UON innovators to accelerate research
Four teams of innovative researchers at the University of Newcastle will be taking their research to the next level with the CSIRO On-Prime accelerator program.
Four teams of innovative researchers at the University of Newcastle will be taking their research to the next level with the CSIRO On-Prime accelerator program.
UON was actively involved in the first round with three teams selected for this competitive program, and with great success.
In the 2016 program Dr Yolanda Surjan’s RadVet made it through to the top 10 Australia-wide and at the conclusion of the program, Yolanda received the award for Breakout Female Scientist for her work on a skin cancer treatment for pets.
This year we’ve got four very diverse research projects led by enthusiastic teams and we look forward to following their progress:
Coal2Fibre: Low cost carbon fibres from coal
Team:
- Dr Rohan Stanger (lead), UON
- Quang Anh Tran, UON PhD student
- Emeritus Professor Terry Wall, UON
- Associate Professor John Lucas, UON
- Dr Minoo Naebe, Deakin (Carbon Nexus)
Coal2Fibre will look to develop a new class of carbon fibres for use in the automotive industry. If successful, this could be a game-changer for Australia’s manufacturing industry, particularly in the Hunter Valley.
Health Technology Evaluation
Team:
- Dr Craig Dalton (Conjoint), HNE Health (lead)
- Professor John Attia , UON HMRI
- Professor Vijay Varadharajan, UON
- Associate Professor Luke Wolfenden, UON HMRI
- Jane Gray, HNE Health
- Associate Professor Andrew Searles (Conjoint), HMRI
This team will look to generate and evaluate the evidence behind health technology claims – specifically for smartphones, wearables and related technology.
Stamino: Amino Acid Biotechnology
Team:
- Professor Hugh Dunstan, UON
- Dr Tim Roberts, UON, Director Tom Farrell Institute
- Dr Margaret Macdonald, UON
- Mr Stephen Davidson, Davidson Accountants, Newcastle.
This research group has identified the six key amino acids lost during exercise. The novel invention involves the replenishment of these nutrients during, or immediately after exercise, by delivery in a beverage drink to enhance muscle recovery and improve general wellbeing.
VR Rehab
Team:
- Gabriel Axel Montes, Neural Axis® UON postgrad student (lead)
- Sarah Kellett, OmGym International®
- Bryan Paton, UON
The lives of stroke patients and brain injury survivors change dramatically after injury, often leaving them with physical and cognitive impairments, depression, anxiety, and lack of social support. The team’s aim is to create a home-accessible and multi-player–capable virtual reality (VR) platform that will foster improved functionality and quality of life in survivors of stroke and brain injury. A gamified virtual environment will address physical and cognitive domains to promote not only the recovery of lost function, but the long-term ‘renewal’ of self, in an enjoyable, socially-capable, and sustainable manner.
The CSIRO program aims to address Australia’s low rate of collaborations between researchers and investors in Australia, translating research inputs into real-world outcomes.
Related news
- Launch of the School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment
- Funding boost to technology for lower emission steel
- Newcastle team on mission to improve childhood cancer outcomes
- Shanae’s passion for caring delivers her dream to work in health
- Food and nutrition degree serves Keren a rewarding career
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.