Research themes
Four research themes will operate within the centre focused on specific industry needs.
Theme 1:
Engineering process efficiencies
Theme 2:
Advanced materials and manufacturing
Theme 3:
Tissue
engineering
Theme 4:
Value chain and commercialisation
The projects in these themes are in collaboration with a broad range of industry partners, from cell therapy, medical device and biotech companies, to electronics companies developing sensors and logistics companies with interests in supply chain. The multidisciplinary projects will draw upon teams of Chief Investigators across the Centre to deliver innovative and impactful research and training.
Theme 1: Engineering process efficiencies
Theme 1 focuses on improving processes to deliver greater efficiencies in the manufacturing of cell-based therapies, and the production of relevant outputs with reduced costs. This theme will go beyond established assays to create the next generation of biosensors, contribute to greater quality assurance in the manufacturing process of cell products, reduce contamination and improve cell quality and potency.
Theme 2: Advanced materials and manufacturing
Theme 2 involves the production of materials, technologies and methods for manufacturing cell-based therapies that can be scaled up at the early stages of development, specifically pre-clinical stages.
Theme 3: Tissue engineering
Theme 3 focuses on tissue engineering technologies and will link Themes 1, 2 and 4, encompassing scaffold development and biocompatibility testing, bioreactor technologies for sustaining tissue engineering constructs, the harvest and culture of adult stem cells to be applied to tissue engineering constructs, and innovative medical device technologies to guide pre- and intra-operative planning and execution.
Theme 4: Value chain and commercialisation
Theme 4 is a business theme that focuses on the regenerative medicine industry, considering the whole commercial process in order to address market and commercialisation issues in this field, examining translational possibilities for both autologous and allogenic therapies.