Growth of Bioartificial Tissue Containing an Inbuilt Blood Supply. The large and growing demand for replacement tissues and organs has spurred rapid growth in the emerging field of tissue engineering, which aims to form new tissues in the laboratory by combining living cells and synthetic scaffolds. A major challenge lies in the production of thick tissues, which require a blood supply in order to survive. Uniquely, this project aims to grow in the laboratory a vascular system based on natural ....Growth of Bioartificial Tissue Containing an Inbuilt Blood Supply. The large and growing demand for replacement tissues and organs has spurred rapid growth in the emerging field of tissue engineering, which aims to form new tissues in the laboratory by combining living cells and synthetic scaffolds. A major challenge lies in the production of thick tissues, which require a blood supply in order to survive. Uniquely, this project aims to grow in the laboratory a vascular system based on natural structures, which can then be used to support new tissue growth. Australia is well placed to reap the rewards of this work, having a track record in commercialisation of medical technologies, resulting in an improved quality of life for many Australians and substantial direct and indirect economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Numerical investigation of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells - application to bone remodeling. The understanding of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells is directly related to mechanical activation of bone remodeling processes, i.e., resorption and formation of bone tissue. Understanding of bone remodeling is essential for the development of new bone implants, the prognosis of osteosporosis, and studies related to changes in microgravity (e.g. space flight) to name a few key applicati ....Numerical investigation of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells - application to bone remodeling. The understanding of signal mechanotransduction of bone cells is directly related to mechanical activation of bone remodeling processes, i.e., resorption and formation of bone tissue. Understanding of bone remodeling is essential for the development of new bone implants, the prognosis of osteosporosis, and studies related to changes in microgravity (e.g. space flight) to name a few key applications. This research proposal closely aligns with one of the major national research priorities, i.e., promoting and maintaining good health (ageing well, ageing productively). The research project is aimed to understand how mechanically induced loading may activate remodeling of bone.
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Predictive models to study neuromuscular control of walking in older people. This project aims to address a major challenge in human motion simulation: to deliver computationally-efficient predictive simulations of movement biomechanics. It plans to bring together the latest developments in computational modelling, medical imaging and nonlinear optimal control theory to advance current understanding of how individual lower-limb muscles stabilise and control body movement during locomotion in hea ....Predictive models to study neuromuscular control of walking in older people. This project aims to address a major challenge in human motion simulation: to deliver computationally-efficient predictive simulations of movement biomechanics. It plans to bring together the latest developments in computational modelling, medical imaging and nonlinear optimal control theory to advance current understanding of how individual lower-limb muscles stabilise and control body movement during locomotion in healthy young and older adults. New knowledge of how age-related changes in muscle mechanical properties affect the neuromuscular control of walking may assist in the design of more targeted exercise-based therapies aimed at maintaining independent function and improving the quality of life for older adults.Read moreRead less
Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Damaged joints do not repair spontaneously, often leading to arthritis. Bone defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are challenging to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. This created a need for scaffolds to provide temporary support for new bone. However they lack the combined physical/biolo ....Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Damaged joints do not repair spontaneously, often leading to arthritis. Bone defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are challenging to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. This created a need for scaffolds to provide temporary support for new bone. However they lack the combined physical/biological properties necessary for bone repair. We developed new scaffolds with improved mechanical/biological properties to mimic bone which will lead to new treatments for bone damage.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453623
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$164,640.00
Summary
Peripheral quantitative computed tomography facility for analysing bone material and structural properties. We aim to establish a facility that allows non-invasive measurement of apparent material and structural properties of small animal and human bone using leading-edge technology, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). pQCT measurements, incorporated into our fundamental bone research will improve our understanding of the role of mechanical, environmental and local factors in re ....Peripheral quantitative computed tomography facility for analysing bone material and structural properties. We aim to establish a facility that allows non-invasive measurement of apparent material and structural properties of small animal and human bone using leading-edge technology, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). pQCT measurements, incorporated into our fundamental bone research will improve our understanding of the role of mechanical, environmental and local factors in regulating bone and mineral metabolism and altering bone properties. This has implications for maximising bone strength and promoting optimal health throughout life. The facility will be used for a diverse range of multidisciplinary basic bone research and is vital in order to maintain international competitiveness in the field.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
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
Design of an electronic guideline-driven decision support framework for home and community telehealth settings. With rapid advancements in the use of telecare-based health support in several emerging clinical areas, integrating these services within a stable guideline-driven decision support framework will support evidence-best practice in this setting, as well as improving efficiencies in clinical work practice and error minimisation through automation. The result could have a profound socio-ec ....Design of an electronic guideline-driven decision support framework for home and community telehealth settings. With rapid advancements in the use of telecare-based health support in several emerging clinical areas, integrating these services within a stable guideline-driven decision support framework will support evidence-best practice in this setting, as well as improving efficiencies in clinical work practice and error minimisation through automation. The result could have a profound socio-economic impact on the community and a sizable impact on healthcare outcomes; notwithstanding the substantial contribution it has to advancing the knowledge of medical decision support systems, supporting the national technology focus on health technology interoperability, and raising the profile of Australia as the foremost leader in the telecare area. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668506
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even sm ....A Multi-Axis Biomaterials Testing Facility. Damage to bones and joints, due to injury or diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, is a major cause of disability and cost to the nation. Australia's ageing population contributes not only to an increasing incidence of such conditions, but also to more patients out-living implants such as replacement joints. In 2001-2, Australia spent over $800 million on joint replacement. Because over 11% of procedures are revisions of failed implants, even small improvements in implant life represent significant cost savings. By accurately simulating conditions within the body, this biomechanical testing facility will lead to new developments in implant designs and materials, in turn improving quality of life, productivity and treatment costs.Read moreRead less