Yu Gao

Congratulations to all the researchers involved in the newly-funded Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centres and the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs. Six new Training Centres and Seven new Research Hubs were announced on Friday by the ARC. The Training Centres will be funded to the tune of $29.8 million, while the Research Hubs have been allocated $34.7 million. The Training Centres include one for training future leaders in quantum computing, a centre for smart and sustainable horticulture, and a centre for resource efficient alloys in a circular economy. The Research Hubs commencing in 2024 include a new hub looking at solar panel recycling and sustainability, one on the Internet of Things for Water, and one on protected cropping. "These new training centres and research hubs are working on leading edge and crucial science and technology challenges," said STA CEO Ryan Winn. "They'll all foster stronger industry-university research collaboration and equip researchers with the skills and experience needed to drive innovation in Australian industry." https://lnkd.in/gQFvJme7

17

SALHN Hepatologist, Professor Alan and his team of SALHN researchers are involved in a landmark study into chronic liver disease care involving researchers from Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University.   The study, which was published in the esteemed international journal 'Hepatology', provides evidence that improved models of care can benefit patients with decompensated cirrhosis.   This is important as decompensated liver disease is one of the major clinical challenges in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Nationally, more than 6 million Australians suffer from chronic liver disease, resulting in more than 7000 deaths a year, while obesity-related liver disease is expected to become a modern epidemic by 2050.   The study represents more than five years of work conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) led by Professor Alan and his team, with funding support from Flinders University and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The RCT involved six Australian tertiary care hospitals across three states and represents one of the first investigator initiated multicentre RCTs in Australian hepatology.

8

Dr Masoumeh Zargar, Edith Cowan University's engineering lecturer has developed high-tech membrane filters to remove dangerous microplastics from aquatic and wastewater treatment systems. This new technology is set to change how water is treated worldwide. Dr Zargar, also an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, said the new membrane filtering technique can potentially change how water is treated worldwide, starting here in Australia. "We change the membrane structure, composition and surface properties and create more resilient environmentally friendly materials that won’t be clogged or damaged by microplastics and can remove them efficiently," Dr Zargar explained. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gAEAUuZn #UniversitiesMatter #marinelife #research #microplastics

124

15 Comments

Congratulations to our researchers who have secured almost $14 million in funding across seven projects from the National Health and Medical Research Foundation’s (NHMRF) Investigator Grants, supporting Australia’s highest-performing health researchers. Professor Jose Polo ($2,924,080) towards research aiming to understand ‘nuclear reprogramming’, which is a process that can change a cell’s identity and presents the possibility of new ways to treat diseases and health problems. Dr Jacqueline Gould ($2,792,745) towards a project which will combine the highest levels of evidence to resolve uncertainties about the nutrient requirements for pregnant women and infants born too soon for three nutrients that are integral to neurodevelopment. Professor Zachary Munn ($2,792,745) towards a project aiming to improve the science behind evidence synthesis and the quality of evidence-synthesis efforts, which will help people who make decisions regarding the health of individuals or society to make better decisions. Professor Helen Marshall AM ($54,448) to develop a vaccine targeting meningococcal and gonorrhoea, which are genetically closely related diseases, and a vaccine-uptake strategy co-designed with young people to ensure optimal protection is achieved. Dr Hannah Wardill ($1,543,893) towards a project which aims to predict and prevent the life-threatening complications of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation, which is often used for people with blood cancer. The project will focus on identifying candidate microbes to be used in the development of next generation microbial interventions to improve outcomes for people with blood cancer. Dr Dharmesh Bhuva ($674,400) to develop software to closely examine and map the topology of cancer tissue to help doctors predict how a cancer might progress or respond to treatment. Dr Jennifer Stone ($674,400) for an investigation into best conduct of systematic reviews of aetiology and risk to deliver a unified framework for methods guidance, teaching and capacity building. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gArWyxDG

51

1 Comment

Affecting millions of people worldwide, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological disorder globally - but groundbreaking research, led by Associate Professor Richard Gordon, QUT School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute Australia, has the potential to make a life-changing difference - and it's found in our gut microbiome. To expand the Parkinson’s research program and test innovative new approaches, the research team have been awarded A$4million in funding from the United States Department of Defense (DoD), via two grants from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. In developing new treatments for PD, AsProf. Gordon said success in the program focused on targeting the gut microbiome and gut-brain axis will "open new avenues by which we can attempt to slow or stop Parkison’s disease and improve the quality of life for millions living with this condition.” Read more about the ground-breaking new research here: https://bit.ly/4bDObIi #QUT #QUTHealth #QUTResearch #TRI

35

Research on countering antimicrobial resistance, combatting extremism, and tuning body clocks for personalised sleep treatments are amongst six transformative Flinders University projects awarded $6.67 million in Future Fellowships by the Australian Research Council. Flinders secured the lion’s share of projects awarded to South Australia, with Professor Emma Thomas (Psychology), Associate Professor Andrew J. K. Phillips (Sleep), Associate Professor Martin Polkinghorne (Archaeology), Dr Vi Khanh Truong (Biotechnology), and Witold Bloch (Chemistry) named future fellows in the 2024 funding round. Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan says from 2018, Flinders saw the fastest growth in research income of any Australian university* and this latest funding success reflects the University's commitment to impactful research through industry and community collaboration on an international scale. “It’s pleasing to see that Flinders’ success rate for these fellowships is well above the national average and the strongest among SA universities. Fifty percent of the university’s projects received funding, and we look forward to seeing their invaluable impact over the next four years.” “Congratulations to our successful researchers as they embark on projects that will transform industry practices, enhance our cultural knowledge, and lead to scientific breakthroughs that ultimately benefit the entire community.” Find out more 🔗 https://bit.ly/4fDbt3M *HERDC data 2018 – 2022

57

Data from the 2024 STEM Equity Monitor shows that, despite a 76% increase in the number of women in STEM‑qualified occupations over the last decade, women are still underrepresented in Australia's STEM industries. The monitor reports the current state of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) gender equity in Australia and measures changes and trends. It follows girls’ and women’s participation in STEM through school, higher education, graduation and the workforce. Key findings: 😞 Fewer women than men were named on grant applications for STEM research starting in 2023. 💸 Across all STEM fields, 25% of applicants for ARC funding were women and 34% of NHMRC applicants were women. As fewer women than men applied, fewer women than men gained funding. 🏥 A higher proportion of women were named in applications for Health research than STEM research. 👩‍🔬 Women made up 29% of workers in STEM industries in 2023 (up 1% from 2022). In comparison, women made up 78% of workers in health industries and 51% of workers in all industries (which includes STEM, health and non‑STEM industries). 🔬 The STEM industry with the largest representation of women was scientific research services, with 65% of workers being women. 💼 Women comprised 10% of CEOs across all STEM industries, compared to 47% of CEOs in health industries and 24% of CEOs across all industries. 💰 In 2023, the pay gap between women’s and men’s full‑time total remuneration (which includes discretionary pay) in STEM industries was $26,420, or 16% (a 1% decrease from 2022). 👏 The gender pay gap for all industries (which includes STEM, health, and non‑STEM industries) also decreased from 20% in 2022 to 19% in 2023. For health industries, the pay gap decreased from 17% in 2022 to 16% in 2023. 🚺 In the 10 years from 2013 to 2023, the number of women in STEM‑qualified occupations rose from around 151,000 to about 265,000 – about a 76% increase. The number of men in STEM‑qualified occupations increased by about 25% during the same period. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gdhSu_qx Image: Department of Industry, Science and Resources

8

Researcher Dr Jason Stafford has developed a high-throughput device to unlock the potential of nanomaterials such as graphene and related 2D materials using a sustainable mechanochemical approach. The device is a fully automated, parallel synthesis unit that can be programmed to produce a series of novel materials made in subtly different ways, so creating a library of advanced materials or product formulations for further testing and optimisation.  The device developed by Dr Stafford uses mechanochemical synthesis, which accesses new materials and induces chemical reactions through mechanical forces, so reducing or eliminating the need for toxic solvents. It works with standard laboratory glassware or custom vessels and can be programmed to deliver different mechanical forces in each vessel, which may contain anything from a dilute liquid suspension to a dry solid powder.   Dr Stafford invented the platform, which has been patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise, to embed sustainability in materials design and reduce the substantial amount of time researchers spend generating materials in the laboratory. For patent enquiries, or to book an appointment to speak to Dr Stafford at The Advanced Materials Show or ChemUK2024 on 15th or 16th May, contact Dr Anna Isakova, from University of Birmingham Enterprise. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eAW9MTCM CHEMUKEXPO | The Graphene Council | University of Birmingham #advancedmaterialsshow #2Dmaterials #nanomaterials #graphene #advancedmaterials #parallelsynthesis #automation #chemuk #ams24

30

The South Australian Research and Innovation Fund, set up in 2018 and managed by the Department of State Development, is undergoing its first review in six years. The $56 million fund aims to support research and innovation in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and energy. Professor Göran Roos, an experienced advisor on industry policy, is leading the review which started in late July and is expected to finish by early November. This review will evaluate the fund’s effectiveness, examine current funding guidelines, and compare it to similar programs in other states. It will also explore the potential for new programs and strategic co-investments, particularly focusing on defence, hydrogen, and critical technologies. The review includes assessing the Seed-Start Program and considering other startup support frameworks. While the review is ongoing, the fund will continue operating as usual. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gyA9ws4a

5

South Australia's Industry Doctoral Training Centre pilot programs are in full swing, enabling PhD students to combine their studies with industry experience in the priority areas of Biomanufacturing and Industrial Application of Quantum Technologies. In this article, University of South Australia's Thabata Muta talks about her research into a more effective delivery of medicinal cannabis, and her experiences in the IDTC program. MTPConnect 📰 https://ow.ly/Eako50TkK1E

6

Authorship, Peer Review and Publication seminar series The world of academic publishing and peer review is complex. How is a researcher supposed to navigate it?    QUT (Queensland University of Technology) researchers and higher degree research students are invited to attend this 2-part series about authorship, peer review and publication.   ⁠Authorship, Peer Review and Publication (1): Presubmission session Wednesday 5 June, 10am – 12pm, at Kelvin Grove campus or online This first session is designed to help with everything you need to do and know prior to the submission of your manuscript. It covers: Agreeing on authorship Publishing strategies, preprints, and journal selection Writing for publication Deceptive journals and conferences Originality and plagiarism and AI Tools Reporting Conflicts of Interest and acknowledging grants Cover letters, titles, and abstracts Copyright, rights management, and licensing ⁠ Authorship, Peer Review and Publication (2): Postsubmission session Thursday 6 June, 10:30am – 12pm, at Kelvin Grove campus or online. This second session is designed to help with everything you need to do and know prior to the submission of your manuscript. It covers: Journal peer review Responding to peer review Open scholarship and open access at QUT Publishing outputs at QUT Promoting your work after publication These sessions are open to QUT HDR students and staff and will be presented by the Office for Research Ethics and Integrity (OREI), Graduate Research Education and Development (GRED) team, and QUT Library's Office for Scholarly Communication. Further information and registration links are available at https://lnkd.in/gFZrUgYK

12

📢 An interdisciplinary team at Monash University has developed and piloted a world-first 'AI Energy Futures' curriculum, engaging 70 Melbourne high school students in reimagining their future schools. The project is a collaboration between the Emerging Technologies Research Lab, Monash University, Monash Education and Monash Tech School funded by a Monash Data Futures Institute Seed Grant. By empowering students to participate in shaping their future, the team has achieved two crucial goals: ✅ Fostering futures education: students were given tools to think critically about what's to come, equipping them to participate in discussions about technology and sustainability. ✅ Amplifying young voices: the project created a platform for students' expectations and ideas about alternative futures to be heard, potentially leading to more effective and student-centric education policies. Read more in the #LENS article: https://lnkd.in/g9XpCPZ3 @Neil Selwyn

17

Researchers from NeuRA's Falls and Balance Injury Research Centre will collaborate with UNSW Medicine & Health on a new project, following their success in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects Grants. Led by Scientia Professor Nigel Lovell from the UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, researchers have received $1.5 million to develop a virtual health approach providing care for people with chronic comorbidities. Professor Lovell will partner with NeuRA, the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, and Microsoft Australia to build and implement a virtual health platform supporting patients with complex chronic diseases to remain safely at home. This approach will include support for rehabilitation and secondary prevention through an integration with NeuRA's StandingTall exercise and rehabilitation software. Professor Kim Delbaere, co-investigator on the grant and Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, says this new partnership could enable the launch of the world’s first personalised digital health platform for managing chronic diseases: “With access to Microsoft and AIT’s cutting-edge technology and platforms, we can develop advanced digital health solutions that are globally scalable. The collaboration with SESLHD ensures that the model we develop is practical, scalable, and tailored to real-world healthcare environments, while the integration with NeuRA’s StandingTall provides a forward-thinking paradigm in healthcare by combining remote health monitoring with an evidence-based exercise programme, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.” View the full list of grant recipients here: https://lnkd.in/g-RM9BZS

48

"As Dr Dr John H Howard explained earlier in this series: ‘In 2019, Australian higher education expenditures on R&D amounted to 37.1% of national research investment (compared to 24.8% in 2008), with business contributing 53.0% (down from 62.8% in 2008) and government 9.9% (down from 12.4%)’" writes Cori Stewart from ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing). "But the fact is, regardless of where the investment has come from in the past, leadership is required to address the misalignment in capability that we are faced with. "Without purposeful change, Australia’s economic, business and talent drain challenges will become further entrenched and opinions more polarised as to what the role of publicly funded R&D should do and how success is measured." #manufacturing #australianmanufacturing #auspol #researchanddevelopment #economics

8

A series of innovative studies from Flinders University researchers are shedding light on fresh approaches to housing development, urban planning, and sustainable living. These studies apply advanced techniques like machine learning, remote sensing, and inclusive frameworks to tackle complex challenges. Read More: https://lnkd.in/d49xsup8

14

Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) Associate Professor Ken Pang, along with Dr Meredithe McNamara and Dr Kellan Baker, discussed the recommendations made by the Cass Review, a UK-based report that has been used to justify depriving #transyouth of the healthcare they need. Associate Professor Pang said, "One of the more egregious [recommendations] is that puberty blockers should only be delivered or made available in a research setting. And I think that's problematic for a number of reasons... it's coercive if the only way you can get access to puberty blockers in England moving forwards is through a randomised control trial. "We know that national and international guidelines on clinical research indicate that you can't coerce people into research, but that seems pretty coercive to me if your only way of getting it is to enter a research trial where you potentially get the treatment, potentially don't. That's going to be, I think, very problematic and it'll be interesting to see what ethics committees in England think about that." Listen now: https://bitly.cx/fCnc Yale University The Integrity Project #TransHealth

5

🎉👏The first round of Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) grants is now open Ignite grants up to $500,000 are available for university researchers to establish proof-of-concept and Innovate grants up to $5 million are available for proof-of-scale projects. The first round of Ignite and Innovate grants will prioritise projects that align with one or more of the following focus areas: • critical and strategic minerals processing • sustainable fuels • digital agriculture • quantum • artificial intelligence (AI) • advanced manufacturing. AEA Advisory Board Chair and Thales CEO, Mr Jeff Connolly said that Australia has some of the best researchers in the world. “AEA seeks to enable a part of that research capability to be applied to priority areas,” he said. "We target projects which seek to match existing research capability to Australia’s natural competitive strengths, in order to best address the most significant industry opportunities." Submissions for Ignite applications and Innovate Expression of Interests close 5:00pm AEST Wednesday 28 August 2024. Stephen Rodda Jamie Conyngham Dax Kukulj Jacqueline White Emily Z. Miranda Einstein Eric Xiaojia Wei Leo Stevens Robert Love Mark Sterbic David J. Heffer Josh Sherman Anthony Morfa Robert Buhrke Robert Hayes Greg Ryan Julia Frith David Burt Craig Peden

45

3 Comments

Australia faces a critical decline in senior high school physics enrolments, which have dropped sharply, with girls particularly underrepresented. By 2035 we could be facing the situation of virtually no students qualified for university physics! For Australia to be in a strong position going forward to tackle the major issues facing us - climate change, the energy transition, global pollution - and to embrace opportunities and advances in communications, quantum technology and the aerospace sector, we will need a well-trained army of frontline physicists. We are advocating for a revamped school science education through initiatives like the Einstein-First program, which has shown success in boosting interest among young students. Recently backed by a $1.5m grant, efforts are underway to modernise science teaching, inspire the next generation and to ensure that we will have the physicists and mathematicians that we will need to flourish and be competitive as an advanced economy. https://lnkd.in/gNZw26GM #STEM #Education #FutureSkills #Physics #Mathematics

103

17 Comments