Adelaide University researchers who are using quantum sensing technology to diagnose diabetes and enable the efficient mining of rare earth minerals have earned a federal funding boost.
The projects led by Professor Nigel Spooner, Dr Erik Shartner and Professor Robert McLaughlin, from the University’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), were recognised through the Federal Government’s latest Critical Technologies Challenge Program (CTCP).
The CTCP aims to create collaborative solutions to market-led challenges of national significance using quantum technologies. It is divided into two rounds, with projects receiving a small grant initially to test feasibility before those judged worthy progress to the next stage and a larger funding pool.
A total of eight projects across the country shared in $12.7 million.
Professor Spooner and Dr Shartner, through their industry partner TeraGlo Pty Ltd, are developing a sensor to identify rare earth elements (REE) in clay.
“Clay deposits are less enriched in REE than hard-rock ores, but the economically extractable fraction is held in easily leachable portions and current technologies don’t quantify the economically recoverable fraction of minerals,” said Professor Spooner.
“Our consortium of industry-leading miners, quantum technology experts and geologists developed a Quantum Novel Fluorescence Analysis (Q-NFA) sensor which specifically targets the clay-hosted REE in real-time - less than two minutes per sample - with very high accuracy.
“We now seek to bring Q-NFA to market on a fast timeframe, motivated by current market opportunities and geopolitical drivers, with our early partnerships with industry demonstrating strong and immediate market pull.
“We are creating an intelligent, field-deployable sensor platform for critical minerals of great value to Australia’s future.”
Through University spinout company Miniprobes Pty Ltd, Professor McLaughlin and his team are seeking to create a new scanner to be used for vascular imaging in diabetes.
“More than 1.7 million Australians have diabetes and it is the leading cause of chronic foot ulcers and foot amputations,” said Professor McLaughlin.
“Our team has developed a new optical imaging technology to assess diabetic foot ulcers and guide treatment. Using quantum technologies, we are developing a scanner that will make our imaging technology, small, fast and practical.
“This grant will enable us to increase the parallel scanning technique from eight fibre optic probes to 100 by embedding the optical system on a photonic integrated circuit.
“By incorporating quantum optical imaging techniques into the commercial development of this new medical device, we will be the first company to market with a small, robust imaging scanner for the billion-dollar global market of vascular imaging in diabetes.
Deputy Vice Chancellor - Research and Innovation Professor Anton Middelberg FTSE FNAI congratulated the grantees.
“This is an outstanding result for Adelaide University and Professor Spooner, Dr Shartner and Professor McLaughlin who will continue their ground-breaking work at IPAS,” said Professor Middelberg.
“It is a real validation of Adelaide University as a key leader in quantum sensing and materials.”