Making history at The Plant Accelerator®
The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) Adelaide Node, The Plant Accelerator® (TPA), passed two significant milestone during 2025 with imaging of the 100,000th plant in their high-throughput conveyor-based imaging system (Smarthouse), and 15 years of national and global leadership in high throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP). TPA® was established to provide researchers with advanced plant phenotyping tools to […]
Australia welcomes its first EMBL ARISE Fellow at Monash University
Australia’s capabilities in research infrastructure (RI) have received a major boost, with Monash University set to host EMBL Fellows as part of the Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists (ARISE) – a flagship European initiative designed to train the next generation of RI leaders. ARISE Fellow Dr Richard Jacoby from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) will […]
Bioplatforms-supported startups recognised in NSW Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund
Three startups supported by Bioplatforms Australia have been announced as recipients of the NSW Government’s Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund, recognising the strength of Australia’s deep-tech pipeline and the role of national research infrastructure in translating discovery into real-world impact. The successful companies are Number 8 Bio, Platypus Bio and HydGene Renewables. Each is developing technologies […]
Us vs Them – DSpark mobility data reveals AFL supporter location vs loyalty
Where Do AFL Fans Live in Melbourne Today? Explore the AURIN Data Tale – Us versus Them – Exploring how mobility data can be used to determine the geographical boundaries between supporters of Melbourne-based AFL teams. Victoria is home to 10 of the 18 AFL teams. Most were founded in the 1800s, long before the […]
Australian technologies on the path to real-world use
The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) works with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as they develop new technologies and devices and move them beyond the lab. For many SMEs, this is the stage where ideas become physical, functional and repeatable. Access to the right tools, facilities and hands-on expertise makes the difference between something that […]
The unseen engine
How Australia’s investment in research and infrastructure is forging global quantum leadership Over the past 20 years, Australia has quietly secured a position at the forefront of the quantum revolution. Not only are we building some of the world’s first commercial quantum computers but quantum science is being employed in a new generation of sensors, […]
Bioplatforms Initiative recognised as an official project supporting Australia’s Animal Plan
We are pleased to share that the Bioplatforms Animal Disease Genomics Initiative is now listed as an official project supporting the ambitions of the DAFF Animalplan 2022–2027, Australia’s first national action plan for production animal health. Led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Animalplan 2022–2027 provides a coordinated national framework to strengthen […]
The Australians helping uncover the blue universe
Australian researchers and engineers are helping design and deliver a new instrument for one of the world’s most productive telescopes. Australian researchers and engineers are helping design and deliver a new instrument for one of the world’s most productive telescopes. The Blue Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (BlueMUSE) is an integral-field spectrograph destined for the European […]
From discovery to spin-out: advancing new therapies for polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease is a common inherited condition that can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation, with limited treatment options available. Researchers at Monash University identified a key cell signalling pathway driving cyst growth, forming the foundation for xCystence Bio, a biotech spin-out developing new therapies to slow or halt disease progression. NCRIS-enabled […]
Same city, different worlds – a tale of two suburbs
If a picture tells a thousand words, a map can tell a million. AURIN is developing a series of interactive story telling maps – AURIN Data Tales – to highlight the data access and analytics capability we offer and provide real-world examples of urban challenges, presented in an engaging way to inspire further research and […]
Improving spatial analysis for disease risk detection: a COVID-19 case study
During COVID-19, public health agencies relied heavily on data to understand where the virus was spreading and who was most at risk. While robust data have long underpinned decision-making, the pandemic reinforced that statistical factors – such as how data are grouped, how geographical boundaries are defined, and how granular the data are – can […]
Ocean information behind the Sydney to Hobart
How IMOS data powers an optimised race strategy. As crews prepare to launch into one of the world’s most challenging ocean races, a group of oceanographers are also at work to help competitors optimise their route. IMOS provides data that delivers crucial oceanographic insights, including information about currents along the race route. Drawing on a […]
Research Impact: AURIN data and infrastructure shaping a more sustainable urban future
Densifying the great Australian dream Owning a home is the great Australian dream. But as Australia’s population continues to grow, understanding how to plan and deliver housing is more important than ever. Urban planning therefore plays a critical role in government and industry decision-making, shaping where and how people live. Emeritus Professor Peter Newton has […]
How NCRIS infrastructure helped UQ’s vaccine platform: a billion-dollar success
A landmark deal has placed Australian vaccine innovation on the world stage, with leading healthcare company Sanofi completing the acquisition of Vicebio. Vicebio was formed in 2019 to advance The University of Queensland (UQ)’s Molecular Clamp platform, a novel vaccine technology designed to stabilise viral proteins in their native shape. This approach helps the immune […]
Updating our taxonomic backbone for accuracy, names matching and better searchability
“Your hip bone’s connected to your back bone” goes the old song, but did you know the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) uses a backbone as well? Ours is taxonomy and we use it to arrange all the names in the ALA. Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms. It’s the basis […]
Research impact: understanding bikeability to shape healthier, more connected cities.
Across Australia, cities are looking for safer, easier ways to support cycling. ‘Bikeability’ describes how well an area supports cycling through its infrastructure, safety, environment and access to everyday destinations. But understanding what actually makes an area ‘bikeable’ is not straightforward. Until now, studies have used different definitions, indicators, and modelling approaches to explore bikeability, […]
LMA Screening: Delivering and improving an essential service to Australian wheat breeders
The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) has helped develop improved screening protocols for the LMA defect in wheat breeding lines, increasing throughput and streamlining the delivery of improved wheat varieties. Late Maturity α-Amylase (LMA) is a serious defect in milling wheat varieties, and all new breeding lines must be submitted to the national LMA screen […]
Cutting-edge laser boosts thermochronology research at the University of Melbourne
Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences are transforming the speed and scale of their thermochronology research, enabling more effective and precise analysis of geological samples. The faster research is thanks to a new, state-of-the-art ESL193nm ImageGEO laser system from Elemental Scientific. The laser will accelerate earth science research […]
Ten years on the radar: How Australian infrastructure is supporting space agencies around the world
Over ten years ago, a curious network of triangular aluminium structures was erected across the quiet paddocks of Queensland’s Darling Downs region. Scattered amongst grazing livestock, these radar corner reflectors sit idly, without using power, collecting data or transmitting signals. But despite their seemingly simple design, these metal structures play a critical role in Earth […]
Strengthening international research relations and showcasing Australian capability
Driving global collaboration through the Prato 2025 Health Research Infrastructure Symposium The 2025 Australian & European Health Research Infrastructure Symposium, held from 16-18 September at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy, united leaders from major Australian and European research infrastructures to strengthen international partnerships and tackle shared challenges in health and life sciences. The three-day […]
AuScope in Antarctica: unlocking climate-response secrets hidden beneath the ice
Antarctica holds clues about how our planet is responding to climate change, and what that means for our future. AuScope is helping Australian researchers uncover critical new knowledge, by building and deploying polar-rated instrument sets that can withstand Antarctic extremes, drilling deep beneath the ice to retrieve ancient sediments, and developing software for modelling how […]
Better connecting people who power Australia’s innovation
A new national platform, ARDC Research Link Australia (RLA), is helping connect researchers, industry and government by making expertise and collaboration information easier to find and use. A recent pilot project with RLA shows how verified, accessible insights into Australian researchers’ capability can drive partnerships, innovation and productivity across the nation. Connecting People, Capability and […]
ACCESS-NRI joins the international Momentum partnership to advance climate and weather prediction
Australia’s climate simulator, ACCESS-NRI is thrilled to announce its participation in the Momentum Partnership, joining an international collaboration that develops world-leading modelling frameworks for weather and climate science. The Momentum Partnership includes access to the UK Met Office’s Unified Model (UM Model), which is the atmosphere component of the ACCESS framework. ACCESS-NRI’s partner collaborators, CSIRO and the […]
Cost-effective imaging technology to revolutionise spatial transcriptomics
EMBL Australia group leader Dr William Roman & his team have launched a new imaging-based spatial transcriptomics platform that dramatically reduces experimental costs from more than $35,000 to approximately $30 per experiment, making spatial biology more accessible to researchers across Australia. While modern sequencing technology has made it relatively easy to tell which genes are […]
Safer and more accurate scans for pregnant women and children
The NIF-supported Australian National Total Body PET Facility creates benefits for both research translation and patient care. Challenge Exposure to ionising radiation is a significant concern for vulnerable patients – particularly pregnant women and children – who may require PET/CT scans for diagnosing or staging cancer, infection, or inflammatory diseases. Traditional methods of reducing radiation […]
NIF helped provide the evidence that led to the approval of Australia’s first dementia treatment
MRI and PET imaging provided essential evidence that supported the approval of donanemab. Challenge Dementia is a major health challenge in Australia, currently affecting nearly half a million people and ranking as the nation’s second-leading cause of death. This number is expected to double by 2058. Donanemab is a new disease-modifying therapy that uses monoclonal […]
NCRIS supports breakthrough ovarian cancer agent from early-stage design to first in-human studies
Australian capabilities shepherded new agent through entire innovation pipeline. Challenge Professor John Hooper has worked for decades to develop antibody 10D7, a beacon of hope for patients with advanced ovarian, prostate and bladder cancers. Very few novel drugs are developed entirely in Australia, from their early stages through to preclinical models and first-in-human trials. Ovarian […]
World’s largest longitudinal muscle MRI study set to benefit children with cerebral palsy
The completed MUGgLE study has produced vital data on muscle growth patterns and muscle under-development in children with cerebral palsy. Challenge Cerebral palsy, the most common physical disability in children, affects ~34,000 Australians. It impacts movement and posture, often leading to muscle weakness and stiffening. Previous studies have typically only examined muscle groups collectively – […]
MAB: advancing bioimaging through collaboration and innovation
EMBL Australia Group Leader Dr Senthil Arumugam, along with Dr Toby Bell and Dr Kate McArthur, recently launched the Monash BDI Advanced Bioimaging (MAB) platform – a researcher-led, global collaboration hub designed to bring innovative microscopy technologies directly to the researchers who need them. From light-sheet imaging to custom-built microscopes and large-scale data visualisation, MAB integrates experimental […]
Research Impact: Geospatial Factors Applied to Road Accidents
Road accidents are a major source of trauma worldwide. Over 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents annually, and collisions are a leading cause of death and injury across all age groups. Aside from the human cost of road accidents, there is a significant financial toll. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Binar CubeSats pioneer radiation detection technology
CubeSats – small satellites roughly 10cm in size – punch above their weight when it comes to space research. Their low weight and affordable components make space research cheaper and more accessible, and they are especially popular for Australian research institutions. The Binar Space Program, based at Western Australia’s Curtin University, specialises in CubeSats running […]
Liquid lenses for better satellite monitoring
Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility’s Space Irradiation Beamline (HIAF-SIBL), hosted at the Australian National University, has played a vital role in an exciting first for the Australian space industry: the first time that Australian space radiation testing has been done on an Australian space payload. The occasion? Testing innovative liquid lenses that enable a satellite to […]
First in-human images of new hope treatment for poor-prognosis prostate cancer
In a world first, supported by National Imaging Facility, Australian researchers have imaged and measured the uptake of a promising new prostate cancer therapy drug developed by Australian company AdvanCell, which was recently administered to its first patient in a clinical trial. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men. Around 50% of […]
New brain imaging set to improve and speed epilepsy diagnosis, treatment
Novel imaging methods combined with cognitive, genetic and medical data will use AI to increase the speed and accuracy of diagnoses and treatment for epilepsy patients, according to researchers working collaboratively with NIF. Advanced MRI imaging methods are helping Australian epilepsy researchers move closer to faster, more accurate, individualised diagnoses and treatment options for patients. […]
Partnering for impact with Australian industry
Supporting industry with data access The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is Australia’s national biodiversity data infrastructure. It allows industry, researchers, decision-makers and the community to contribute, access and analyse data on Australia’s plants, animals and fungi. The ALA is partnering with industry to leverage the power of biodiversity data and infrastructure to support business […]
Future-proofing computational proteomics
EMBL Australia and Bioplatforms Australia joined forces to host a pivotal proteomics workshop titled ‘Future-proofing Computational Proteomics’ on 24 April, featuring leading guest speakers, Dr Rolf Apweiler, Prof Marc Wilkins and Dr Richard Lipscombe. The Australian proteomics community discussed advancements in proteomics research and the pivotal role of computational approaches in shaping the future of […]
Supporting Australia’s food security and agriculture industry
Over 90% of fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs sold in Australia are domestically produced, and over half of Australia’s agricultural produce is exported. As an important contributor to the Australian economy, the gross value of Australia’s agricultural food production is forecast at $79 billion for 2023-24, and our agricultural exports are forecast at $65 […]
Data sharing platform to transform Ag industry
AgReFed helps researchers and industry professionals find and analyse trusted, reusable agricultural data from across Australia. An ARDC-supported national partnership is helping to advance the country’s agricultural sector through innovative application of digital technology. The Agricultural Research Federation (AgReFed) is an Australian platform that aims to improve the discoverability of trusted, reusable, and analysis-ready agri-data […]
Strengthening our European connections to EMBL and beyond
On a recent visit to EMBL Heidelberg, Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, spoke about the synergies between EMBL and EMBL Australia, opportunities for collaboration and ideas for exciting future programs. Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, chatted to EMBL about the synergies between the organisations, opportunities for collaboration, and ideas […]
Associate Professor Lee Spitler – AAO and Advanced Navigation, Moon to Mars Initiative
Associate Professor Lee Spitler – AAO and Advanced Navigation, Moon to Mars Initiative As part of a Moon to Mars Initiative, Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) at Macquarie University will build a new optical multi-beam laser collimator that will land on the moon. The project is part of a collaboration between AAO and lead partner, Advanced Navigation, […]
Renewable, versatile spinifex and the future of nanofibres
From nanotechnology to Indigenous empowerment Spinifex, a hardy Australian grass, spread widely across inland Australia, presents a new high-tech opportunity for the future of construction, medical technology, and day-to-day life. In partnership with the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu People of North-West Queensland, through Bulugudu Ltd, researchers at the University of Queensland have been developing a high-tech product from […]
Associate Professor Julia Bryant – The Hector instrument and Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker
Associate Professor Julia Bryant, Astralis-USyd – AAT’s Hector instrument and Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker A major new instrumentation project for the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) has led to a partnership with one of the most specialised watchmakers in Australia. The instrument, Hector, is a multi-Integral Field Unit spectrograph built for the AAT by the Astralis Instrumentation Consortium. The […]
Making life easier – Prof Joe Shapter’s ORCID story
We recently chatted with Joe Shapter, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) at the University of Queensland (UQ), to learn more about how his ORCID ID has helped him when applying for grants. Joe shared with AAF how his ORCID record was first registered when he was at Flinders University and it continued to be populated when […]
Piloting the Australian Environmental Health (AusEnHealth) Strategic Planning Digital Twin
This ambitious one-year pilot project aims to understand the landscape of Australian environmental health data collection at both state and national levels. Rising temperatures, more extreme weather, and increasing carbon dioxide levels impact on water and food supply, degrade living conditions, increase social inequities, change vector ecology, increase air pollution and allergens, and impact on […]
AuScope underpins Julimar polymetallic minerals discovery
In November 2021, Chalice Mining Limited released a maiden resource statement for the Julimar polymetallic mineral deposit on Wadjuk Country in Western Australia. This is an exciting milestone for Chalice on the path to delivering palladium, nickel, copper and platinum for clean energy technologies. Equally impressive is the decades-long backstory to the Julimar discovery, which […]
From rocks to Cochlear, swords and sunscreen
Our spectrometry wizards at Macquarie University’s MQ GeoAnalytical laboratory (MQGA) are at it again, innovatively applying their new age-dating technique to novel science challenges outside of the geology domain. From detecting trace elements in cochlear implants in Australia to tracing the provenance of Iron Age sword fragments from Dubai, this newly NCRIS enabled geo-analytical technique […]
WearOptimo create real-time, Microwearable health sensors
WearOptimo have used Microscopy Australia’s facilities to develop a world-first, wearable, real-time health sensor, which is now in clinical trials. WearOptimo aims to provide affordable, wearable technology to revolutionise monitoring of biomarkers, which act as an early warning sign of disease. Initially, their sticker like device will provide real time monitoring of hydration and of heart […]
How Australia’s national research infrastructure is responding to COVID-19
Australia’s National Research Infrastructure (NRI) swiftly redeployed to support national and international COVID-19 research. Some examples are listed below. Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Bioplatforms Australia (BPA), Microscopy Australia and Therapautic Innovation Australia (TIA) were involved in the University of Queensland vaccine program. Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) is supporting research into plant-based vaccines. Astronomy Australia […]
From ancient grass to modern materials
A unique partnership between Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation and a University of Queensland research team has lead to the development of valuable and sustainable nanofibres leading to the creation of regional, Indigenous jobs. Challenge Nanofibres can strengthen many materials for a wide range of applications from thinner more flexible electronics and plastics, to next generation building […]
A wonder material made from waste
In February 2020, Clean Earth Technologies (CET) signed an agreement with Flinders University to produce commercial quantities of an environmental wonder material. Developed by Prof. Justin Chalker and his team at Flinders University, this novel polymer — made exclusively from waste materials — is capable of pulling oil from the oceans and contaminants like mercury […]
New Era in X-Ray Imaging
Next generation X-ray technology, developed and manufactured in Adelaide, is solving global health, defence and security challenges by making X-ray machines significantly lighter and more portable. In-depth imaging is now available on the move thanks to Adelaide-based medical device manufacturer, Micro-X, which has commercialised a new way of producing x-rays. The ASX-listed company is harnessing […]
