Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668541
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
Infrastructure for design and testing of implantable and non-invasive intelligent medical devices. This application requests infrastructure funding to ensure the capability of the UTS and UNSW biomedical engineering teams to develop tomorrow's biomedical devices. It will enable research in the field of intelligent medical devices, either non-invasive devices (diabetes monitoring, brain-computer interfaces, home telecare) or those which are fully implanted (heart pumps, bionic eyes). Such biomedi ....Infrastructure for design and testing of implantable and non-invasive intelligent medical devices. This application requests infrastructure funding to ensure the capability of the UTS and UNSW biomedical engineering teams to develop tomorrow's biomedical devices. It will enable research in the field of intelligent medical devices, either non-invasive devices (diabetes monitoring, brain-computer interfaces, home telecare) or those which are fully implanted (heart pumps, bionic eyes). Such biomedical devices will save lives and improve the quality of life of many people. The commercial benefit to Australia flows from the international export of such devices. Based on this approach there will be substantial savings in health care costs, with patients able to resume a better quality of life at home, rather than in institutional care.Read moreRead less
The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs ....The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs are composed of a weak polymer matrix and a MEW reinforcing fibrous phase printed at the nanometre scale, containing patterns mimicking the natural tissue architectures. Advanced computational tools are applied for the rational design of the SNC while reducing costs and times associated to experimental work.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Engineering microenvironments to regulate osteocyte 3D networks in vitro. Most knowledge of bone is based on only a fraction of cells found in bone because the majority of cells in our bones (called osteocyte cell networks) cannot easily be grown or studied outside the body. This results in the inability to understand how the bone organ functions. Using bioinspired engineering, this project will use advanced biomaterials to biofabricate, for the first time, osteocyte cell networks in vitro. By u ....Engineering microenvironments to regulate osteocyte 3D networks in vitro. Most knowledge of bone is based on only a fraction of cells found in bone because the majority of cells in our bones (called osteocyte cell networks) cannot easily be grown or studied outside the body. This results in the inability to understand how the bone organ functions. Using bioinspired engineering, this project will use advanced biomaterials to biofabricate, for the first time, osteocyte cell networks in vitro. By unravelling how they are formed and controlled by manipulating their microenvironment, we will discover how different types of bones are formed. The benefits will be a valuable tool for the bone research community, allowing unresolved questions to be addressed in the future, such as how bone forms, repairs, and remodels.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989471
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Facility for innovation in structural biomaterials engineering. Biomaterials are used in a diverse range of environments that impact on the way that all Australians live. The Facility for Innovation in Structural Biomaterials Engineering will greatly assist researchers to undertake cross-disciplinary projects aimed at improving human health eg. smart materials that assist stem cell therapies for treating deafness and spinal cord injuries, as well the way we live eg. more durable building materia ....Facility for innovation in structural biomaterials engineering. Biomaterials are used in a diverse range of environments that impact on the way that all Australians live. The Facility for Innovation in Structural Biomaterials Engineering will greatly assist researchers to undertake cross-disciplinary projects aimed at improving human health eg. smart materials that assist stem cell therapies for treating deafness and spinal cord injuries, as well the way we live eg. more durable building materials for a sustainable national infrastructure. The facility will help Australia remain at the forefront of these high priority areas and see both individuals and industry benefit from advanced biomaterial products.Read moreRead less
Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polym ....Novel Drug Delivery Systems. The polymer based structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of drug delivery. A multi-drug delivery platform is expected to bring significant improvements in administering therapeutic drugs for a wide range of illnesses and applications. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from epilepsy or requiring stent implants. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polymer structures both in-vitro and in-vivo.Read moreRead less
Development and characterisation of novel hydrogel systems for drug delivery. The aims of this project are to develop and characterise hydrogel formulations for delivery of active agents, such as protein drugs, and to examine the biological responses to drug loaded hydrogels. In many medical and industrial fields, it is advantageous to control the release of active agents. Controlled release can decrease the dose of active that must be administered, sustain a more constant level of the agent ....Development and characterisation of novel hydrogel systems for drug delivery. The aims of this project are to develop and characterise hydrogel formulations for delivery of active agents, such as protein drugs, and to examine the biological responses to drug loaded hydrogels. In many medical and industrial fields, it is advantageous to control the release of active agents. Controlled release can decrease the dose of active that must be administered, sustain a more constant level of the agent in the environment and can localise the agent at the site where it is needed. This project will advance the theoretical knowledge of polymer degradation combined with protein release, will develop controlled release hydrogel technology that can be applied to medical devices and will train a postgraduate student in biomaterials and drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Scalable, high throughput microfluidic platforms for tissue specific biomaterials development and tissue genesis. The co-development of novel biomaterial platforms and new generation production methods for tissue analogues will provide the necessary stimulus for improved and more relevant methods of enhanced repair or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues. These outcomes will result in faster time-to-market new generation therapeutic products for Australia and the world. These advances wil ....Scalable, high throughput microfluidic platforms for tissue specific biomaterials development and tissue genesis. The co-development of novel biomaterial platforms and new generation production methods for tissue analogues will provide the necessary stimulus for improved and more relevant methods of enhanced repair or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues. These outcomes will result in faster time-to-market new generation therapeutic products for Australia and the world. These advances will have a significant impact on our healthcare costs and the quality of life for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Interfacial interactions with hydrogel biomaterials. The interactions between cells of the body and the surfaces of medical implants are controlled largely by the molecules that are adsorbed on the surface. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of modifying hydrogel biomaterials on the interactions of the molecules with the hydrogel. This, in turn, allows us to determine the factors affecting the control of the cell's response. The significance of this work is in the improved ability ....Interfacial interactions with hydrogel biomaterials. The interactions between cells of the body and the surfaces of medical implants are controlled largely by the molecules that are adsorbed on the surface. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of modifying hydrogel biomaterials on the interactions of the molecules with the hydrogel. This, in turn, allows us to determine the factors affecting the control of the cell's response. The significance of this work is in the improved ability to control cellular responses to implants. Such improved response will result in better health outcomes for patients, and outcomes in the form of papers and intellectual property.
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Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354797
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance co ....The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance communication, bring together innovative skill sets, create linkages, generate focussed research programs and foster novel commercial opportunities. Ultimately the Initiative and Network will deliver an improved quality of life, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity to Australia.Read moreRead less
Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost a ....Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost and time. This project should overcome a major barrier to studying gene function with unprecedented detail, thereby opening new avenues for future research into biological processes. Thus, the outcomes from this project should impact on the entire field of biomedical research, and advance Australia's biotech industry.Read moreRead less