Research opportunities supervised by Dr Tim Woodfield include:
Email supervisor: tim.woodfield@canterbury.ac.nz
Multi-therapeutic Strategies for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Repair
Degree: PhD
Project Description Neurological recovery after SCI is severely limited by a number of factors, including secondary degeneration, the formation of a glial scar and a lack of axon growth and/or any intrinsic guidance. Numerous repair strategies for acute and chronic SCI have been investigated, some of which are now reaching Phase I/II clinical trial status. Impressive recent gains have been made in approaches which aim to: (i) minimise the non-permissive barrier of the glial scar by targeting growth-inhibitory molecules, (ii) introduce cell/stem cell therapies to regenerate neuronal tissue or encourage axonal growth, (iii) deliver neurotrophins to stimulate regeneration of host cells or encourage axonal growth, and (iv) deliver cells/growth factors/guidance cues via degradable biomaterial conduits.
However, due to the complexity of the regenerative process following SCI, it is unlikely that a one single approach will be sufficient to achieve functional restoration of neuronal circuits. The increasing diversity of interventions for treating SCI, therefore, provides researchers with an opportunity to augment therapies via the combination of strategies.
The aim of this project is the development of 3D nerve guide conduits and synthetic extracellular matrix (sECM) analogues for the delivery of multi-therapeutic factors including: cells (e.g. Schwann cells, olfactory ensheathing cells or neuroprogenitor/stem cells); guidance channels and cell adhesion peptides (e.g. laminin); neurotrophic and agiogenic growth factors; and targeted degradative enzymes (e.g. chondroitenase ABC).
Collaboration with the National Adult Stem Cell Research Centre, Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
Skills Undergraduate + Masters degree in cell/molecular biology and/or bioengineering with experience in in vitro cell culture, working with porous 3D scaffolds, biochemical assay techniques, immunofluoro-chemistry techniques and live cell imaging.
Funding arrangements A $20,000 per annum stipend will support the successful candidate for the duration of the 3-4 PhD degree. The successful candidate is expected to start as early as possible.
Requirement on Qualifications All candidates with high motivation, enthusiasm, and independent thinking are welcome to apply. Preference is given to students with a strong research track record from any one of the fields: Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biomaterials, Neuroscience/Medical Technology.
Interested in applying or have any questions? Please contact Dr Tim Woodfield (tim.woodfield@canterbury.ac.nz) with a copy of your CV, academic transcript and details of any undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/research.
Development of Tissue Engineered Cartilage Constructs with Zonal Structure and Function
Degree: PhD
Description Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine strategies which aim to repair or regenerate damaged articular cartilage in the knee offer significant promise clinically. Articular cartilage has remarkable mechanical properties due to its structural organisation. However, engineering cartilage constructs with sufficient tissue quality and that replicates the complex zonal organisation of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in native cartilage represents a significant challenge.
This project aims to investigate novel approaches that stimulate cell differentiation as well as control the location of cells and zonal structure of engineered tissue utilising methods developed in our lab for human articulator and nasal chondrocytes as well as bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Collaboration with University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), The Netherlands.
Skills Undergraduate + Masters degree in cell/molecular biology and/or bioengineering with experience in in vitro cell culture, working with porous 3D scaffolds, biochemical assay techniques (e.g. PCR, DNA/ECM protein quantification), histo-/immunohisto-chemistry techniques and imaging.
Requirement on Qualifications All candidates with high motivation, enthusiasm, and independent thinking are welcome to apply. Preference is given to students with a strong research track record from any one of the fields: Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biomaterials, Medicine/Medical Technology.
Smart scaffold design for the development of zonal Tissue Engineered Cartilage Constructs
Degree: PhD
Description Porous 3D scaffolds are central to cell-based therapies for cartilage tissue engineering. We have shown that adopting smart scaffold design and rapid prototyping techniques (e.g. 3D Plotting), we can build-in specific characteristics into 3D scaffolds that allow direct control over biomaterial properties such as: scaffold size, shape, mechanical properties, degradation rate, and pore architecture, as well as the controlled delivery of cells, growth factors and cell adhesion proteins. This in turn provides control over a number of biological factors such as: cell distribution; cell proliferation and differentiation; quality and quantity of extracellular matrix (ECM) formation; optimal nutrient gradients; and ultimately overall quality of engineered tissue and its structural organisation.
This project aims to use novel 3D Plotting and Cell Printing to develop tissue engineered constructs which better mimic the zonal architecture of native tissue utilising methods developed in our lab for human articulator and nasal chondrocytes as well as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Skills Undergraduate + Masters degree in engineering and/or bioengineering with experience in polymeric biomaterials, fabrication of porous 3D scaffolds, scaffold characterisation techniques (e.g. SEM, µCT, mechanical testing), in vitro cell culture, histo-/immunohisto-chemistry techniques and imaging.
Requirement on Qualifications All candidates with high motivation, enthusiasm, and independent thinking are welcome to apply. Preference is given to students with a strong research track record from any one of the fields: Bioengineering, Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Cell/Molecular Biology, Mechatronics.
Funding Arrangements A $20,000 per annum stipend will support the successful candidates for the duration of the 3-4 PhD degree. The successful candidate is expected to start as early as possible.
Interested in applying or have any questions? Please contact Dr Tim Woodfield (tim.woodfield@canterbury.ac.nz) with a copy of your CV, academic transcript and details of any undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/research.
Computational mechanics and topology optimisation of porous scaffolds for bone-interfacing implants
Degree: PhD
Background and Rationale: This PhD project focuses on advanced medical device design, numerical modelling and topology optimisation of porous biomaterial scaffolds. Recent trends toward biomaterials having interconnected porosity has brought about enhanced bone growth, vascularisation and nutrient diffusion in implant devices, as well as implant stiffness more closely matching that of natural bone. Current porous implant devices have architectures, and hence mechanical and biological properties, that are inherently random due to the fabrication methods used. This project will concentrate on the development of topology optimisation algorithms based on novel computational mechanics principles developed in our group for designing porous bone-interfacing implants. FEA and mechanical testing of optimised implants produced using rapid prototyping of novel metal alloys is expected to complement and validate this computational approach.
Skills: Undergraduate + Masters degree in mechanical engineering, computational mechanics, mathematics and/or bioengineering with specific programming experience in Matlab and/or Fortran/C. Experience with ANSYS/ABAQUS a plus.
Funding Arrangements: Applicants will be expected to apply for a NZ$22,250 per annum scholarship which will support the successful candidate for the duration of the 3 year PhD degree. The successful candidate would be expected to start as early as possible.
Requirement on Qualifications: All candidates with high motivation, enthusiasm, and independent thinking are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to students with a strong research track record in computational mechanics, programming and/or solid mechanics.
Interested in applying or have any questions? Please contact supervisors:
Dr Tim Woodfield (tim.woodfield@canterbury.ac.nz) or
Dr Eli van Houten (elijah.vanhouten@canterbury.ac.nz)
Include a copy of your CV, academic transcript and details of any undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/research.