Regulation Of Mammalian Heart Regeneration By The MiR-15 Family.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,859.00
Summary
The inability of the adult heart to regenerate following a heart attack is a major contributor to the burden of heart disease in the developed world. We have recently discovered that, for a brief period after birth, the newborn heart can completely regenerate itself following injury. Understanding how and why the heart loses this remarkable capacity for regeneration shortly after birth may hold the key for developing cardiac regenerative therapies.
Comparison Of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells And Induced Pluripotent Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells For Periodontal Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,955.00
Summary
In the first part of this study we will determine whether induced pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells from the periodontal ligament are better candidates for periodontal regeneration. Secondly, using CAD/CAM technology we will make tissue engineering scaffolds tailored to fit periodontal defects and seeded with stem cells to improve on current techniques used to regenerate damaged tissues around teeth affected by periodontal disease.
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
Evaluation Of Tissue Engineered Decellularised Biphasic Constructs For Periodontal Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,031.00
Summary
This project aims to regenerate the tissues lost as a result of gum disease. This will be done using scaffolds that replicate the complex structure of periodontal tissues.The scaffolds will be loaded with cells and allowed to mature before the cellular component is removed. The resultant construct is then inserted back into periodontal defects where it will be repopulated by host cells. This approach has the potential to be developed into an off-the-shelf clinical treatment.
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.
Building An Intestine: Manipulating Regeneration Of The Epithelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,424.00
Summary
Diseases, infections and pathologies are common clinical problems of the intestinal lining in both infants and adults. Individuals with these conditions can experience nutritional problems and severe cases result in death. The intestinal lining is generated from a small population of stem cells. In this study we use of a mouse model where the stem cells are marked and will examine what factors regulate stem cells in the intestine with the aim of facilitating intestinal tissue regeneration.
Development Of Functional Liver Tissue Engineered From Murine Hepatocyte Or Liver Progenitor Cell Spheroids To Correct Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,482.00
Summary
Many patients suffering from severe liver disease require a liver transplant, but due to a shortage of liver donors, many die prior to liver transplantation. This study investigates novel methods of growing liver tissue from mature liver cells called hepatocytes, or, liver stem cells implanted in a plastic chamber in mice with acute and chronic liver disease. It is anticipated that new liver tissue will grow in the chamber, the mice will be cured, and that this technique can be translated to hum ....Many patients suffering from severe liver disease require a liver transplant, but due to a shortage of liver donors, many die prior to liver transplantation. This study investigates novel methods of growing liver tissue from mature liver cells called hepatocytes, or, liver stem cells implanted in a plastic chamber in mice with acute and chronic liver disease. It is anticipated that new liver tissue will grow in the chamber, the mice will be cured, and that this technique can be translated to humans with liver disease.Read moreRead less
A Novel Treatment For Ischemic Stroke: Preclinical Assessment In The Nonhuman Primate
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$762,246.00
Summary
A major source of repair inhibition after brain injury is debris from dying cells, which contains proteins that hinder repair. This project will examine the expression of these proteins in a clinically-relevant model of ischemic stroke and determine if blocking the effect of these proteins neutralises their repair-inhibiting properties. If successful, there is likelihood that this drug, and method of delivery, could be translated into the human for treatment following an ischemic stroke.
Next Generation Cybernetics: Long Term Carbon Fibre Dual Stimulation / Recording Electrode Arrays For Closed Loop Neural Implants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,670.00
Summary
Electrodes implanted in the brain have enormous potential for treating a range of conditions from epilepsy to control of prosthetics for patients with limb loss. Currently, the electrodes used in such system fail rapidly because they are rejected by the body. We aim to use diamond with ultra-fine carbon fibre electrodes to make arrays that are invisible to the human immune system. Such arrays will function for the lifetime of the patient without needing replacement.
The Role Of Innate Immune Responses In Cardiac Muscle Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$543,678.00
Summary
Heart attack is a life-threatening disease that damages heart muscle. Zebrafish can naturally restore lost heart muscle after injury, providing a model to understand mechanisms of heart regeneration. Here, we will explore previously uncharacterized events involved in heart regeneration, with particular focus on the immune response. We will study how immune responses are involved in heart muscle regeneration in zebrafish to find new insights for repairing damaged muscle in the human heart.