News

2026 PhD Scholarship Top-Up Grants Announced

Published: 21 April 2026

Congratulations to Sophie Matis and Natalie Teh, recipients of our 2026 PhD Scholarship Top-Up Grants.

PhD students Sophie Matis and Natalie Teh

Sophie Matis | University of Sydney
Topic: Next-generation in-vivo biomarkers of pathology in the FTD-MND spectrum: Insights from novel neuroimaging techniques
MND and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are closely related conditions driven by shared disease processes in the brain, particularly involving a protein called TDP-43. Doctors currently lack reliable tools to detect and monitor these underlying changes in living patients. This project will use advanced brain imaging and blood tests to track how disease related changes spread through the brain over time. By linking these biological changes with symptoms, this research aims to improve earlier diagnosis and more accurate monitoring of disease progression. Ultimately, this work could help clinicians personalise care and guide the development of more effective treatments for people living with MND and related disorders.

Natalie Teh | University of Queensland
Topic: MND Nanoplasmonic Chip: A Blood-Based Multiplex Nanochip for Ultrasensitive Detection and Characterisation of CNS-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Biomarkers in ALS
A major barrier in MND research is the lack of blood biomarkers that accurately detect disease-related signals to inform diagnosis, track prognosis, and identify disease drivers. This project will develop an ultrasensitive non-invasive nanotechnology chip to study tiny particles released into the blood by brain and spinal cord cells, called extracellular vesicles, which may carry molecular signatures of disease. By developing a nanochip that enables highly sensitive simultaneous detection of multiple disease-related markers, this work will support biomarker development, improve understanding of disease mechanisms, and enhance the investigation of disease progression and patient differences.