A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on health ....A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on healthy spinal disc cells. We expect our technological framework to become an invaluable tool for biomedical engineers, biologists, and bio-engineers to work together and generate clinically relevant in-vitro data that supports optimisation for spinal implant design, fabrication, and safety. Read moreRead less
Brain-skull interface: discovering the missing piece of head biomechanics. Overall objective of this project is to measure, mathematically describe and implement in software mechanical properties of brain-skull interface – a critical component of current large and sophisticated computational models of the brain and the last missing piece of brain biomechanics knowledge. This will allow increased reliability of comprehensive biomechanical models used to simulate realistic injury and surgery scena ....Brain-skull interface: discovering the missing piece of head biomechanics. Overall objective of this project is to measure, mathematically describe and implement in software mechanical properties of brain-skull interface – a critical component of current large and sophisticated computational models of the brain and the last missing piece of brain biomechanics knowledge. This will allow increased reliability of comprehensive biomechanical models used to simulate realistic injury and surgery scenarios.
The problem is significant and urgent. Every year in Australia, there are over 22,000 cases of traumatic brain injury, some of which could be prevented by better passive and active countermeasures; and over 12,000 neurosurgical procedures that surgical simulation could make more accurate and therefore safer.Read moreRead less