Bioreactors for manufacture of human platelets. Blood cell transfusion is a critical part of medicine that is supported by volunteer donors. Unfortunately, the demand for blood cells for transfusion far outstrips supply and therefore new strategies are required for manufacture of blood cells. This project will lead to the development of technology for manufacture of human platelets from stem cells. The systems devised will be applicable to a broad range of other blood cell types.
New uses for milk-derived products for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-intestinal site-specific delivery of active agents. Helicobacter pylori is the most significant bacterial pathogen in the world, infecting 50% globally. Current treatments are inducing rapid antibiotic resistance and are thus becoming increasingly less effective. The infection is acquired in childhood and new methods to prevent and/or treat the infection, minimising acquisition of antibiotic resistance ....New uses for milk-derived products for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-intestinal site-specific delivery of active agents. Helicobacter pylori is the most significant bacterial pathogen in the world, infecting 50% globally. Current treatments are inducing rapid antibiotic resistance and are thus becoming increasingly less effective. The infection is acquired in childhood and new methods to prevent and/or treat the infection, minimising acquisition of antibiotic resistance are urgently required. This project seeks to develop new ways of doing this that combine novel antibacterials with techniques to deliver them (and monitor this delivery) as well as modify the complex protective habitat in the stomach.Read moreRead less
New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and manageme ....New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and management that can reduce risk and improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Development of new systems for the commercial collection, processing and storage of adipose stem cells. This project is aimed at developing a standardised method to commercially extract and expand stem cells from adipose tissue. This product will then be available commercially as a therapeutic treatment.
Defining targets and generating tools/therapeutic agents for prevention, diagnosis and therapy of atherothrombosis. Atherosclerosis and its complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke are a major cause of death and disability in Australia and worldwide. The proposed research program investigates new therapeutic targets and concepts (e.g. targeting of stem cells) to treat atherosclerosis and aims to develop new therapeutic agents using modern biotechnological methods. The project furth ....Defining targets and generating tools/therapeutic agents for prevention, diagnosis and therapy of atherothrombosis. Atherosclerosis and its complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke are a major cause of death and disability in Australia and worldwide. The proposed research program investigates new therapeutic targets and concepts (e.g. targeting of stem cells) to treat atherosclerosis and aims to develop new therapeutic agents using modern biotechnological methods. The project further aims to develop nanoparticle-based diagnostic tools to identify and preventatively treat atherosclerotic plaques that are prone to cause myocardial infarction. The expected outcome will provide direct benefit to patients and create new economic opportunities in Australian bio-/nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
The development of new scaffolds for bone repair comprising polycaprolactone and strontium-substituted bioactive glasses. The drive to develop bone grafts to fill major gaps in the skeleton, whilst circumventing the need to use permanent implants has led to a major research thrust towards developing biomaterials for bone-tissue engineering. The project will develop scaffolds with highly osteoconductive bioactive glasses in a polymer matrix for bone regeneration applications.
Quest for trace biomarkers in complex media through innovative nanoscale science of fluids, molecules, particles and light. This project will break new ground in the detection of rare molecules in biological samples by exploiting the interactions of fluids, molecules and particles confined in nanoscale channels. By revealing yet unknown biomarkers the project will bring a radical change in medical diagnostics and in the science and technology used to map the Human Proteome.
Potency and activity of Meso-Endothelial bipotent progenitors in vivo. This project aims to characterise a new stem cell population that can maintain both blood vessels and contribute to a variety of tissues whether fibrous, bone, fat or cartilage. Blood vessels comprise an inner endothelial layer and surrounding mesenchyme, are integral to many organs and constitute a unique system connecting different parts of the body. Despite their importance little is known about how they are maintained and ....Potency and activity of Meso-Endothelial bipotent progenitors in vivo. This project aims to characterise a new stem cell population that can maintain both blood vessels and contribute to a variety of tissues whether fibrous, bone, fat or cartilage. Blood vessels comprise an inner endothelial layer and surrounding mesenchyme, are integral to many organs and constitute a unique system connecting different parts of the body. Despite their importance little is known about how they are maintained and how they contribute to the response to injury. Previous work has described several populations of stem cell capable of self renewal and repletion of the endothelium or the mesenchyme. This project will examine the potency of these different progenitors to give rise to each of these fates in homeostasis but also during sounding and bone formation. This will help define a unique population of stem cells capable of both vascular and mesenchymal repair.Read moreRead less
Dissecting the physiology of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells to develop vaccine candidates for respiratory disease. The project aims to gain an understanding of how a type of adult stem cell inhibits immune responses that cause asthma. The project will produce new stem cell products and facilitate the design of a vaccine for asthma and other respiratory diseases, which would greatly reduce the burden of such conditions.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100398
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,507.00
Summary
How T cells modulate stem cells and tissue regeneration. The project aims to determine how T cells modulate tissue repair and regeneration in mammals. Most of the mechanisms modulating the healing of tissues are elusive. This research is expected to reveal unknown mechanisms controlling the processes of tissue repair and regeneration, particularly the nexus between the stem cells involved in the tissue healing process and the immune response .