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Search Marsden awards 2008–2017

Search awarded Marsden Fund grants 2008–2017

Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2016

Title: Mum, you are what your babies make you!

Recipient(s): Professor LW Chamley | PI | The University of Auckland
Dr C Blenkiron | AI | The University of Auckland

Public Summary: During pregnancy the fetus produces large amounts of genetic material (DNA) which is shed into the mother's blood. This fetal DNA in the maternal blood is now being used in a new clinical test to determine whether the fetus is genetically normal. Since there is so much fetal DNA in the blood of pregnant women we hypothesize that some of that DNA might be introduced permanently into maternal cells. If that does happen, the woman may start to inappropriately produce proteins that are encoded by the fetal DNA. It is already known that a small number of fetal cells cross into the mothers blood. In some mothers, these fetal cells protect the woman in later life from breast or thyroid cancer while in other women, the fetal cells seem to promote the development of colon cancer and autoimmune diseases. Our research is investigating whether fetal DNA is permanently taken up by some of the mother’s cells and whether that fetal DNA, like the fetal cells could cause some mothers to develop, or be protected from, diseases in later life.

Total Awarded: $800,000

Duration: 3

Host: The University of Auckland

Contact Person: Professor LW Chamley

Panel: CMP

Project ID: 16-UOA-123


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2010

Title: Myth, cult and the cosmos: astronomy in ancient Greek religion

Recipient(s): Prof R Hannah | PI | University of Otago
Dr E Boutsikas | PI | University of Kent

Public Summary: This project aims to investigate the relationships between astronomy and religion in ancient Greece. It seeks to do this via an analysis of aetiological myths, cult rituals and sacred buildings set within their surrounding terrestrial and celestial landscape, in mainland, western and eastern Greece.

A traditional role of observational astronomy in ancient Greece was to provide indications of pivotal moments of change in the agricultural year. These periods were in turn reflected in annual festivals in the calendar, celebrated at sanctuaries situated in a terrestrial and a celestial landscape. This project will argue that astronomy, myth, the content and timing of religious cult, and landscape in its totality all combine to provide a richer understanding of ancient science in its cultural context, and indeed of the interplay between science and religion in ancient Greece.

This project innovatively uses astronomy as a methodological tool to help elucidate and
explain Greek religious belief and practice. It will result in establishing a new, interdisciplinary methodology to the study of Greek religion, adaptable to other sites and cultures.

Total Awarded: $513,043

Duration: 3

Host: University of Otago

Contact Person: Prof R Hannah

Panel: HUM

Project ID: 10-UOO-064


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Fast-Start

Year Awarded: 2016

Title: Nano-containers for signals to cells - when and where they are needed

Recipient(s): Dr J Malmstrom | PI | The University of Auckland

Public Summary: A multitude of stimuli act on the cells in our bodies to steer their survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation. This research aims to improve the understanding of stem cell regulation, vital to unlocking their potential as therapeutics and to understanding their involvement in cancer. We will develop novel materials that allows for local delivery of cargo in close proximity to cell adhesions by using a force-modulated release of the molecules from the surface the cell is adhering to. Signaling molecules, in this case growth factors, will be encapsulated in nano-containers produced by self-assembling block copolymers. These containers will be equipped with a lid consisting of a stretchable polymer chain, displaying a ligand for the cells to grab. Upon opening of the lid, the growth factors will be free to diffuse out of the nano-container to bind to their membrane bound receptors. Thus, the release of growth factors will be controlled by the cells themselves, which mimics the in vivo release of growth factors. This work will enable detailed study of synergistic effects between cell adhesion and growth factor signaling – crucial for a better control over stem cell behavior in vitro.

Total Awarded: $300,000

Duration: 3

Host: The University of Auckland

Contact Person: Dr J Malmstrom

Panel: EIS

Project ID: 16-UOA-246


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2014

Title: Nano-thermoelectric generators

Recipient(s): Dr JV Kennedy | PI | GNS Science
Professor G Ramanath | AI | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr S Narayanaswamy | AI | Victoria University of Wellington
Professor JB Metson | AI | The University of Auckland
Dr J Leveneur | AI | GNS Science
Dr GV Williams | AI | Victoria University of Wellington

Public Summary: A temperature gradient across a thermoelectric material will induce a voltage, a feature that is exploited in thermoelectric power generators. These generators could ideally take advantage of the vast amount of waste heat generated in many industries, yet despite global efforts, their efficiency remains stubbornly low, as expressed by the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT and the power factor. We believe that to increase ZT and the power factor, a new materials engineering approach is needed. We propose to demonstrably enhance the efficiency of thermoelectric power generators by nano-structuring and electronic doping promising materials using new ion beam and arc-discharge methods. Our unique approach involves the use of ion beam methods, electron beam annealing, ion beam sputtering, and arc-discharge to create nanostructured films and bulk samples of bismuth telluride, antimony telluride, zinc antimonide, and zinc oxide with different dopants and carrier concentrations that cover the thermoelectric power generation range from 300 - 1000 K. Planned manipulations of the surface and bulk nano-structures will scatter phonons and increase the lattice thermal conductivity, thus result in nano-thermoelectric power generators with high energy conversion efficiencies.

Total Awarded: $695,000

Duration: 3

Host: GNS Science

Contact Person: Dr JV Kennedy

Panel: EIS

Project ID: 14-GNS-016


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2015

Title: Nanoscale topological insulators

Recipient(s): Professor SA Brown | PI | University of Canterbury
Professor TC Chiang | AI | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Public Summary: Topological insulators are a newly-discovered class of solid-state materials with remarkable properties and vast potential for exciting and novel applications. The electrons in these materials occupy states with a peculiar 'topology', which is a quantum mechanical property related to the classification of real-world solid objects according to their shapes. A doughnut cannot be transformed smoothly into a sphere, and so is a different class of object: similarly, the electronic states in a Topological Insulator are completely distinct from those in normal materials, and hence have completely different properties.

Exploitation of these exotic effects in real world devices will require the engineering of tiny transistors, on the nanoscale. But in such nanostructures additional quantum effects become important which both threaten to destroy the original topology and provide new opportunities for engineering devices. We propose to build a range of topological nanostructures, to test their topological properties as they become smaller and smaller, and to use the knowledge gained to engineer structures that will optimise device performance. The proposed research builds on world-leading capability to grow and characterise related nanostructures, and would position NZ at the forefront of efforts to exploit this new class of materials.

Total Awarded: $820,000

Duration: 3

Host: University of Canterbury

Contact Person: Professor SA Brown

Panel: EIS

Project ID: 15-UOC-021


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2016

Title: Nanostructuring in iron-based wires for ultra-high current density

Recipient(s): Dr SV Chong | PI | Victoria University of Wellington
Professor JB Meijer | AI | University of Leipzig
Dr EF Talantsev | AI | Victoria University of Wellington
Professor XL Wang | AI | University of Wollongong
Professor GVM Williams | AI | Victoria University of Wellington

Public Summary: Superconducting magnets operating at very high fields are urgently needed to increase capacity, resolution and sensitivity for applications ranging from medicine to energy to basic research. By exploring and exploiting fundamental intrinsic properties as well as by engineering extrinsic properties we plan to dramatically increase the electrical current-carrying density, Jc, in the new iron-based superconductors (FeSCs) to enable high-performance wires for ultra-high field magnets (>20 Tesla). Several magnetic, structural and charge-ordered states compete with or complement superconductivity in the FeSCs, but they are yet to be exploited to enhance Jc. Determining the fundamental property that will significantly enhance Jc in these superconductors will not only aid their application but has the potential to radically shift current thinking on how Jc can be enhanced in other superconductors. A key advantage here is our discovery of a huge enhancement in Jc due to external pressure. We will combine these insights with extrinsic surface and bulk nanostructured periodic pinning arrays, and propose for the first time building strain-induced pressure into wire architecture. Our strategy is to exploit our areas of strength in fundamental and applied superconductivity, including our current research on the new FeSCs, and incorporate challenging new ideas via a multidisciplinary approach.

Total Awarded: $720,000

Duration: 3

Host: Victoria University of Wellington

Contact Person: Dr SV Chong

Panel: EIS

Project ID: 16-VUW-063


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2012

Title: Natural neighbourhoods for city children

Recipient(s): Assoc Prof C Freeman | PI | University of Otago
Dr YM van Heezik | PI | University of Otago

Public Summary: That children need nature for health and well-being is widely accepted, but what type of nature?
The assumption that children must interact with wild pristine nature has been used to justify recognition of a 'nature deficit disorder', when such contact is lacking. However, recent research shows many urban areas support high biodiversity. Children may not suffer from a lack of connection with nature because they interact with nature in their neighbourhood, and even if social or cultural norms frustrate this access, there may still be sufficient diversity within their immediate nearby environment. We argue that the premise of an epidemic of 'nature deficit disorder' for children in western society is accepted uncritically and is adult-determined. By evaluating children's reported nature interactions and biodiversity within self-defined neighbourhood nature maps, we will explore nature contact from the child's perspective, emphasising nature in urban contexts. We will produce a child-centred biodiversity assessment, definition, and view of nature that will aid in better understanding the reality of children’s lived experiences and how children can be best supported to develop and maintain connections with the natural world.

Total Awarded: $373,913

Duration: 3

Host: University of Otago

Contact Person: Assoc Prof C Freeman

Panel: SOC

Project ID: 12-UOO-140


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Fast-Start

Year Awarded: 2016

Title: Naturally biased? Exploring neuropeptide signal pathway bias in neurons.

Recipient(s): Dr CS Walker | PI | The University of Auckland
Professor L Edvinsson | AI | The University of Auckland
Professor DL Hay | AI | The University of Auckland

Public Summary: Pain is controlled by receptors on the surface of sensory neurons. These receptors can respond to several different molecules, some of which display signal pathway ‘bias’. Bias is typically associated with drug development, where the goal is to engineer a biased molecule that will only activate beneficial pathways. We propose that signal pathway bias is also a natural phenomenon that underpins physiological responses. This project will explore natural pathway bias for PACAP peptides in neurons. We will show that natural bias is potentially an important physiological process, forming the basis for the future development of pathway targeted pain-relieving therapies.

Total Awarded: $300,000

Duration: 3

Host: The University of Auckland

Contact Person: Dr CS Walker

Panel: CMP

Project ID: 16-UOA-143


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2011

Title: Negative structures, superposition and penalty parameters for dynamic analysis

Recipient(s): Assoc Prof S Ilanko | PI | University of Waikato
Prof H Askes | AI | The University of Sheffield
Prof P Hagedorn | AI | Technical University of Darmstadt
Prof D Kennedy | AI | Cardiff University

Public Summary: We aim to develop a new methodology for predicting the vibration behaviour of complex structures using the novel concept of ‘negative structures’. The natural vibration modes of structural components with simple shapes, such as rectangular or circular plates, can easily be determined using current methods. However, the presence of holes or cut-outs remains a challenge. Preliminary studies show that voids could be simulated by embedding imaginary negative structures into positive structures. For example, a circular plate of negative mass and negative stiffness can be embedded in a larger rectangular plate to simulate a plate with a hole. Such negative structures are mathematically identical to their positive counterparts, and their vibrational modes can be readily found. In this study, we will use this method to derive the modes of the whole structure (i.e., by combining the modes of positive and negative components). Continuity between components will also be enforced using recently advanced concepts such as negative penalty masses and superposition techniques. We will build a theoretical framework, and develop a systematic procedure for solving practical problems, such as optimal design of perforated brake discs to avoid squealing. The new methodology will be more accurate and efficient than those in current use.

Total Awarded: $691,304

Duration: 3

Host: University of Waikato

Contact Person: Assoc Prof S Ilanko

Panel: EIS

Project ID: 11-UOW-010


Fund Type: Marsden Fund

Category: Standard

Year Awarded: 2011

Title: Network analysis of parasitism within food webs

Recipient(s): Prof R Poulin | PI | University of Otago
Dr HW Chen | AI | Academia Sinica
Dr C Lagrue | AI | Universite de Bourgogne

Public Summary: Widely used in disciplines ranging from physics to sociology, network analysis is increasingly employed by ecologists to delve into nature’s complex organization. This method provides a powerful tool to investigate interactions within communities, i.e. existing links between different species such as predation or herbivory, and how these affect the community’s stability and its resilience against change. Treating species as parts of interconnected webs, network analysis can also pinpoint the role of parasites in the structure and function of food webs. We will apply this approach to New Zealand lake ecosystems to determine how an animal’s position in the food web determines its risk of acquiring parasites, how parasites use flows of energy through the web for their transmission, and how a food web’s architecture might mitigate the impact of parasites. Our research will uncover general patterns of parasite transmission in New Zealand freshwater ecosystems, and use comparisons with other systems to assess the universality of these patterns.

Total Awarded: $721,739

Duration: 3

Host: University of Otago

Contact Person: Prof R Poulin

Panel: EEB

Project ID: 11-UOO-021


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