Rowan Group Honours Projects

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas, Prof Alan Rowan & Prof Mark Midwinter

Based on the exciting outcomes we have from a proof of concept venom agent, we have demonstrated we have a novel approach to rapidly control bleeding in a small animal model of bleeding. We want to now functionalise additional biomaterials and evaluate in the preclinical swine model for haemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding). This project will involve evaluation of human blood clotting kinetics, simple chemistry, working with biomaterials and animal work to assess efficacy and safety.

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

The key effector cells of the bone microenvironment are the osteoblasts (bone forming cells) and the osteoclasts (bone resorbing cells), together driving bone turnover and bone repair. Both these cell types have been shown to only survive for days to weeks, then replenished from local stem cell populations. An imbalance in this process will shift the tightly regulated balance of bone formation and bone resorption. This project will focus on investigating the effect of novel bone cell derived signalling vesicles in controlling the fate of bone mesenchymal stem cells. This project will involve stem cell and bone cell growth, stem cell differentiation, working with 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, gene expression and immunostaining.

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

Extracellular vesicles are nature’s way of packaging up precious cargo and delivering it to the intended target site to bring about specific biological responses. Bone cells are known to produce a myriad of signalling molecules to communicate with other bone cells and to communicate with distant tissues through systemic delivery. We have identified a novel population of extracellular vesicles that are produced in response to extracellular matrix changes, containing a key signalling molecule. But there is much more to this story and this project will focus on unravelling this further. This project will involve bone cell growth, working with 3D culture systems, extracellular vesicle characterisation, extracellular vesicle purification, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, live confocal imaging, gene expression, western blotting and immunostaining.

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

The cells of the bone are uniquely isolated from other tissues in our body contained within the hard, impermeable hydroxyapatite matrix. Where osteocytes, the master regulators of bone turnover are the longest living of the bone cells and are individually buried in small hydroxyapatite chambers. Strangely after major burns the bone metabolism becomes mis-regulated and can lead significant long-term bone loss especially in paediatric patients. Employing a unique live 3D model system this project will investigate how osteocyte function is affected and how this bone loss may be arising. This project will involve osteocyte cell growth and differentiation, working with 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, gene expression, immunostaining and simple chemistry to functionalise biomaterials.

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

Wound healing is a dynamic process requiring a coordinated response to repair the damage. The extracellular matrix assists in providing an interconnected network contributing to both the biochemical and biophysical cues to bring about biological responses in cells/tissues. We have both defined natural and synthetic biomaterials to establish 3D cell model systems to study these activities using live confocal microscopy to investigate the role of matrix biophysical properties driving wound repair, with a focus on keratinocytes a key cell type employed in grafting after burn debridement surgery. This project will involve growth of keratinocytes working with 2.5D and 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, wound healing assays, gene expression and immunostaining. (Working with Burns, skin and wounds program at Herston Biofabrication Institute).

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, contributing to the rich diversity of extracellular matrix proteins. The extracellular matrix assists in providing an interconnected network contributing to both the biochemical and biophysical cues to bring about biological responses in cells/tissues. Collagen does not exist as a single polymeric chain, but self assembles into a highly ordered network of fibres imparting the inherent mechanical properties defined by this architecture. Collagen is the most abundant protein matrix component of bone and the focus of this project is to interrogate the replenishment by bone cells and the regulators of fibre formation employing live 3D model cell systems. This project will involve bone cell growth, working with 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, gene expression and immunostaining.

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

Wound healing is a dynamic process requiring a coordinated response to repair the damage. The extracellular matrix assists in providing an interconnected network contributing to both the biochemical and biophysical cues to bring about biological responses in cells/tissues. We have defined natural biomaterials to establish 3D cell model systems to study these activities using live confocal microscopy to investigate the role of matrix signalling and the regeneration of good vasculature after burn injury. This project will involve growth of endothelial cells, working with 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, wound healing assays, gene expression and immunostaining. (Working with Burns, skin and wounds program at Herston Biofabrication Institute)

 Supervisor Dr Amanda Kijas & Prof Alan Rowan 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, contributing to the rich diversity of extracellular matrix proteins. The extracellular matrix assists in providing an interconnected network contributing to both the biochemical and biophysical cues to bring about biological responses in cells/tissues. In the initial stages of wound healing collagen III plays a key role in guiding the initial stages of repair. Here we will employ a defined synthetic collagen III to study how this form of collagen assists to guide these early cellular responses of key skin cell types employing 3D live imaging models. This project will involve growth of various skin cell types, working with 3D culture systems, live confocal imaging, wound healing assays, gene expression, immunostaining and simple chemistry to functionalise biomaterials.