforce and improve educational equity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Malnuda Burra Yina: Gabra Stories of Yorta Yorta Fruit Picking. This project will investigate the role played by Yorta Yorta people in the Goulburn Valley fruit picking industry. Utilising family/clan led research, it is intended to advance our understanding of the history of Australian capitalism by applying Aboriginal modalities. The project will show how Yorta Yorta families practiced self-determination through their choice of labour and employer from the 1920s to the 1970s. Its outcomes are multifaceted, prioritising community aspirations to document their contribution to the economy. The project should provide significant social, cultural and commercial benefits by generating greater knowledge of Yorta Yorta fruit picking in the Goulburn Valley region and beyond. Field of research: 4519 - Other Indigenous Data, Methodologies and Global Indigenous Studies The Yorta Yorta people were the backbone of the fruit picking industry in the Goulburn Valley from the 1920s to 1970s, however neither their contributions nor the economic and social impact of their involvement on these peoples have been explored. This project aims to gather previously unrecorded Yorta Yorta family stories passed down through generations and put them on the public record. In doing so this project will generate new knowledge of the history of Australian agricultural capitalism by exploring how fruit picking assisted families/clans to engage in employment partnerships with orchardists, providing them with some economic advantage. The project outcomes will be largely public-facing and include an exhibition, a podcast, a documentary, family history books, academic articles and a book. This will provide extensive and timely cultural benefits by enabling Yorta Yorta people to share their own stories within their community, as well as with the wider Australian community. The social benefits of the project include the upskilling of the Yorta Yorta people to record their family histories. The project will also create commercial benefits by generating greater recognition and respect for Yorta Yorta labour and expertise in present-day Goulburn Valley businesses, contributing more profitable and equitable labour relations.

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

Out In Suburbia: Improving LGBTQ wellbeing in outer suburban Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Unveiling Spatial and Temporal Regulation of Subcellular Protein Disorder. This project aims to develop innovative molecular tools to capture protein folding states within organelle proteomes in living cells for the first time. Protein localisation significantly influences folding, and mislocalisation can cause misfolding, contributing to disease. However, technical limitations have left a gap in understanding how localisation and folding are coordinated. These new tools will reveal how subcellular environments affect protein folding and how these processes change with ageing. This study will deliver innovative tools for research and commercialisation, and provide insights to inform future research on the diagnosis and treatment of age-related diseases, contributing to Australia’s scientific and economic growth. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project aims to develop innovative molecular tools to study how proteins fold inside living cells. Proper protein folding is essential for biological function. A major contributing factor to protein misfolding is when proteins are in the wrong location within an organism, which contributes to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. However, a gap in current technology means we cannot effectively study how protein location and folding are linked on a large scale. By creating new chemical tools that can capture misfolded proteins in different parts of cells without changing their structure, this project will help us understand how ageing affects protein stability and function within their location in cells. Improving our understanding of protein folding disorder could lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatments for age-related conditions, providing significant health benefits to the Australian society. The new tools developed could also benefit biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries by driving drug discovery and commercial innovation, creating economic benefit for Australia. The findings of the project will be communicated with our industry partners and other stakeholders via the team's network in the CSIRO ON program, philanthropic bodies and to the public through social media channels and mainstream media.

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.

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

What limits species ranges? Empirical tests in native pollinators Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Solving a mercurial mystery: the evolutionary origin of mercury... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

'BubSafe’: Co-creating Australia’s first integrated digital health tool... Category: Medical Research

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

Solving a mercurial mystery: the evolutionary origin of mercury... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Addressing reproductive violence in migrant and refugee communities Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

Addressing reproductive violence in migrant and refugee communities Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

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

CRISP: Consumer-led Research Initiative on food and drink Sensitivity in... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Critical moments in responses for children affected by family substance... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Critical moments in responses for children affected by family substance... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

2025 Equipment Grants Category: Health and Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

The origins of our direct ancestor Homo erectus and its contemporaries Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

The origins of our direct ancestor Homo erectus and its contemporaries Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Sustainable working conditions: Requirements to enable long working... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research