John Hunt
  1. Current research activities

    2. We hold the U.K. IRCoI in Tissue Engineering with Departments at the University of
    Manchester. This is an internationally recognised 6 year programme of research
    investigating three applications in particular; 1) Skin and Laminar Structures 2) Cartilage, Intervertebral Disc, Tensile and Compressive Structures 3) Vascular and Tubular Structures. The programme builds on our previous research from a substantial EPSRC rolling programme grant, investigating Biocompatibility. In addition to this large research programme, we are co-ordinating a consortium of academic and industrial research groups in a Framework VI, EU funded programme called STEPS. This is aimed at developing significant interdisciplinary research in Tissue Engineering, this will develop our programme into a much larger pan European research programme. We have attracted increasing interest from industry for case awards and research contracts and hope to be successful in obtaining the funds to locate two research staff from an SBRI application. We have also been successful in obtaining a MRC / EPSRC disciplinary bridging award within which we will develop a workshop programme and postgraduate student project scheme to broaden the dissemination of our research and also develop the involvement of other research disciplines and groups into Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering research.

  2. Keywords

    3. Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Material characterisation, In vivo models, in vitro models, bioreactors, progenitor cells.

  3. End-user applications

    • Skin
    • Cardiovascular / Vessels
    • Cartilage
    • Tendon / ligament
    • Bone
    • Fat
    • Inflammation

  4. Key publications

    5. I. L Rice, J.M. Hunt, LA. Gallagher,J.A. Hanarp, P. Sutherland, D.S. Gold, J. Quantitative assessment of the response of primary derived human osteoblasts and macrophages to a range of nanotopography surfaces in a single culture model in vitro. , Biomaterials, Vo124, Issue 26, 4799- 4818.2003.
    II. Swindle, E,J, Hunt J.A. Coleman, J.W. A comparison of reactive oxygen species generation by rat peritoneal macrophages and mast cells using the highly sensitive real-time chemiluminescent probe Pholasin; inhibition of antigen-induced mast cell degranulation by macrophage-derived hydrogen peroxide. Journal of lmmunology. Vol 169, 10, 2002.
    III. Pu, F.R. Williams, R.L. Markkula, T. Hunt J.A. Expression of Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecules on Monocyte Adhesion to Human Endothelial Cells on Plasma Treated PET and PTFE in vitro. Biomaterials Vo123, 4705-4718 2002.
    IV. Baldwin, L. Flanagan, B.F. McLaughlin, P.J. Parkinson, R.W. Hunt, J.A. Williams, D.F. A study of interface membranes from revision accord knee arthroplasty: the role of T lymphocytes. Biomaterials Vo123, 3007-3014. 2002.
    V. Hunt, J. A. McLaughlin, P.J. Flanagan, B.F. Host response to implanted biomaterials: Techniques to investigate cellular and molecular interactions. Biomaterials 1997; 18: 1449-1459.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Rarely but occasional public lectures & school visits. More significantly the EPSRC (UK Research Council ) researcher in residence programme has been supported by involving my Ph.D. students where appropriate.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. None as Yet

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Histology/Immunohistochemistry
    • Image Analysis
    • Confocal Microscopy
    • Flow Cytometry
    • SEM
    • ICPMS
    • Tissue Culture
    • Animal Models
    • Tissue Processing
    • Real Time PCR

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Field Emission SEM
    • Cryostage SEM
    • INCA elemental analysis
    • ICPMS
    • DSC
    • HPLC
    • GPC
    • Real Time PCR
    • PCR,
    • Gel documentation
    • DCA
    • hard & soft tissue
    • resin paraffin frozen section histology
    • Image analysis
    • image capture
    • confocal microscopy x2
    • light microscopy with water immersion objectives and all visible light variables
    • bespoke bioreactors
    • engineering workshop
    • Tissue engineering clean room
    • tissue culture clean room
    • hot room
    • chemilluminometer x2 (96 well & cuvette),
    • rheometer
    • coagulometer
    • dual beam spec.
    • FACS x2 (high speed FACS cell sorter and analytical tool)
    • fluorimeter
    • Automatic 96 well assay plate processor
    • automatic immunostainer,
    • gas plasma treatment x2 (high & low power
    • liquid scintillation counter

  11. Contact Details 

    Dr John Hunt
    Address: Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool, L69 3QA
    Country: U. K.
    Phone: +44 151 706 4913
    Fax: +44 151 706 4915
    Email: huntja@tiv.ac.uk

© 2004

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