As Head of AI, Health and Science at the Deakin Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative, Deakin University, Professor Truyan Tran oversees research, graduate training and funding across three major programs: AI Future, exploring the foundations of intelligence; AI4Science, accelerating discovery through AI; and AI4Health, developing translational AI to improve health outcomes.  

AI Future aims to create generalist systems that learn, reason and act responsibly across human domains—envisioning AI as a digital species of intelligent, evolving agents. The research group focuses on deep reasoning, social modelling, memory and alignment to ensure AI remains truthful, safe and consistent with human values.

AI4Science unites AI and scientific discovery. We build AI Scientists—autonomous agents that generate hypotheses, design and perform experiments and uncover insights in physics, chemistry and biology. Our work accelerates materials and energy research, decodes biological systems and advances drug discovery, making science faster, cheaper and more creative through human–AI collaboration.

AI4Health develops intelligent technologies that support clinicians and patients. We create AI Doctors capable of seeing, thinking, planning and communicating like human professionals. Our systems enhance medical imaging, population health analysis and personalised care, with applications from early cerebral palsy screening and mental-health support to suicide-risk prediction and pandemic forecasting. Our goal is to make trustworthy AI accessible for everyone’s health and wellbeing.As Head of AI, Health and Science at the Deakin Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative, Deakin University, Professor Truyan Tran oversees research, graduate training and funding across three major programs: AI Future, exploring the foundations of intelligence; AI4Science, accelerating discovery through AI; and AI4Health, developing translational AI to improve health outcomes.

Professor Guangzhao Mao is a leading innovator in nanotechnology and materials engineering, shaping the future of nanomedicine and advanced sensor systems. As Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, she spearheads cutting-edge research that bridges engineering and medicine, unlocking groundbreaking possibilities in drug delivery and nanoscale material applications. Her pioneering research focuses on two transformative areas: Electrocrystallization & Nanosensors. Her research unravels the fundamental processes of nucleation and crystal growth in electrodeposition, applying these insights to develop next-generation gas sensors. Her work enhances sensor scalability, with impactful applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. Her breakthroughs in integrating nanosensors into larger systems are redefining their real-world potential. Nanotechnology & Neuroscience. Merging nanotechnology with neuroscience, Mao’s team is developing revolutionary drug delivery systems targeting the central nervous system. Her protein-drug nanoconjugates offer a novel way to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a long-standing challenge in treating neurological disorders. This innovative approach has already shown promising results in enhancing respiratory function for spinal cord injury, with significant implications for neurodegenerative disease treatments. Her latest advancements include a microfluidic cell-based assay that accelerates drug screening and preclinical evaluations.