Impact Areas
Cancer
The survival rates for many cancers have improved because of medical research and innovation, however, for some cancers the prognosis remains poor. We investigate these deadly cancers and those that have particular relevance for West Australians.
Neurogenetic diseases
Neurogenetic disease is a broad term that encompasses many diseases or conditions that impair the functionality of the nervous system and muscles. Symptoms may include muscular weakness, loss of muscular control, twitching, spasming and muscle pain.
Heart disease & stroke
Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessels diseases) is the leading cause of death in Australia of both men and women. Despite improvements over the last few decades, it remains of the biggest burdens on our economy.
Kidney disease
Impaired kidney function affects up to one in six adult Australians, with one in three at risk. For those who progress to end stage of disease, there are few options and more work is needed to improve outcomes for patients.
Mental health
Recent studies have revealed that depression is one of the most prevalent and costly medical conditions worldwide. We aim to change the landscape of mental health treatment by developing innovative treatments and identifying a pathway towards personalised healthcare through neurological and pharmacogenetic testing prior to treatment prescription.
Featured Transdisciplinary Research Projects
FOCUST (Fluorescent Object and Cell gpU-accelerated Segmentation Toolbox)
A tool developed by intersecting computer science with biology; this enables high throughout, automatic analysis of biological images in 3D with an easy to navigate interface.
Novel Biomaterials
In the pursuit of greater translatability, integration of engineering and biology has become necessary for generating platforms of greater biological implication. Within the Choi Lab, 3D Gradient Hydrogels, 3D Spheroid Culture, Granular Gels and MEW/GelMA hydrogel hybrids are all novel biomaterials that enable new insights into cancer phenotypes and stem cell differentiation.
Soft Robotics
The advancement of untethered soft robotics marks a transformative shift towards minimally invasive medical interventions, necessitating an integrated approach that spans engineering, biology and medicine. At the T3mPLATE lab, we have realized this vision through the development of innovative nanocomposite hydrogels and polymers. These materials are engineered to undergo shape transformations in response to external stimuli, a capability further enhanced by our in-house software that incorporates origami principles for design. Our adoption of four-dimensional (4D) printing technology has been pivotal in fabricating smart structures, laying the groundwork for the creation of soft robots. To complement this, we have devised remote-control systems capable of precisely manipulating these robots. This breakthrough not only overcomes existing barriers in surgical practices but also broadens the scope of their application within the healthcare sector, heralding a new era of surgical technology.
3D Granular Hydrogels
Integrating engineering and biology, hydrogels have developed as a useful tool for investigating cellular behaviours in a more biologically-relevant way.
Stem Cell Bioengineering
At the interface of biology and engineering, the design and subsequent use of biomaterials can be used to explore cell behaviour in both physiology and disease. To meet the arduous task of withstanding the human body, we can combine various fabrication techniques to generate novel hybrid biomaterials for controlling stem cell fate.
rTMS of Primary Oligodendrocyte Cultures
Oligodendrocytes facilitate communication between neurons within the central nervous system via their projections that envelop axons, forming the myelin sheath. Demyelinating diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) cause the degeneration of this myelin sheath, which is associated with chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration. At the intersection between neuroscience, engineering and physics, rTMS induces electromagnetic fields that interact with neural tissue. This interaction has been observed to be beneficial during both demyelination and oligodendrocyte repair, though we don’t currently understand the mechanism behind these changes.
BioZone Collaboration Grants
Sebastian Amos and Eric Alves
Immune cells have feelings too: Exploring immune cell mechanobiology for improved immunotherapy outcomes
Ebrahim Vahabli, Samuel Maher and Michael Vernon
Origami soft robots for functional magnetic manipulation to advance remote surgical intervention
George McColgan and Kai Metzner
Lighten Up: Assessing the effect of red and infrared light therapy on the extracellular matrix production capacity of adipose-derived stem cells for guided tissue regeneration