David Leavesley
  1. Current research activities

    2. Current research is focussed on the interactions of stem/progenitor cells with their immediate microenvironment; extracellular matrix glycoproteins, growth factors, other cells, natural and artificial materials/surfaces. Recently this has manifest in research of vitronectin-growth factor complexes and tissue repair processes (mesenchyme) especially cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. These studies have led to the use of these complexes for ex vivo serum-free, feeder-free expansion of progenitor/stem cells, as coatings on scaffolds, and more recently as “bioactive wound dressings. The research has been primarily directed at skin and bone and regeneration and has led to the formation of a new biotechnology company, Tissue Therapies.

  2. Keywords

    3. wound healing, cell migration, cell adhesion, tissue engineering, stem/progenitor cells, extracellular matrix, integrins, growth factors, scaffold.

  3. End-user applications

    • Wound healing
    • Skeletal repair
    • Ex vivo expansion of stem/progenitor cells
    • Bioreactors
    • Industrial cell culture

  4. Key publications

    5. I. 1. Noble A, Towne C, Chopin L, Leavesley DI, Upton Z: Insulin-like growth factor-II bound to vitronectin enhances MCF7 breast cancer cell migration. Endocrinology. 144: 2417-2424, 2003. JIF: 5.095 (ISI 2002)
    II. McElwain DLS, Mainey PK, Leavesley DI: A travelling wave model to interpret wound healing cell migration assay for human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Tissue Engineering. In Press, 2003. (accepted June 26, 2003) JIF: 3.042 (ISI 2002)
    III. Wei M, Vellinga D, Leavesley D, Evans J, Upton Z. Cell Attachment and Proliferation on Hydroxyapatite and Ion Substituted Hydroxyapatite. Bioceramics 15, Key Engineering Materials 240-2: 671-674, 2003. [ISSN: 1013-9826, ISSN/ISO: Key Eng. Mater.]
    IV. Faull RJ, Stanley JM, Power DA, Leavesley DI: HB-EGF is produced in the peritoneal cavity and enhances mesothelial cell proliferation and migration.
    Kidney International 59: 614-24, 2001. 7 Citations, JIF: 5.016 (ISI 2002)
    V. Leavesley D, Stanley J, Faull R: Epidermal Growth Factor modifies the expression and function of extracellular matrix adhesion receptors expressed by peritoneal mesothelial cells from patients on CAPD.
    Nephrol. Dial. Transpl. 14:1208-1216 1999. 17 Citations, JIF: 2.570 (ISI 2002)

  5. Outreach activities

    6. School (1° and 2°) visits
    Public Lectures
    BioFutures presentations
    Radio/Television interviews
    Science meets Parliament
    Bench to Business lunches/seminars
    AusBiotech Qld committee
    Tissue Engineering hands-on practical/workshop for high-schools starting in 2004

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. Tissue Engineering Society International (TESI)
    European Tissue Engineering Society (ETES)
    Australian tissue engineering interest groups

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. Yes.

  9. Skills and expertise

    •  functional cell biology
    • protein purification & characterization
    • bioassay
    • hES and primary cell culture
    • hybridoma
    • small animal surgery
    • molecular biology/PCR

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Standard cell and molecular biology instruments, BIAcore,
    • Access to FACSanalyser and FACSorter
    • Access to specialist microscopy and materials analysis equipment (confocal, SEM/TEM, AFM, RAMAN, FTIR, XRD, MALDI-TOF, etc).

© 2004

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