Australian Research Capacity - Audit
ARNTE members are located in all mainland Australian States (See
Figure 1). For more detailed information on their research capabilities,
search our database
Through links with the ARC Network for Expatriate
Australian Researchers (NEAR), Australians in other countries will
also have access to ARNTE resources, improving the opportunities
for Australians to return and continue their world-class research
in tissue engineering. Similarly, these relationships will enhance
the access of Australian participants to international research
efforts.
ARNTE participants work in a wide range of organisations, including
universities, research institutions, hospitals and companies. Mirroring
the multi-disciplinary nature of Tissue Engineering, ARNTE participants
are active in a diverse range of research areas:
| Area of Research Expertise |
Proportion of ARNTE Participants (%) |
| Physico-chemical characterisation of material and surfaces |
53 |
| Cell biology – isolation, differentiation, physiology,
function, integration, histology and culture techniques |
50 |
| Biomaterial design, formulation and construction |
42 |
| Protein chemistry |
42 |
| Cell-material and surface interactions |
19 |
| Animal Models |
17 |
| Molecular biology |
14 |
| Research Commercialisation and Intellectual Property |
14 |
| Transplantation immunology |
6 |
Participants’ research interests reflect the scope and future
directions of the ARNTE.
- ARNTE will provide a mechanism to initiate, develop and support
new collaborative partnerships and exchanges between basic and
applied researchers within the network
- ARNTE will assist researchers with technical expertise and
acumen to exchange information and share resources.
The ARNTE Audit of participants demonstrates that the majority
of participants have experience in projects that span traditional
discipline boundaries:
| Area of Current Research |
Proportion of ARNTE Participants (%) |
| Novel biomaterial scaffolds |
53 |
| Surface modification to biomaterial scaffolds |
50 |
| Biology of biomaterial scaffold - cell interactions |
47 |
| Stem cell biology |
39 |
| Protein chemistry of biomaterial scaffolds |
33 |
| Physical chemistry of biomaterial scaffolds |
28 |
| Extracellular matrix growth factor complexes |
22 |
| Drug delivery |
19 |
| Musculoskeletal tissue engineering |
14 |
| Ocular Biology |
10 |
| Vascular tissue engineering |
8 |
Most anatomical systems are currently being researched to improve
clinical treatment options for a broad range of human pathologies.
Improvements in surgical intervention and pharmacological therapeutics
will produce improved clinical outcomes, productivity gains, reduced
ancillary medical expenses, increased export revenue and wide-scale
improvements in deliverable expectations and quality-of-life for
all Australians: In this way, ARNTE research outcomes will deliver
significant benefits to the Australian population and to the Australian
economy.
| Potential Outcomes of Current Research
Activities |
Proportion of ARNTE Participants (%) |
| Musculoskeletal repair |
36 |
| Biomaterial design and manufacture |
36 |
| Ex vivo expansion of stem cells |
33 |
| Wound healing |
28 |
| Cardiovascular repair |
19 |
| Drug delivery |
19 |
| Reconstructive surgery |
19 |
| Protein chemistry |
17 |
| Skin substitutes |
17 |
| Nerve regeneration |
8 |
| Vision repair |
8 |
- Participants in ARNTE have extensive international research
collaborations. International collaborations maintain Australian
research efforts in Tissue Engineering at the forefront of international
research and facilitate the exchange of research data, techniques,
technology and personnel.
- ARNTE will allow the combination the international research
collaborations of individual participants for the benefit of the
entire network. It is anticipated that this will function as a
conduit to facilitate the development of an extensive and strong
international network of global research in regenerative medicine
and tissue engineering.
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