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Molecular Nanorobotics for Health, a project co-led by Dr Anna Waterhouse, Cardiovascular Medical Devices Group Leader at HRI, has been chosen as one of Sydney Nano’s five Grand Challenges in recognition of its potential social, economic and scientific impact.

Dr Waterhouse’s Grand Challenge project, with collaborator and co-lead Dr Shelley Wickham, will build molecular nano-robots, self-assembled from biomolecules, which will be capable of travelling through the body to diagnose and treat early disease.

With heart disease being Australia’s – and the world’s – biggest killer, Dr Waterhouse’s and Dr Wickham’s vision is that these nano-robots will be able to detect early, treatable damage in coronary arteries, to prevent heart disease.

Dr Water­house says, I am hon­oured to have been cho­sen as one of the Grand Chal­lenges at Syd­ney Nano and I’m excit­ed to work with Dr Wick­ham, and with the larg­er, mul­ti­dis­ci­pli­nary team that we have estab­lished as part of this Grand Challenge.”

This project will be the first molecular nanorobotics platform for health and medicine in Australia. Sydney Nano, an institute based at the Sydney Nanoscience Hub at The University of Sydney and focused on extending and deepening knowledge of the nanoscale, will provide seed-funding for two years.

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