La Trobe University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

A Political History of Colonial Australian Poetry. This project aims to provide the first comprehensive study of colonial Australian poetry and to demonstrate that poetry's political claims and impacts. It expects to generate new knowledge of the ways in which poetry served as a powerful medium for the advancement and contestation of colonial regimes of political, cultural and legal settlement. Based on archival research covering poetry's circulation in the long nineteenth century, the project's outcomes will show how poetry formed an indispensable element in the constitution of Australian political and cultural formations that endure today. Expected benefits include better public understanding of Australia's literary heritage and its critical contributions to culture and nationhood. Field of research: 4705 - Literary Studies Colonial poems are today the most widely known and loved of Australian poems: think, for instance, of 'Waltzing Matilda' (1895) or 'Advance Australia Fair' (1878). This project examines the significance and legacy of the poetry written in colonial Australia. It also investigates the cultures of reading, publication, performance, criticism and appreciation in which that poetry circulated. In the colonial period, when poetry was seen as central to the making of nations, its influence was much more extensive than today. The project will recover poetry’s public voice and political agency to critical attention, demonstrating poetry’s impacts on colonial projects of settlement and nation-making. Even the name 'Australia' first appeared in lines of verse. This project will provide a better understanding of the political engagements and effects of nineteenth-century poetry. It will develop a more critical sense of the enduring significance of Australian literature and its contributions to Australian politics and culture. By showing how poetry helped to fashion a common national consciousness and shared cultural identity, the project will open up these foundational elements of national belonging to revision by policy-makers and other stakeholders today. The project’s cultural and social benefits will be secured through research translation activities including radio, podcasts, engagement with high schools, and newspaper and mainstream periodical publications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

ARC Research Hub for Protected Cropping . The Research Hub for Protected Cropping (PC Hub) aims to transform the production of high quality horticultural and medicinal crops into an integrated, national industry that spans primary producers and manufacturers. This will be achieved by establishing a multi-disciplinary Hub in collaboration with industry that addresses knowledge gaps in the protected cropping (PC) sector, including plant health and breeding, waste valorisation, digital technologies, novel extraction technologies and chemistries, through to the discovery and functional characterisation of bioactives. The resulting knowledge will be applicable across related industries and will build the specialised workforce needed to underpin Australia’s developing PC industries. Field of research: 3008 - Horticultural Production Protected cropping (PC) produces more reliable and higher quality produce with fewer inputs (eg land, water, fertiliser, energy). Yet Australia’s PC industry is small: 14,000 ha (17% horticultural production) grown under PC in largely low technology facilities. The Australian PC Strategy (2021-30) highlights that widescale adoption of PC is hindered by sub-optimal varieties, limited knowledge of its specific nutrition requirements, temperature, light quality, developmental traits, and digital monitoring or technological intervention required to generate optimised output of horticultural and medicinal crops. Conversion of valuable agricultural waste is also needed to develop new products, enabling increased profitability and sustainability. This Hub’s program has been co-designed with consumers, producers and policy makers, and will leverage existing investments in state-of-the-art plant phenotyping facilities and molecular, cellular, digital and imaging technologies. Innovative research in PC will enable Australian growers and producers to increase the yield and quality of produce and create higher-value premium food products and plant-based medicines in a more sustainable manner. By doing so, and through promotion of outcomes via industry and peak bodies, the program will benefit consumers and the Australian economy and enable a robust, profitable and sustainable export-oriented PC industry, adding an estimated $200+M in national value-add, and over 2,000 direct jobs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Scalable fabrication of diamond quantum microprocessors . Quantum computing is rapidly emerging, bearing transformative economic and security implications for Australia. This project leverages expertise in diamond materials science and x-ray science to develop a scalable manufacturing process for a distinctive diamond quantum technology that will expand quantum computing to efficiency-critical edge computing applications. Expected outcomes include new capabilities for fabricating the fundamental components of quantum computers using light and plasma to manipulate the surface of diamond. This will provide significant benefits, enhancing Australia’s sovereign quantum capabilities and strategically positioning Australia to capitalise on the anticipated $106B global quantum computing market in 2040. Field of research: 5104 - Condensed Matter Physics This project will strategically position Australia to leverage the rapid growth of quantum computing by addressing the challenge of manufacturing diamond-based quantum computers at scale. Quantum computing is on the verge of revolutionising industries and transforming our approach to solving complex problems, with the global market projected to grow to $106 billion by 2040. The National Quantum Strategy calls for action to address challenges in commercialising quantum technology and building sovereign capability for future advancements. Leveraging national strategic strengths in quantum materials and inspired by innovations that drive technology scaling in the semiconductor industry, this project will establish a pathway for precisely manipulating synthetic diamond surfaces. This work will create the fundamental building blocks of an Australian quantum computer technology. Distinguished by its compactness, robustness, and cost-effectiveness, this technology promises to extend quantum computing to applications where computing efficiency and density are paramount, such as in satellites and vehicles. Advancing the scalable, high-precision manufacturing of this technology will enhance Australia’s sovereign quantum capabilities, positioning Australia to deliver future-focused technologies for defence and industry and supporting the training of a future quantum industry workforce.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Assessing risk of toxic methylmercury in the Australian marine environment. This project aims to address the impact of mercury contamination on marine ecosystems by advancing our understanding of how mercury behaves in the Australian offshore environment. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of marine ecology using emerging genomic sequencing methods and an interdisciplinary approach to investigate mercury biogeochemistry. Expected outcomes include development of a predictive tool for use by mercury-emitting industries and Australian regulators to assess risk of mercury to marine ecosystems. This should provide significant benefits, such as informing Australian regulatory policy on mercury emissions, limiting the toxic effects of mercury on humans and wildlife, and its burden on food safety. Field of research: 4105 - Pollution and Contamination The decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is a significant challenge facing Australia, with the cleaning and removal of infrastructure estimated to cost over $50 billion. If a net environmental benefit can be demonstrated from leaving decommissioned infrastructure in place, then significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. However, this strategy risks the release of mercury accumulated in the infrastructure, threatening marine life and public health. This project will assess this risk by addressing critical knowledge gaps about how marine mercury from offshore oil and gas infrastructure affects the surrounding environment. A key outcome will be the development of reliable tools for predicting the long-term risks of mercury contamination from left-in-place decommissioning. Working closely with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, who are playing a critical role with industry and regulators on this issue, will enable knowledge translation into management of Australia’s offshore oil and gas assets. Research findings will be communicated to diverse stakeholders through publications, presentations, and open-source repositories, enabling broad adoption of outcomes by mercury-emitting industries and federal regulators. This project will help safeguard the marine environment against mercury contamination and assist Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells. This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, which is not currently possible. This project represents a major technical and knowledge advance that will improve our understanding of autophagy in fundamental biology and ultimately contribute to the development of new intervention strategies for diseases like neurodegeneration and cancers. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering Autophagy is a process that allows cells to clean up and recycle unwanted components and is necessary for their survival. Disruptions to this process can cause diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer, therefore understanding how autophagy works is critical. However, current methods to study autophagy are time-consuming, expensive, potentially disruptive to the process, and do not work for all cell types. To overcome these challenges, this project will use innovative chemistry approaches to develop new chemical compounds and techniques that can monitor the natural autophagy process without disrupting cell functions. This will greatly reduce costs and increase efficiency of experiments, enabling us to advance our understanding of autophagy. This will enhance Australia's global research competitiveness and in future create economic benefits through the development of new technologies that can be used for drug development. The team has a track record of successfully developing new reagents that have been widely adopted by both industry and academia, as well as setting experimental standards that have been embraced by the field. In addition to advancing scientific understanding, this project will train the next generation of scientists with multidisciplinary skills in chemistry, biology, and biotechnology. The findings of the project will also be promoted to the public via the general media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Understanding the role of trauma in alcohol and other drug-related problems. This project aims to investigate the relationship between trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Using a robust set of qualitative and ethnographic methods, the project expects to advance international knowledge on how experiences of trauma influence AOD consumption, and the diverse factors that shape variation in experience and outcomes for individuals. Expected outcomes include targeted recommendations to improve AOD responses, policy and trauma-informed AOD care, and increased capacity of the Australian health workforce to respond to trauma and AOD-related problems. This should provide significant benefit by reducing the harms, and economic and social costs associated with AOD consumption. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Problems related to alcohol and other drugs (AOD) such as addiction, relapse, mental illness and overdose have considerable social and economic impact on Australian communities. However, the influence of past trauma in AOD issues is poorly understood. This project will be a world-first comprehensive qualitative study of trauma and AOD problems, conducted by a team of leading AOD scholars. The project will comprise policy and professional resource analysis, in-depth interviews with consumers and health professionals, and field observations of trauma-informed care training. The findings will be used to develop recommendations for innovative social policy and mapping and implementation tools to improve AOD responses and trauma-informed AOD care. Sector-focused feedback and translation workshops will strengthen the relevance of the research outcomes for consumers, practitioners and policy stakeholders. This project will be of social, cultural and economic benefit, as it will provide a rigorous new evidence base to inform community and government responses to AOD-related problems. In doing so, the project ultimately aims to reduce the harm associated with trauma and AODs in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Aboriginal Exemption: Truth-telling, History, and Healing. This project aims to develop accessible, Indigenous-led knowledge about little known twentieth-century Australian policies that caused pain and dislocation in Indigenous communities. Expected outcomes will include an anthology of family stories, school curriculum materials, symposia, and methodological articles. Benefits include empowering descendants to access archival information about exemption in culturally safe ways, disseminating culturally appropriate histories, financial support for Elders acknowledging their time and expertise, and a model of collaboration in which Elders lead Indigenous and non-Indigenous historians to undertake urgent history-making. Field of research: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History At a time when most Indigenous Australians were unable to access education, health services, housing and employment, Aboriginal exemption policies offered some Indigenous individuals a means of accessing benefits readily available to non-Indigenous Australians, but also led to family dislocation and lost kin, culture and language. Motivated, initiated and led by two Indigenous Elders, this research will contribute to Australia's national interest by engaging in truth-telling about the effects of these policies, an aspect of our past that is little known. This project has social benefits in that it will assist families affected by exemption to research their family history. It will also educate mainstream Australians about our nation’s history of attempts to assimilate Indigenous people, leading to a better understanding of the diversity of Aboriginal identities today. The project will provide extensive and timely cultural benefits by enabling Indigenous people to tell their own stories and to share these within Indigenous communities, as well as with the wider Australian community. Elders will use their networks and skills to translate and direct appropriate academic findings into community contexts and ensure that the research is transmitted in relevant, accessible and culturally appropriate ways.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Chemoreception in fishes: Anthropogenic impacts on brain and behaviour. This project aims to assess the impacts on fishes of increasing numbers of chemical pollutants entering Australia's waterways. Critical contaminants effect the chemosensory capabilities of endemic fishes that are commonly found in Australia and play an important role in fisheries and coastal biodiversity. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the study will interrogate the fundamental impacts of chemical pollutants on the detection, perception and behavioural reactions to a herbicide, a pesticide and a metal, and their impacts on finding food, avoiding predation and finding mates. Significant benefits include the timely intervention and implementation of improved environmental management strategies and policies. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology In fishes, the ability to sense odours is critical to their survival but we know little about the effects on this of the rapidly increasing amounts of pollutants. This project will investigate how Australian fishes that are important to both recreational and commercial industries detect, perceive and react to water-soluble chemical pollutants that are entering our waterways. We will target three contaminants of high concern; a herbicide, a pesticide and a metal (copper), all of which are present currently in Western Port at levels that exceed recommended values. Using innovative techniques to assess fish tissues, physiology, and behaviour, this study will improve understanding of the effects of chemical exposure that occur well before reaching lethal endpoints. The results will benefit the economic (fisheries), environmental (ecosystem health) and social (coastal development) aspirations of the Australian Government and inform the timely intervention and implementation of improved management strategies and policies. Research outcomes will be communicated to Melbourne Water, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and the Victorian Fisheries Authority via face to face meetings, presentations and sharing of publications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Intraepithelial lymphocyte development and function in the intestine. This study aims to better understand the homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes in the intestine. This project will generate new knowledge of how immune cells of the intestine, known as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), engage with intestinal epithelial cells, neurons and commensal microbes to promote homeostasis and repair. Expected outcomes of this project will be identification of new molecules for future drug and vaccine development to improve gut health and vaccination in mammals. This should provide significant benefits to the Australian population and livestock industry through improved protection against cancer, intestinal infections and increased productivity. Field of research: 3204 - Immunology As the centre of our digestive system, the intestine suffers daily damage from chemicals, carcinogens and pathogens in the food we eat, and must constantly repair itself to maintain proper function. Though vital to our survival, these repair processes are poorly understood. Recent evidence suggest that immune cells play a key role. Using innovative techniques that work at the level of molecules, this project will uncover the critical communication networks between immune cells, intestinal lining, and gut bacteria that control these repair processes. The knowledge generated by this research will allow Australia to develop next generation therapeutics based on nanotechnology and RNA, a basic building block of all cells and used in vaccination. This new industry, predicted to be worth more than $2 billion by 2025, represents a considerable economic and job-creating opportunity for Australia, providing new avenues to protect the Australian population and livestock industry through improved protection against cancer and intestinal infections leading to increased productivity. Research findings will be share with the broader community through open research forums, press releases and consumer meetings. We will also pursue industry partnerships to commercialise the research and attend forums to communicate our work to policy makers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Fast Reconstruction and Real-time Rendering of Immersive Light Field Video. This project aims to develop new learning-based methods for reconstructing and rendering 3D immersive videos from multi-view 2D videos. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of data mining, multimedia, pattern recognition and deep learning. Expected outcomes of this project include new deep neural networks to represent 3D videos, neural methods for high-fidelity video rendering and efficient 3D video reconstruction and rendering algorithms. This should provide significant benefits to a diverse range of practical applications, such as autonomous driving, virtual reality, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and many other 3D applications. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science This project develops methodologies to construct 3D immersive videos from multi-view 2D videos. Existing approaches are hampered by an inability to achieve both speed and quality for practical applications, which this project aims to overcome by way of novel deep learning-based methods, and new reconstruction and rendering algorithms. The practical applications of such technology are extremely broad, and can provide diverse economic, health, and cultural benefits to the Australian community. The expected outcomes can be used in autonomous driving, robotics and automated manufacturing that are reliant on accurate 3D environment perception, which addresses the national priority “Advance Manufacturing”. Entertainment, tourism, and education industries can be enabled to provide immersive experiences to attract and engage audiences. The proposed research also addresses the national priority of “Health” as 3D video conference systems based on this project can deliver benefits in telemedicine, and the invented methods can be used for 3D medical imaging to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. This can ultimately lead to better healthcare outcomes for Australians. Moreover, artists and filmmakers can utilise this innovative approach to create engaging cultural experiences. To achieve these outcomes, the research team will communicate and engage with industry stakeholders and adapt the developed solutions to different applications to maximise their practical benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Resource Struggles and International Law: Navigating Global Transformations. This project will examine how international law both shapes, and is shaped by, struggles over natural resources in periods of global transformation. It aims generate new knowledge about how international law is used by different actors to assert their authority and power over resources and to secure access to natural resources. Expected outcomes include empirical analyses of three key periods of global transformation in the twentieth century and a socio-legal analysis of how international law is shaping struggles over natural resources during the current transition to a net zero world. This should provide significant benefits by assisting countries to better navigate the current legal, geopolitical and economic transformations. Field of research: 4803 - International and Comparative Law This project will produce novel insights about how international law both shapes, and is shaped by, struggles over natural resource in periods of global transformation. The current transition to a net zero world presents Australia with both risks and opportunities. The Federal Minister for resources, Madeleine King, has described Australia has having ‘an unmissable opportunity and a remarkable responsibility’ to help lead the global transition to a decarbonised future. Australia is currently one of the world’s largest exporters of fossil fuels, but also has the potential to become the world’s largest exporter of lithium and other critical mineral resources. A deeper understanding of how different actors utilise international law to assert authority and power over key resources and to secure access and control to natural resource will enable Australia to intervene strategically in international legal debates and to promote international legal changes to better advantage Australia’s interests.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Innovative materials and manufacturing for flexible pressure sensing system. This project aims to develop a flexible pressure sensing system using soft electronics technology with high sensitivity, fast response time, and high stability through advanced design and materials technology. This project expects to generate new knowledge in soft electronics and sensors using innovative materials and an efficient manufacturing approach. The outcome of this project includes a flexible integrated pressure sensing system with high manufacturing efficiency. The design, technology and outputs of this project are expected to be adopted by a wide range of industries including the industry partners. Project benefits include advances in microscale Australian research towards next-generation soft electronics and sensor technologies. Field of research: 4014 - Manufacturing Engineering Soft electronics and sensors, with their flexibility and conformability, are revolutionising fields including artificial intelligence, wearable electronics, and tactile sensing. While they have gained popularity, they are not used for mass production due to complex fabrication techniques and material selection, which cannot be employed for mass production. This project addresses these shortcomings by carefully selecting materials and employing advanced manufacturing techniques that facilitate the mass production of soft electronics and sensors. Through collaboration with industry partners, this project will facilitate the widespread adoption of soft electronics and sensors in small and medium-scale electronic manufacturing. The design, materials, and manufacturing technology developed in this project can be immediately utilised by Australian small and medium electronic manufacturing enterprises to enhance their competitiveness in the global soft electronics and sensor industry. This project will increase the potential to establish a national manufacturing capability, especially in regional areas, due to a simple and efficient manufacturing process. With a predicted market of USD $74 billion by 2033, the project is also expected to deliver benefits to the flexible and stretchable electronics industry by creating a competitive advantage over international companies, generating high-tech manufacturing capability, and creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Quantifying climate change impacts for wetlands in agricultural landscapes. This project aims to quantify the impacts of changed water availability on wetland biodiversity. Research will focus on high conservation value wetlands in agricultural regions, which face significant climatic risk. Novel integration of biodiversity theory with hydroecological and spatial modelling is expected to generate new understanding of how water availability drives wetland diversity. Intended outcomes include new techniques to model wetland biodiversity, building of international collaborations and enhanced ability to support policy development to ameliorate climate-related wetland impacts. This should promote sustainable management of water and biodiversity in farmlands, benefitting productive capacity and environmental amenity. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Wetlands are among the most biodiverse and threatened habitats on Earth. In agricultural regions of Australia, wetlands can be among the last habitat available for native species and thus critical for biodiversity conservation. Yet, these wetlands only persist because they are simply too wet for other uses. Climate change could alter this delicate balance, but the possible impacts range from changes in wetland species composition to complete loss of wetland habitat. A quantitative understanding of wetland responses to water is the key to optimising their environmental amenity, both now and into the future. This project aims to develop such an understanding and provide new tools to predict the magnitude of impacts on wetlands from changing water availability. Models developed through this research will allow us to interpret alternative climate scenarios in terms of likely changes to wetland biodiversity. Such understanding will benefit catchment management or conservation agencies and community groups. These end-users of the research will be engaged throughout the project to ensure maximum benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Linking movement and animal vision to uncover functions of dynamic colours. This project aims to address a fundamental biological question: what drives the extraordinary diversity of colours in nature? Using cutting-edge, interdisciplinary techniques, this project expects to link visual properties, movement and animal vision to discover functions of animal colouration, generating significant new insights for the fields of visual ecology, animal behaviour and camouflage. The outcomes of this project include enhanced national and international collaboration and new tools for animal behaviour, perception and camouflage research. This work will benefit our understanding of vision, colour and the relationship between the two, with significant scope for bio-inspired solutions to sensor and image processing problems. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Most animals must move to find food, mates and shelter, but movement is dangerous because it can dramatically increase vulnerability to predation by breaking camouflage. Animal colour patterns can play a crucial role helping moving prey to escape predators. However, research frequently employs a static framework, posing a major limitation to progress the field of visual ecology. This project will pioneer innovative protocols (e.g. high speed videography, 3D animation) to uncover how colouration helps Australian insects to avoid predation. The results will provide key insights into visual processing of colour, pattern and movement under different environmental conditions. This directly relates to the Science and Research Priorities of “Transport” through the potential to identify improvements in sensor design and image processing algorithms relevant for autonomous vehicles, and “Environmental Change” by providing greater understanding of our native animals. The project also strongly aligns with the National Science Statement and Australia’s Strategy for Nature to connect Australians with science and nature.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

New Bail Regimes: Reconceptualising Risk to Reduce Remand Imprisonment. More than one in three prisoners in Australia are on remand, double that of two decades ago. This project aims to investigate how risk management in new bail regimes affects accused individuals experiencing social disadvantage. It employs innovative critical criminological methods to generate much-needed knowledge about how criminal justice actors interpret and respond to risk in the bail decision-making process, and 'lived' experiences of bail conditions and remand imprisonment. Expected outcomes include a new framework for conceptualising risk in the context of bail. This should bring significant benefits to policymakers and law reformers seeking to reduce imprisonment and its impacts on disadvantaged groups. Field of research: 4402 - Criminology More than one in three prisoners in Australia are on remand, double that of two decades ago, with increases attributed to changes in bail laws and decision-making practices. This project will be the first to comprehensively assess how risk is interpreted and managed through bail and remand practices and how this affects accused individuals experiencing social disadvantage. Expected outcomes include a new framework for conceptualising risk in the context of bail that will reduce high rates of remand. Given the many individual, social, and economic costs of remand, this research will have many benefits for affected individuals and their families; criminal justice and legal professionals; and governments and communities more broadly (e.g., less inequality, improved safety, cost savings). Findings will be translated for policy and practitioner audiences by working with an expert advisory panel to make policy, practice and law reform recommendations. The research will be of use to policymakers and law reformers seeking to reduce imprisonment rates.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

SARS-CoV-2-induced dead cell fragments drive viral uptake and inflammation. This project will apply advanced cell biology and imaging techniques to investigate how macrophages, which lacks a canonical receptor for viral entry, become infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and elicit inflammatory responses. Its insights into a novel pathway of viral entry is expected to advance our understanding of host-pathogen interaction. The project is intended to uncover the role of SARS-CoV-2-induced dead cell fragmentation in promoting viral uptake and inflammation. Its findings should provide significant scientific, health and economic benefits by informing new research directions on infection and innate immunity as well as future therapeutic designs for infection treatment. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology For many individuals, infectious diseases like Covid-19 leave a lasting impact through cardiovascular damage and neurological complications. Central to these long-term health impacts is severe inflammation, produced by immune cells called macrophages when they become infected by the virus. However, it is unknown exactly how macrophages become infected by the virus. This project will determine if the Covid-19 virus enters macrophages when they engulf fragments of other cells that have been killed by the virus. Although focused on fundamental knowledge, the results of the project will inform new therapeutic designs that target dead cell fragmentation to control inflammatory responses, leading to new treatments for Covid and infectious diseases more broadly. To ensure adoption, the project findings will be shared with other scientists and clinicians through journal articles, international and national level conferences, and open access datasets. Outcomes will also be promoted in the media and via public outreach activities to improve awareness of the importance of this research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Sensory and bioengineering approaches to predict hearing abilities in fish. This project aims to understand the factors responsible for the extraordinary diversity in the shape and size of fish ears and why some fishes are more sensitive to sound than others, which is little understood. Using innovative techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, expected outcomes of this project include the first model representing the hearing function of fish underwater. This may allow unique insights into the importance of sound for fish, as well as inspire the development of new sensor technologies, including in robotics and biomedical applications. Benefits include the ability to predict the vulnerability of a fish species to noise pollution and to inform conservation strategies and policy guidelines. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology This project aims to elucidate why and how fish have developed a wide variety of ear shapes and hearing abilities, unique in the animal kingdom. By developing biomechanical models and using artificial intelligence, the project will tackle this enduring mystery in sensory biology. It will also test, for the first time, the influence of the surrounding sound environment on shaping the hearing system of an animal. While the health of ocean and fishes are threatened by the rise of human-made noise, it is now critical to predict the effects of this pollution on different species. Such knowledge also has the potential to unlock new technologies in sound sensors, robotics, and biomedical applications, such as sensors that are able to discriminate sounds in noisy conditions, a feature of huge potential for industry and defence. Benefits to Australia include the ability to predict the vulnerability of a fish species to noise pollution, which can inform the development of policies for conservation strategies and guidelines targeting the effects of noise on fish.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Understanding the role of cosmeceuticals in health, gender and ageing. Cosmeceuticals are a new category of product at the intersection of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals taken to prevent and treat the physical signs of ageing. This project aims to investigate the advertising, regulation and use of cosmeceuticals, drawing on an innovative theoretical approach and qualitative methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the relationship between cosmeceuticals and contemporary experiences of health, ageing and gender. Expected outcomes include recommendations to improve healthcare and regulation and public outputs to help consumers navigate anti-ageing imperatives. This should provide significant benefit by reducing consumer harms and the associated social, health and economic consequences. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Australian consumers are increasingly using cosmeceutical drugs to prevent and treat the physical signs of ageing. Neither cosmetic nor medicine, cosmeceuticals have avoided pharmaceutical regulation and are contributing to consumer harms, healthcare risks and the normalisation of anti-ageing attitudes. Little is known about how people consume cosmeceuticals, make decisions about different products and practices, and manage risks and harms. This project will assemble the first national dataset on cosmeceutical consumption to build a high-quality knowledge base on an emerging policy problem. It will provide insights into the transformation of contemporary experiences of health and ageing and the informational needs of consumers and health practitioners. This will inform the development of recommendations for improving healthcare, government policy and regulation to minimise consumer harms. Through the creation of novel-public outputs (interactive digital story and accompanying audio documentary), this project will also assist consumers to navigate the cosmeceutical industry and anti-ageing imperatives.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

ARC Research Hub for Molecular Biosensors at Point-of-Use (MOBIUS). The Hub’s primary goal is to accelerate the growth of Australia's emerging biosensing industry. It aims to bridge the gap between university research and industry, while also nurturing future leaders in the field. This initiative will significantly enhance the Australian biotechnology sector, focusing on increasing production capacity and establishing new sovereign capability. Traditionally limited to healthcare, point-of-need biosensing technologies will now find uses in agriculture, food production, defence, biosecurity, and environmental protection. This expansion is expected to yield significant economic advantages and societal benefits through the accessibility of new, transformative technologies across key employment areas. Field of research: 3401 - Analytical Chemistry The Hub will develop a range of biosensing technologies for point of use applications ranging from biothreat detection to health testing. It will address the imperative that we build Australia's sovereign manufacturing capability in this sector. Australia has a significant capability gap for the development and production of biosensing devices, as became very clear during the recent pandemic with the scarcity of on-shore rapid antigen tests. The ability to make such measurements at the point of need rather than sending a sample to a laboratory has already had profound impacts for many Australians during Covid. The Hub will expand that impact into new fields such as food, environmental and agricultural testing. With the market for biosensing technologies predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4%, on-shore manufacture resulting from hub outcomes will stimulate significant economic benefits for Australia, boosting our biotechnology sector and creating new highly skilled jobs. Close partnerships with industry and informed, embedded graduates will ensure effective translation for a transformed industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Supporting Trauma-Informed Legal Services: A Stepped-Wedge Multi-Site Study. Trauma-informed practices are widely recognised for their effectiveness across various service sectors. This project would be the first controlled implementation and empirical research of these practices in publicly funded legal services. Partnering with Legal Aid Commissions in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Northern Territory, it aims to empirically assess the impact of training, supervision, and coaching on legal service delivery. Anticipated outcomes include enhanced client experiences and improved legal outcomes, potentially setting new standards in legal assistance. This strategic research alliance promises significant community benefits by developing an evidence-base for trauma-informed practices in the Australian legal system. Field of research: 4805 - Legal Systems People’s legal needs often intersect with poor mental health and trauma. This project could improve Australia's legal system by implementing and assessing trauma-informed legal assistance. This project is vital for Australia’s national interest as it could lead to an evidence base on which to build a more humane, efficient, and effective legal system. The transition to trauma-informed legal assistance has been endorsed by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, who commissioned and launched the intervention that this research project will assess. Economic benefits include streamlined, effective legal services that can reduce court delays and costs, offering taxpayers considerable savings. Social benefits include the implementation of trauma-informed practices in legal assistance. This could lead to reduced reoffending rates and better outcomes, thus strengthening social cohesion. Successful adoption of these methods could also become a benchmark for quality in the legal industry beyond the legal assistance sector. For First Nations and other groups, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed legal services can make the legal system more accessible and equitable. This approach respects First Nations perspectives on justice and well-being, fostering reconciliation. This project will be the first empirical research of its kind, promoting translation into practice, literature and legal curricula. There is a clear pathway for implementation with the National Legal Assistance Partnership.

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé · FY 2023-2024 · 2023-04

Volet: Formation postdoctorale - Citoyens canadiens et résidents permanents; Domaine: Appareil locomoteur et arthrite; Objet: Réadaptation; Objet: Arthrite / arthrose; Application: Health; Mots-clés: ARTHROSE, READAPTATION, EXERCICES, GENOU, EDUCATION, PHYSIOTHERAPIE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Impact of humoral immunity on nanoparticle–biological interactions. This project aims to improve the biological applications of nanomaterials by understanding their fundamental interactions with proteins and cells in relevant biological environments. This will create new knowledge on how humoral (antibody-mediated) immunity affects nanomaterials using cutting-edge immunoassays, bio–nano characterisation techniques, and bioinformatics. Expected outcomes of the project include an understanding of how specific antibodies modulate the protein coatings on nanomaterials, which will shed light on how immune cells interact with nanomaterials. This will lead to design principles for nanomaterial properties to improve their effectiveness in delivering drugs and gene therapies. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology Nanoparticles are tiny particles with dimensions 1000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair that have many commercial uses. mRNA vaccines are a new and rapidly developing immunisation system, but mRNA is fragile and needs to be encased in nanoparticles to prevent them being destroyed in the body. However, we have little understanding of how these nanoparticles interact with the body’s immune system, which is important to developing more effective mRNA vaccines. This project will develop nanoparticles with different properties and explore their interactions with the immune system to better understand their immune responses. The knowledge gained can be used by Australian companies to develop new mRNA vaccine delivery nanoparticles with improved efficacy and reduced side effects. This will contribute to Australia’s efforts to develop mRNA technology for the benefit of the nation’s health and economy. Furthermore, the nanoparticles developed can be commercialised for veterinary and biomedical applications, thus providing opportunities for Australian start-up companies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Early desert settlement of Arabia following out-of-Africa human dispersals. This project aims to improve our understanding of the nature, timing and climatic context of early human expansion into SW Asia, from a new extensive archaeological complex with associated palaeoenvironmental sequences on the Arabian Peninsula – a strategic out-of-Africa migratory corridor. It will combine innovative approaches in archaeology, geochronology and palaeoenvironmental research to evaluate the environmental and cultural adaptability of early desert settlement, providing critical new insights into globally significant human dispersal debates spanning multiple continents, including Australia. The aim is a fundamental new perspective on long-term human occupation dynamics of deserts and new understanding of regional dispersals. Field of research: 4301 - Archaeology Relatively little is known about the long-term peopling of the world’s deserts, including the earliest human settlement of Australia’s arid interior. This project will provide a new perspective on the global dispersal history of our species, including the long-term human history of our own continent, by enhancing understanding of human expansions out of Africa and into SW Asia’s deserts over millennia to million year timescales. This is one of the most significant research topics in human evolution and critical for understanding the shared ancestry of all Australians, no matter their recent origins. The project will produce major media interest and promote Australia on an intentional stage by driving strategic collaborations across 6 countries. Our strong training focus will benefit Australia by enhancing sought-after geoscience and archaeology expertise, and generating commercial growth opportunities in cultural heritage and mining sectors. By obtaining long-term climate change records we will help optimise modelling projections of future climate change impacts for vulnerable arid regions such as Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Outcomes of specialist disability housing for people with disability. This project aims to systematically investigate the experience, outcomes and economic impact of people with disability moving into specialist disability accommodation housing. Health, wellbeing, community participation, support outcomes and lived experience of people with disability will be measured before moving and over 2 years after they move. The project provides the opportunity to identify the personal, disability, housing and support factors that shape outcomes for people with disability. The intended outcome is comprehensive knowledge that can inform policy, build evidence across housing, technology, support and disability sectors and ultimately benefit people with disability by generating innovative practice in housing and support. Field of research: 4203 - Health Services and Systems Suitable accessible and affordable housing is critical to the health, wellbeing and economic and social participation of National Disability Insurance Scheme participants. This project focuses on understanding the lived experience, individual outcomes and economic impact of people with disability moving into housing with specialist disability accommodation funding. The housing developed by the SDA market for 28,000 people with disability is social infrastructure that will be used for the next 30 years. Findings from this project will create evidence that reflects the diverse needs of people with disability and provides insights and market data to inform policy and influence the development of quality, cost-effective and innovative housing for people with disability. Measuring outcomes and impact is critical to expanding social investment in housing for people with disability. This project will generate new knowledge and establish Australia as a leader in evidence-based, innovative and cost-effective housing, technology and support options that generate lasting positive outcomes for people with disability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Next generation high throughput lipidomics using adaptive modelling. This project aims to develop a unique high-throughput method to capture the lipidomic profile of human plasma suitable for large human population screening. Lipids are fundamental to every biological system, but our understanding of their regulation in humans have been largely superficial. By incorporating a new lipidomics approach, with genomic data, this project aims to expand our understanding of human biology by identifying regulators of lipid metabolism. The large diversity in humans necessitate sufficient sample sizes to identify true genetic regulators, but to date techniques capturing phenotypic data (lipids) have been largely limited. It is anticipated that this study will identify new regulators of lipid metabolism in humans. Field of research: 3102 - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Human metabolism is a process by which our body converts food into energy and new compounds to support maintenance, growth and development. Our metabolism is controlled by a complex, and poorly understood, interaction between our genes and environment (diet and lifestyle). Problems with our metabolism can lead to a range of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and dementia. The discovery that high blood cholesterol can lead to heart disease revolutionized its diagnosis and led to a range of highly effective drugs (statins) that have dramatically improved disease treatment. Cholesterol is only one of the many thousands of lipids (fats) involved in our metabolism that can impact health. Our understanding of how circulating lipids are metabolised is currently limited by our ability to measure these in large numbers of people. This project will develop new technology that will enable scientists to screen hundreds of lipids from a drop of blood in minutes. This technology will improve the understanding of human metabolism, and lead to new ways to identify, prevent and treat many common diseases in future. This new approach will revolutionize the lipid biology field and will be utilised by both industry and research laboratories to better understand lipid biology in humans.