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Biothermosetting Bone Filler: An Injectable Osteoconductive Repair Material
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,698.00
Summary
Bone injury is a common and profoundly debilitating issue, and is responsible for extended partial or complete loss of mobility and associated economic impact during slow healing. There is strong demand for technology that reduces the time taken for bone repair. There is still a paucity of clinically effective biocompatible materials for treatment. We have developed a novel approach for a thermoresponsive hydrogel with unique properties suitable for rapid bone filling and regeneration.
Bioactive And Biodegradable Scaffold And Novel Graft Source For The Repair Of Large Segmental Bone Defects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,103.00
Summary
The treatment of large bone defects arising from trauma and tumour remains a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. This project combines a well-established scaffold that can be custom-made to address patient specific requirements with a novel source of graft that can be harvested in significant volumes with minimal pain and morbidity. This novel tissue engineering approach will be evaluated in a previously established pre-clinical model that reflects the severity of challenging clinical scenarios.
Using Mechanotransduction To Regulate Stem Cell Fate In Heart Tissue
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,983.00
Summary
Emerging new interdisciplinary field, mechanotransduction, combines efforts from biology, engineering, and material science to understand how cells sense/feel their surroundings mechanically e.g. soft vs. stiff and transfer these signals to biochemical signalling to initiate cellular changes. This project aims to develop high-throughput hydrogel platform with stiffness patterns to study cellular mechanosensing mechanism and to generate better heart muscle cells for heart stem cell therapy.
The Role Of The Actin Remodelling Protein, Flightless I, In Tissue Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,868.00
Summary
Human embryos possess the remarkable capability to repair wounds perfectly with no scarring, unlike adults for whom major trauma can result in life-long disfigurement and immobility. We have identified a method that may be able to reinitiate the ability to repair wounds perfectly and we will test whether this is the case using animal models of fetal repair.
Understanding The Mechanisms That Regulate Spleen Organogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,227.00
Summary
Spleen is a organ with regenerative capacity but the cells driving this have been largely unexplored. A cell-type essential for spleen tissue formation was recently discovered, termed a spleen organiser cell. We are now are attempting to understand where these cells originate from, what cells they develop into, and which genes are important for spleen regeneration. These findings will advance fundamental knowledge of spleen development and lead to better strategies for spleen transplant therapy.
Defining Therapeutic Cells As Well As Establishing Cell Targeting And Tracking Technology For The Treatment Of Myocardial Infarction And Atherosclerosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,611.00
Summary
Regenerative cell therapy holds great promise for many diseases. However, studies so far such as preventing and treating heart attacks, often showed limited success. We will address the current three limitations of regenerative cell therapy: 1) Identify the beneficial “therapeutic” cell type. 2) Develop a technology that selectively delivers cells to the area of need. 3) Develop cell tracking technology. This study has the potential to provide major advances in regenerative cell therapy.
Fellowship Application, Ed Stanley: Pluripotent Stem Cells & Medical Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
Human Pluripotent Stem Cells are immortal cells that have the ability to turn into any of the cell types found in the body. This means that it is now possible to generate a variety of human cell types in the laboratory, to study how they work, and to find out what goes wrong in different diseases. In this context, the overall aim of my research is to develop pluripotent stem cells for the study of human disease and generate tools that will enable others to use these cells in their own research.
Genetic Basis For Skeletal Muscle Formation In Development And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$751,854.00
Summary
Inherited skeletal dystrophies and myopathies are devastating and debilitating disease for which there are no cures and general muscle wasting is major health problem for a significant number of older Australians. Understanding how muscles form, grow and are maintained in model system, the Zebrafish, will provide avenues for treatment of these diseases. We will create models of human muscle diseases in zebrafish and test the usefulness of different therapeutic approaches we develop.
Coupling An Injectable Gel And MSC Microtissues To Enhance Cartilage Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,022.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of pain and disability in Australia. The OVERALL AIM of this project is to use a photo-activated hydrogel containing growth factors and stem cell-derived cartilage microtissues to repair cartilage defects. The gel and small diameter microtissues combination makes this innovative repair process compatible with less invasive and less costly orthoscopic surgical procedures. Effective cartilage defect repair will delay or prevent the onset of OA.
A Fibroin-based Prosthetic Bruch's Membrane For The Treatment Of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,080.00
Summary
Our aim is to develop a new therapy for the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in our ageing population. The novelty of our therapy resides in using a protein derived from silk fibers (fibroin), to rebuild a healthy barrier between the outermost layer of the retina and adjacent blood vessels. We expect that the findings from this study will eventually lead to better outcomes for patients with AMD.