Professor Gil Garnier

//Professor Gil Garnier
Professor Gil Garnier2022-02-15T05:30:28+00:00

Professor Gil Garnier is the Director of BioPRIA within the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Monash University. His current research interests are focused on the application of colloids and polymers to surfaces, adhesion, composites, and the process of papermaking.

At BioPRIA, Prof. Garnier is head of a multidisciplinary team which uses nanotechnology for surface engineering, bioprinting and the development of novel specialty papers. He is also the Director of the five-years ARC-funded Industrial Transformation Research Hub – Processing Advanced Lignocellulosics (PALS). Prof. Garnier is responsible for Hub research leadership, management and strategic directions. He oversees the overall Hub projects which aim to develop functional materials and high value products from renewable biomass and waste streams from the Australian Pulp, Paper and Forestry Industry.

Research Interests: 

Prof. Garnier’s research and development activities aim at developing low-cost biomedical diagnostics and implementing Biorefineries.

He led the initiative with industry partner Haemokinesis in developing GLIF, the first blood typing paper diagnostic. This is now in full commercialization. He and his group are finalizing a paper diagnostic to measure fibrinogen in blood and analyse other health conditions. They also developed the traditional gel cards for blood typing using nanocellulose gels. In engineering, they have developed the world’ s first blood incubator using laser technology, which is faster and accurate than any current technology. The current work to grow organoids from nanocellulose gels is very promising; when successful, this will revolutionize cancer treatment by enabling affordable personal medicine for all.

Prof. Garnier has committed to projects that replace oil-based plastics and chemicals by performant polymers and composites made from wood and lignocellulosics. His group leads 5 initiatives: First is the replacement of plastic bags by strong and thin nanocellulose reinforced papers.  Second, is superabsorbent polymer from nanocellulose foam for diaper and food packaging applications. Third are nanocellulose hydro-retentor gels for agriculture use; these will keep the soil of Australian farms moist in our new global warming era. Fourth, is the extraction of hemicellulose oligomers from eucalyptus to synthesise bio-sourced surfactants. The last consists of polymerizing lignin oligomers extracted from pine radiata for producing new UV-curable and self-healing coatings. These projects are developed in collaboration with researchers from Monash and abroad.

View an up-to-date list of Professor Gil Garnier’s Publications via the Monash University website.