Queensland University of Technology

We're collaborating with surgeons to promote the innovative use of engineering, physics and technology in the development of new medical techniques, materials, procedures and devices.
Our research is integrated with clinical practice and has strong links with hospitals to ensure it can be translated into practical patient outcomes.

Our biomolecular research involves molecular, cellular, biochemical, physiological and genetic approaches to investigate disease susceptibility, progression and treatment response.
We have significant expertise in:

• cancer biology

• immunology

• microbiology

• infectious disease

• vaccine development

• stem cell and tissue regeneration research

We're using state-of-the-art technologies to investigate the molecular basis of disease by studying:

• cell and tissue structure

• cell interactions and signalling

• DNA and protein sequences

• systems biology integration

Our chronic disease intervention research is focused on developing new ways of treating and managing common chronic diseases including:

• cancer

• infectious diseases

• cardiovascular disorders

• ocular disorders

• mental health conditions

We run interventional studies on disorders associated with ageing, including a focus on:

• dementia

• neurodegenerative diseases

• osteoarticular diseases

• diabetes

• obesity

• osteoporosis

• palliative end of life care research

Our data science, computational modelling and simulation science research exploits our world-class computing and visualisation infrastructure to turn large data sets into valuable knowledge for a range of industries.

We use statistical models to:

• help clinicians and health specialists gain a deeper understanding of disease susceptibility and treatment strategies

• understand the human and environmental impacts of climate change

• improve social systems by capitalising on the growth of online and linked data

Our research is focused on three themes:

• computational biology

• computational materials science

• industrial mathematics

Our digital media research investigates digital transformations of contemporary media and communication in their social contexts. It responds to a critical juncture in the evolution of global media industries through programmatic, large-scale and methodologically innovative research examining the:

• impacts of social and mobile media on public, popular and interpersonal communication

• transformation of cultural participation in the current media ecology

• development of new production models in the rapidly changing commercial media industries

• legal, policy and regulatory responses to the challenges of digital media

Our research has encouraged the emergence of new research fields, including:

• professional transformations in journalism

• trans-media studies

• performance innovation

• applied research in interactive and visual design

Our research focuses on the important social necessity of engaging and educating young people, their families and communities. It considers ways to inform and improve systems, policies, practices, programs and professions, and is supported by a strong interdisciplinary research culture through our:

• Children and Youth Research Centre (CYRC)

• Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools Program

• Yumi Deadly Centre

Key areas of focus include:

• autism research

• improving school environments

• literacies for the 21st century

• STEM education (including robotics)

• Indigenous knowledge in education

• digital participation

• child safety and advocacy

• health and wellbeing

• early childhood priorities

Our health systems research is focused on providing better care for patients with complex, chronic disorders, and designing optimal health facilities and economic efficiencies in our health systems.
Our priorities include:

• overcoming specialisation borders

• work-culture change

• leadership improvement

• understanding patient preferences

• designing better incentives for clinicians

Our health services research addresses legal and ethical issues associated with:

• death, dying and decision-making including law at the end of life

• withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment

• advance care planning

• futile treatment and euthanasia

• regulation of assisted reproductive technology

• genetic testing

• abortion

• embryonic stem cell research

• surrogacy

Our injury prevention and management research includes:

• workplace health and safety

• road safety

• movement neuroscience and rehabilitation

• intelligent transport system design

• sport injury prevention education

• regulation and enforcement

• infrastructure and ergonomic design

• human movement studies

• health psychology

• orthopaedics, trauma and emergency care

• medical physics

• civil engineering

• assessment tools for interventions, monitoring and evaluation

Innovation is the process through which economies, societies and organisations develop and improve through the introduction of new ideas and technologies.
Our research focuses on:

• how organisations can respond to turbulent environments and improve their competitiveness by encouraging knowledge development, enhancing business processes and making value chain improvements

• how industry architectures and global value chain dynamics determine which firms, regions and nations profit from innovation

• the impact of government and industry policy on innovation

• corporate innovation, venturing and strategic renewal

• the role of innovation systems

• the financial, organisational, technical and cultural solutions that support innovation

Our material science and engineering research includes the synthesis, characterisation and application of materials across a range of applications.

Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials research focuses on the fabrication and assembly of nanoparticles and low-dimensional materials, including:

• quantum dot structures

• nanowires

• nanotubes

• graphene materials

Surface engineering
Surface engineering research involves the creation and analysis of materials surfaces, focusing on the unique properties associated with a surface and the interaction of the surface with the surrounding environment.

Molecular synthesis
Our research builds on our strong base in organic and inorganic chemistry, and focuses on the molecular synthesis of advanced molecular materials including profluorescent nitroxides, rotoxanes and polymeric materials.

Characterisation
Our outstanding characterisation ability – including chemical composition and structure, physical morphology and response to physical stimuli, and electronic and optical structure and properties – underpins our materials science research.

Our security-focused research aims to reduce threats to food, health and water supplies, and minimise the impacts of climate change, crime and terrorism.

Agricultural and energy sustainability
The long-term sustainability of Australia's agricultural and energy resources are a national priority. Our research in this area focuses on a range of tropical crops, livestock and related pests including:

• banana

• sugarcane

• chickpeas

• mungbean and fruits

• fish, crustaceans and other farmed species.

Genetic manipulation of specific crops or livestock is used to improve nutritional status, increase disease resistance and improve stress tolerance.

Plant disease diagnosis and control
Development of advanced techniques for disease diagnosis and control are critical to the security of food supply. The restriction of exotic pest entry and the management of pests are becoming more important in our global free-trade world. Our researchers are developing diversified products from a single crop or harvest to improve the sustainability of specific industries.

Robots are a transformative technology with potential applications across a range of industries that have huge economic impact. Robotic automation can transform Australia's threatened manufacturing, agriculture and construction industries by designing systems that sense, understand and learn about their environments and improve performance over time.
Robots with visual perception – that can see and respond as humans do – will provide increased productivity in industries critical to Australia's economy.
Our research aims to develop a new generation of intelligent systems that can visually sense and understand complex, unstructured real-world environments.