Research and Innovation

Institutes and centres

Major Institutes and Centres

Hunter Medical Research Institute

The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) supports the Hunter's internationally recognised health and medical research, education and training. HMRI is a multidisciplinary partnership between the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District and the community. Established in 1998, HMRI facilitates collaborations between researchers translating scientific advances into better clinical care, competitive commercial products and improved health care guidelines.

Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources

The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) is leading research in sustainable energy production and use to benefit the community, the economy, and industry. NIER's priorities include clean energy production, energy efficiency, and the minimisation of carbon emissions.

Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering

Laureate Professor Scott Sloan from the School of Engineering is the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering (CGSE). The Centre pioneers new scientific approaches to geotechnical engineering design to underpin Australia's energy and transport infrastructure, resulting in increased productivity and sustainability of the nation's major export industries.

Priority Research Centres

Since 2007 UoN has recognised its strongest research groups with designation as Priority Research Centres (PRCs). The process of assessment for PRC status is highly competitive and is judged by an external panel of national research leaders.

PRCs receive direct funding from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and also from the Faculties. From mid 2013 PRCs that align with NIER or HMRI report through their parent institute.

Chemical Biology

The Centre for Chemical Biology seeks to unravel the causes of disease by identifying crucial biological targets and pioneering the rapid development of novel drugs for the fight against disease.

Complex and Dynamic Systems

The Centre for Complex Dynamic Systems and Control specialises in design, control and analysis and performance optimisation for complex dynamic systems.

Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications

The Centre for Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications (CARMA) explores the development of techniques and tools for computer-assisted discovery and data-mining including mathematical visualization.

Geotechnical and Materials Modelling

The Centre for Geotechnical and Materials Modelling develops new models and innovative computational methods for predicting the behaviour of geomaterials, metals and composites. Advanced computational methods, coupled with laboratory and field testing are key tools in this pursuit.

Priority Research Centres Aligned to HMRI

Asthma and Respiratory Diseases

The Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular processes that are associated with the development and progression of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information-Based Medicine

The Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information-Based Medicine (CIBM) is committed to shortening the process of obtaining novel discoveries to achieve distinctively better outcomes in clinical practice and translational individualised medicine.

Cancer

The Centre for Cancer seeks to reduce the impact of cancer by working to better understand the biology of the disease in order to tailor treatments to its genetic and proteomic profile.

Gender, Health and Ageing

The Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing focuses on the individual and social factors that affect the health and well-being of men and women as they age, and the ways in which communities and organisations respond to an ageing population.

Health Behaviour

The Centre for Health Behaviour (CHB) uses intervention and service delivery to promote healthy behaviours and good quality healthcare across communities.

Physical Activity and Nutrition

The Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition investigates physical activity and nutrition for population health, with particular emphasis on education and health promotion strategies for chronic disease prevention, treatment and wellbeing.

Reproductive Science

The Centre for Reproductive Science works to improve the health of pregnant women and provides key information on the determinants of 'A Healthy Start to Life'.

Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH) is focused on increasing understanding of brain/mental disorders including schizophrenia, stroke, pain and sensory dysfunction, ageing and cognition, depression, and balance disorders.

Priority Research Centres Aligned to NIER

Advanced Particle Processing and Transport

The Centre for Advanced Particle Processing and Transport seeks to find solutions to important problems facing the mineral industry, including developing innovative processes to maximise the separation of products from waste material, and ways to reduce water and energy usage.

Energy

The Centre for Energy develops and commercialises new and innovative technologies to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions around the world, with a particular focus on carbon dioxide reduction in collaboration with industry, government agencies and international organisations.

Organic Electronics

The Centre for Organic Electronics is focused on the scientific challenges in the development of organic photovoltaics for the next generation of environmentally friendly energy sources, photonics and biosensors.

Collaborative Research Centres

Our researchers participate in a number of national research centres, some of which are led by other universities. ARC Centres of Excellence and NHMRC Program Grants represent the highest level of peer-reviewed competitive funding.

Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres

Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics

Professor Pablo Moscato heads the UoN node of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics (ACB). ACB is a multi-nodal interdisciplinary centre that uniquely brings together genomic and post-genomic bioinformatics, mathematics, statistics, systems analysis and experimental phenomics to produce a deep understanding of how information in the genome is transformed into structure and function in the mammalian cell.

Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering

NHMRC Programs

Cancer treatment

Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Greer from the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences currently collaborates with the University of Sydney on a Program that aims to improve cancer treatment through real-time image guided adaptive radiotherapy. Radiation therapy is used to treat 40% of cancer patients in Australia, however the problem with current therapy is that tumours move during treatment. This research program aims to solve this problem by building a novel MRI-linear accelerator in which the cancer will be imaged – and treated - as it is moving. Successful completion of this program will have a direct impact on the treatment, overall survival and quality of life for Australian cancer patients in the foreseeable future.

Stroke

Professor Mark Parsons from the School of Medicine and Public Health currently collaborates with the National Stroke Research Institute and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Victoria on a Program that aims to improve stroke outcomes. Stroke is the second most common cause of death and major cause disability. There are few proven interventions, so new ones need to be introduced. This research program uses a bench to bedside approach to introduce new stroke therapies and early secondary prevention. The goal is to provide evidence for their effectiveness and safety using animal stroke models, markers in the blood to help diagnose and predict stroke outcome, and imaging to help select patients in several clinical trials.

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC)

eWater

Professor George Kuczera from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science heads the UoN node of the eWater CRC. This collaborative Centre focuses on the development and use of 'Source', a hydrological modelling platform designed for ecologically sustainable water management in Australia and around the world.

Integrated Engineering Asset Management

Professor Mark Stewart from the School of Engineering heads the UoN node of the CRC for Infrastructure and Engineering Asset Management (CIEAM). This Centre is focused on innovative research and development, education and commercialisation in an integrated approach to physical asset lifecycle management. The Centre's research outcomes are concentrated on addressing present and future industry and community needs; ensuring international competitiveness for commercial business; and sustainability outcomes for society.

Mining

Professor Robert Betz from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science heads the UoN node of the CRC for Mining. This collaborative research centre aims to deliver innovative 'game-changing' technology and future business leaders to substantially enhance productivity and safety for the global mining industry. The appointed Director of this CRC is .

Polymers

Professor Paul Dastoor from the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences heads the UoN node of the CRC for Polymers. The major challenge addressed by the CRC for Polymers is to establish Australian manufacturing as a leading provider and exporter of products that meet emerging global needs in three areas - health therapies and delivery, water and food security, and low-cost solar energy – using enabling and sustainable advanced polymer technology

Multi-Institutional Research Centres

Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement

Associate Professor Yong-Ling Ruan from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences is Director of the Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement (ACRCCI) . ACRCCI focuses on discovering key genes and biological processes controlling plant development and stress tolerance for innovative applications to improve food security and agricultural sustainability by bringing together research teams of international excellence in plant biology and breeding.

Clinical Nutrition Research Centre

Professor Peter Howe from the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy is Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC). It offers Australia's foremost expertise in the design and conduct of human intervention trials to evaluate cardiovascular, metabolic, anti-inflammatory and mental health benefits of functional nutrients, foods and nutraceuticals.

University Centres

University Centres are Faculty based research groups with a national or international reputation.

Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies

The Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies (CBSPT) is actively involved in both fundamental and applied research on a range of problems associated with bulk solids and particulate technology. Research areas include storage, flow, processing and transportation of bulk solids. CBSPT also provides specialist courses for industry through its professional development programs.

Hunter Creative Industries and Technology

The Hunter Creative Industries and Technology Centre (HCIT) provides a gateway into the University's knowledge community of creative thinkers and innovators. Working collaboratively with national and international business and knowledge communities, the Centre will address the creative, research and business opportunities of future. HCIT will be a positive agent of change in the creative industries of technology, communication and design for our region and our city.

Family Action Centre (FAC)

The Family Action Centre (FAC) is a practice, teaching and research centre working with families and communities in all their diverse forms.

Frontier Geoscience (IFG)

The NSW Institute for Frontier Geoscience (NSW IFG) is focused on research and teaching in Earth Sciences at the University of Newcastle. The Institute is a partnership of the University of Newcastle with the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services and NuCoal Resources Ltd and provides teaching, research leadership, and research facilities to contribute to the sustainability and viability of the minerals and mining sectors in NSW.

Full Employment and Equity

The Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE) promotes research aimed at restoring full employment and achieving an economy that delivers equitable outcomes for all.

History of Violence

The Centre for the History of Violence explores every aspect of the history of violence, including concepts of violence, representations of violence, questions of interpersonal violence and issues of political and cultural violence.

Intelligent Electricity Networks

The Centre for Intelligent Electricity Networks (CIEN) is an innovative partnership between NIER and Ausgrid focused on exploring intelligent energy distribution initiatives with the aim of developing technology solutions to meet the challenges of building a more intelligent energy future.

Interdisciplinary Built Environment Research

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Built Environment Research (CIBER) was formed in 2003 to address important social, cultural and technical challenges involving architecture, building and design.

Ironmaking Materials Research

The Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research (CIMR) is a partnership between NIER and BHP Billiton, aimed at defining the link between fundamental iron ore and metallurgical coal properties and their performance in the ironmaking process.

Multiphase Processes

The Centre for Multiphase Processes conducts research in the science and technology of fine particles and bubbles. Multiphase processes, which involve more than one phase of matter, form the basis for all Australian process industries including food, energy, agricultural, production and processing.

Optimal Planning and Operations

The Centre for Optimal Planning and Operations (C-OPT) brings together researchers with expertise and experience in using quantitative methods to develop innovative, customised solutions that help businesses streamline their processes and enhance their decision making, to reduce costs, increase productivity, and positively impact their triple bottom line.

Plant Science

The Centre for Plant Science is recognised nationally and internationally for its contributions to understanding regulation of nutrient transport and metabolism in higher plants.

Rural and Remote Mental Health

The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) aims to improve the provision of mental health services through the identification of and response to the needs of rural and remote communities. In particular, this includes the development of appropriate service models for rural mental health care, providing professional development opportunities for clinical staff and offering education and training.

Signal Processing Microelectronics

Signal Processing Microelectronics (SPM) is a research centre in Electrical Engineering. SPM conducts work in the areas of high speed FPGA and ASIC implementations; theory-based design and analysis; software tool development; and digital and analog hardware design.

Social Research in Energy and Resources

The Centre for Social Research in Energy and Resources (CSRER) is dedicated to researching the social dimensions of energy and resources, with researchers providing social perspectives in a variety of environmental, energy and resource areas including carbon emissions, water and industrial ecology.

Study of Research Training and Impact - SORTI

The Centre for the Study of Research Training and Impact (SORTI) is focused on understanding and developing research and higher order problem solving skills, and the impact of research training and research outcomes in a wide variety of contexts.

Umulliko Indigenous Higher Education Centre

The Umulliko Indigenous Higher Education Centre seeks a deeper level of framework, in which the past, present and future are combined to form a holistic Indigenous understanding.

Urban and Regional Studies

The Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) engages in research focused on the complex political, economic, social, cultural and environmental processes and relations that are transforming cities and regions.

Faculty Groups

Education and Arts

Creative Arts Research

Collaborative Environments for Creative Arts Research (C^eCAR) is an interdisciplinary research group located within the School of Creative Arts, Faculty of Education and Arts. C^eCAR brings together national and international researchers in the creative arts, humanities, sciences, health and social sciences with external collaborators in the community, industry, other universities and institutes.