Investigating Human Keratinocyte Stem Cells And Their Microenvironmental Niche
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,928.00
Summary
The stem cells in the outer protective layers of the epithelium of the skin (keratinocyte stem cells), possess an intrinsically high capability to regenerate tissue. However, this tissue regenerative ability can be enhanced by interactions with microenvironmental elements i.e. connective tissue cells and proteins. This study seeks to investigate specific keratinocyte-microenvironment interactions which will ultimately be used to improve current methods for generating skin tissue for burns patien ....The stem cells in the outer protective layers of the epithelium of the skin (keratinocyte stem cells), possess an intrinsically high capability to regenerate tissue. However, this tissue regenerative ability can be enhanced by interactions with microenvironmental elements i.e. connective tissue cells and proteins. This study seeks to investigate specific keratinocyte-microenvironment interactions which will ultimately be used to improve current methods for generating skin tissue for burns patients.Read moreRead less
Smart Hybrid Material For Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Tissue engineering is a promising approach to repair damaged/degenerated cartilage caused by various diseases or injuries. Because of its limited capacity for self repair cartilage becomes a constriant to normal everyday life once degenerated. This project aims to develop composite polymers for cartilage repair. The potential of this newly developed material for cartilage tissue engineering will be investigated through the material and biological characterisation techniques.
The Role Of Perlecan In Tensional Connective Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,037.00
Summary
Musculoskeletal diseases affect tension and weight bearing connective tissues which have notoriously poor repair capabilities. These conditions are difficult to treat clinically and surgical repair in many cases does not provide a return to optimal joint function impinging on the quality of life of afflicted individuals and their carers. Our project aims to better understand the structure and function of these tissues in health and disease with a view to improving repair strategies.
Osteochondroreticular Stem Cell Therapy For Osteoarthritis: The Right Cells For The Job.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,956.00
Summary
"Wear and tear" arthritis of the knee, hip and back joints is known as osteoarthritis. This causes significant health burden and costs in our community, particularly in older Australians. Osteoarthritis begins with the loss of joint cartilage. We believe that a new type of stem cells (OCR stem cells) offer the greatest promise to generate and thus therapeutically replace joint cartilage. Our studies test this hypothesis and develop preclinical translation of our discoveries in mice into humans.
Developing In Vivo Methods Of Adipose Tissue Engineering
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,703.00
Summary
Surgical repair and replacement of soft tissues after tumour removal or to repair existing damage requires fat tissue with a good blood supply. Tissue engineering allows us to create new fat grafts for replacement tissue without causing unnecessary pain or trauma to the patient. We have developed a method for growing fat tissue using a chamber to maintain a space for the tissue to grow into, a blood vessel to supply nutrients to the growing tissue, cells or tissue from the host to encourage cell ....Surgical repair and replacement of soft tissues after tumour removal or to repair existing damage requires fat tissue with a good blood supply. Tissue engineering allows us to create new fat grafts for replacement tissue without causing unnecessary pain or trauma to the patient. We have developed a method for growing fat tissue using a chamber to maintain a space for the tissue to grow into, a blood vessel to supply nutrients to the growing tissue, cells or tissue from the host to encourage cell growth and migration and a matrix or scaffold to support the developing tissue and guide it to form the type of tissue we want (fat, muscle etc). We have shown that the tissue graft may cause fat to grow due to causing an inflammatory reaction and confirmed this by adding a mild inflammatory compound to the chamber instead of a tissue graft. This compound caused the chamber to grow fat tissue. The aim of this project is to determine which of the growth factors or other signaling factors released by the inflammation process is responsible for causing fat tissue production and to identify what cells are being attracted to the chamber to help grow the fat, so that we can further improve our engineering of fat tissue. Understanding the pathways which mediate or stimulate fat growth will provide new opportunities for improving fat growth and allow the engineering of larger fat grafts in larger animals and eventually human clinical application. Beyond that, inflammation is involved in many disease processes (eg. obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer), and these fields of study will also benefit from our research.Read moreRead less
Preventing Preterm Lung Disease - A Cell Therapy Approach.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,610.00
Summary
Due to improvements in medical care, the survival of very premature babies has greatly improved over the past 20 years. However, many of these children are surviving with disability due to severe chronic lung disease of prematurity. Currently, there are no effective treatments for this lung disease. This project explores the use of placental stem cells as a lung repair and regeneration therapy - a therapy that can be given to the baby in the days immediately following its birth.
Osteal Macrophages As Therapeutic Targets For Fracture Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$618,015.00
Summary
Fragility fracture associated with osteoporosis is a substantial health problem costing $1.62 billion to treat in 2012 in Australia. There is no approved therapy to improve and accelerate fracture healing to help reduce this increasing health burden. This research will advance understanding of fracture repair in healthy and osteoporotic bone and progress development of a fracture therapy to improve bone repair by promoting specialised immune cells.
Application Of Sutureless Technology 'SurgiLux' For Dura Mater Repair: A Proof Of Concept Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$213,125.00
Summary
A unique technology that combines biomaterials and lasers to effectively close and seal wounds could replace sutures in delicate surgery close to the brain. Wound closure in the cranium is still reliant upon sutures or 'stitches' and these have complications; a major one being leakage of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF). The application of 'SurgiLux' technology will both close and seal these wounds quickly and easily, with significant health and economic benefits.
Characterization Of Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate As A Remineralization System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,514.00
Summary
Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in v ....Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in vitro and in situ. The project also involves the detailed characterization of the molecular interactions of the components of the remineralizing system using NMR spectroscopy and other techniques. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a system with substantialy superior properties for the non-invasive treatment (reversal) of white spot lesions and may ultimately lead to the development of a novel system for the treatment and prevention of tooth decay.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Enamel Remineralisation With CPP-ACP And Fluoride
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,074.00
Summary
Tooth decay remains a major public health problem. The project will involve the testing of the system to remineralize (repair) early stages of decay in the laboratory. The project also involves the detailed characterization of the molecular interactions of the components of a system. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a system with substantialy superior properties for the non-invasive treatment (repair) of early tooth decay.