Established by the CDDI ECR Committee, the EMCR Seed Funding Scheme champions projects led by early to mid-career researchers through two funding categories each year.

Media release from Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation:

Established by the CDDI ECR Committee, the EMCR Seed Funding Scheme champions projects led by early to mid-career researchers through two funding categories each year.

Congratulations to the 2026 EMCR Seed Funding Scheme recipients!

0-3 Years ($15K)

Dr Lachlan Adamson (School of Medical Sciences)

Dr Habib Francis (School of Medical Sciences)

3-10 Years ($30K)

Dr Yao Wang (School of Biomedical Engineering)

Dr Nick Everett (School of Psychology)

Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation: sydney.edu.au/drug-discovery

University of Sydney: sydney.edu.au

Photo: © US - CDDI (Corrected!)

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Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation - University of Sydney

Dr Yao Wang - Dr Nick Everett - Dr Lachlan Adamson - Dr Habib Francis

Projekt owner & Team on Projekt

A new study has found micro and nanoplastics in places they shouldn't be - within the leaves and stems of wheat and tomato crops.

Media release from Griffith University:

A new study led by Griffith University has found micro and nanoplastics in places they shouldn't be - within the leaves and stems of wheat and tomato crops.

Led by Dr Shima Ziajahromi from the Australian Rivers Institute, the study found microplastics reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content, with fibre-shaped plastics - originating from synthetic textiles - having the most effects.

“These findings demonstrate that agricultural soil is not just a sink for plastics, but a pathway into the food systems – meaning they could end up on our plates," Dr Ziajahromi said.

“This highlights the need for improved environmental management practices, targeted mitigation strategies, and evidence-based regulations to control plastic inputs and reduce risks to food systems and human health.”

Griffith University: griffith.edu.au

Australian Rivers Institute: griffith.edu.au/australian-rivers-institute

Photo: © Griffith University - ARI

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Griffith University

Australian Rivers Institute

Dr Shima Ziajahromi

Griffith University researchers may have unlocked the secret to treating sepsis, with a Phase II clinical trial in China successfully concluding with promising results.

Press release from Griffith University:

Griffith University researchers may have unlocked the secret to treating sepsis, with a Phase II clinical trial in China successfully concluding with promising results.

The sepsis drug candidate, a carbohydrate-based drug called STC3141, was co-developed by Distinguished Professor Mark von Itzstein AO FAA FAHMS FRACI AO and his team from Griffith University Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, and Professor Christopher Parish and his team at The Australian National University.

“The trial met the key endpoints to indicate the drug candidate was successful in reducing sepsis in humans,” Professor von Itzstein said.

The small-molecule experimental drug was a carbohydrate-based molecule and could treat sepsis by reversing organ damage.

“When sepsis is not recognised early and managed promptly, it can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and death,” Distinguished Professor von Itzstein said.

The trial, conducted by Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Grand Pharma), involved 180 patients with sepsis, one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide.

Currently, there is no specific anti-sepsis therapy available, and sepsis is considered a clinical unmet need.

Professor von Itzstein said Grand Pharma would now look to progress to a Phase III trial to continue testing the efficacy of the novel treatment.

“It’s hoped we could see the treatment reach the market in a handful years, potentially saving millions of lives,” he said.

Griffith University:

griffith.edu.au

Australian National University:

anu.edu.au

Professor Mark von Itzstein:

experts.griffith.edu.au/18853-mark-von-itzstein

Professor Mark von Itzstein AO was the founding Director of Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics in 2000. He has a major research effort in the area of drug discovery, with a carbohydrate-based drug candidate against sepsis in phase 2 human clinical trials. Professor von Itzstein led the team responsible for the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the anti-influenza drug, Relenza®, which has been approved for the treatment of influenza worldwide since 1999. This discovery is considered to be a significant outcome and flagship in glycotherapeutic and antiviral drug development in the last century.

Photo: © Griffith University

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Griffith University - Griffith University Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics

Australian National University

Professor Mark von Itzstein AO FAA FAHMS FRACI AO

Projekt owner & Team on Projekt

The Toad Containment Zone (TCZ) is a large-scale initiative aimed at preventing the mass invasion of cane toads into the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Media release from Curtin Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS):

Containing invasive toad species is closer than ever

The Toad Containment Zone (TCZ) is a large-scale initiative aimed at preventing the mass invasion of cane toads into the Pilbara region of Western Australia. These toads are an extremely toxic, invasive species with nefarious consequences for native wildlife, such as the Yellow-spotted monitor and the Northern quoll (pictured).

In a collaborative effort involving traditional owners, rangers, pastoralists, and scientists from various institutions—including Curtin University and Deakin University—this project involves creating a “waterless barrier” between the Great Sandy Desert and the Indian Ocean, effectively preventing toads from spreading by removing their access to water points like cattle watering tanks and troughs.

This initiative brings a hopeful approach to stopping the invasive species from marching into the Pilbara region, with the zone aiming to protect over 27 million hectares of habitat and significant Aboriginal cultural heritage from ecological damage.

Recent developments have been made possible thanks to the Skip Foundation and their unwavering support and critical funding of the TCZ.

Curtin Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS):

curtin.edu.au/about/learning-teaching/science-engineering/school-of-molecular-life-sciences/

Many thanks to Professor Tim Dempster from Deakin University for the information!

For those that want to learn more about the zone, how it will work and what it will protect, see:

toadfree.zone

Photo: ©MLS

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Curtin Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS)

Curtin University and Deakin University

Project owner and project team

traditional owners, rangers, pastoralists, and scientists from various institutions

How noisy are salmon farms?

We often think about water quality, disease and nutrition in aquaculture. But one environmental factor is rarely discussed: sound.

Prof. Tim Dempster:

How noisy are salmon farms — and does it matter for fish welfare?

We often think about water quality, disease and nutrition in aquaculture. But one environmental factor is rarely discussed: sound.

Our new review published in Reviews in Aquaculture and led by Deakin University's Dr Kathy Overton explores the underwater soundscape experienced by farmed salmonids and what it means for fish behaviour, physiology and welfare. Here are the key takeaways:

Fish don’t hear the same way humans do. Salmonids detect sound primarily through particle motion, sensed by the lateral line, making them most sensitive to low-frequency sounds (~7–400 Hz). These frequencies overlap with many common farm noises. Which raises an obvious question…

What does a salmon farm actually sound like underwater?

Modern aquaculture systems can be acoustically busy environments.

Typical sound sources include:

-Pumps and aerators

-Filtration systems

-Feed barges

-Workboats and wellboats

-Handling and treatment equipment

Reported sound levels at farms often range roughly 90–130 dB re 1 µPa, depending on system type. But noise alone isn’t the whole story. How do fish respond?

Across experiments, salmonids often show strong behavioural responses to low-frequency sounds, especially infrasound. Observed responses include:

-Startle reactions

-Increased swimming speed

-Avoidance behaviour

-Changes in swimming patterns

In some cases fish acclimate over time, but responses to infrasound may persist.

Evidence for physiological impacts is still limited, but some studies report:

-Stress responses (cortisol changes)

-Temporary hearing threshold shifts

-Immune responses

At extreme sound exposure levels, physical injury or mortality can occur, though these levels are rarely encountered in normal operations.

One striking finding from the review was that there are very few studies measuring the actual sound environment in aquaculture systems. And almost none measure particle motion, the component fish detect most strongly. This makes it difficult to define safe sound thresholds for farmed fish.

What should the industry do? Three priorities emerged:

1-Targeted research to establish safe noise thresholds

2-Standardised methods for measuring aquaculture soundscapes

3-Practical mitigation, such as isolating pumps, reducing vibration and using quieter vessels

Understanding aquaculture soundscapes may become an important frontier in improving fish welfare and production outcomes.

For the full article, you can find it here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com or make contact and we will send through a copy.

"All rights belong to Prof. Tim Dempster"