The Central Role Of The Osteocyte In Skeletal Pathophysiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
Bone diseases affect more people than any other group, carry a huge and growing socioeconomic cost, yet their aetiologies are not fully determined. This study will elucidate the role of the resident bone cell, the osteocyte, in prevalent bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and related orthopaedic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, bone cancer, and in systemic metabolism. The goal is to provide the knowledge and mechanisms for developing improved treatments and patient outcomes.
Development Of Novel Resorbable Biomaterials For Regeneration Of Human Tissue
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,484.00
Summary
Large skeletal defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are difficult to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. Available synthetic alternatives lack the physical/biological properties necessary. We have developed new scaffolds with improved mechanical/biological properties for bone and cartilage regeneration.
We aim to grow body tissues for surgery, including heart muscle, liver and pancreatic islets (for diabetes) and will investigate using stem cells to repair the brain after stroke. We will attempt to boost the expansion of blood vessels in growing tissues using molecular tools we have found crucial for cell signaling. In growing heart tissues and in stroke we will improve drugs that might boost the potential of stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues
Prof Alan Connelly is an internationally recognised neuroimaging researcher specialising in MRI. His major areas of research are in the development of new methods to acquire and process MR images of both structural and functional aspects of the brain, and the application of these novel methods to clinical neuroscience problems. His work has had a major impact in the field of epilepsy, where techniques that he pioneered have been widely adopted in specialist epilepsy centres worldwide.