Victor Nurcombe
  1. Current research activities

    2. We are interested in generating “intelligent” biomaterials to provide tissue scaffolding for both embryonic and adult stem cells for tissue-specific repair. We are testing whether stem cells are needed as an integral part of scaffolding, or whether the scaffolding can be formulated in such a way that it holds and retains growth and adhesive factors that can be presented to native stem cells in such a way as to trigger more tissue-appropriate repair. We are also exploring under which circumstances it is better to employ ES cells rather than adult stem cells in bone repair contexts.

  2. Keywords

    3. Extracellular matrix, stem cells, growth factors, growth factor receptors, heparan sulfates.

  3. End-user applications

    • Orthopedic repair
    • Cardiac repair
    • Neural repair

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Cool SM, Snyman CP, Nurcombe V, Forwood M. Temporal expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors during primary ligament repair. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2003 Dec 23.
    II. Cool SM, Sayer RE, van Heumen WR, Pickles JO, Nurcombe V.Temporal and spatial expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 isoforms in murine tissues. Histochem J. 2002 Jun-Jul;34(6-7):291-7
    III. Gurgo RD, Bedi KS, Nurcombe V. Current concepts in central nervous system regeneration. J Clin Neurosci. 2002 Nov;9(6):613-7. Review.
    IV. Chipperfield H, Bedi KS, Cool SM, Nurcombe V. Heparan sulfates isolated from adult neural progenitor cells can direct phenotypic maturation. Int J Dev Biol. 2002;46(4):661-70.
    V. Nurcombe V, Smart CE, Chipperfield H, Cool SM, Boilly B, Hondermarck H. The proliferative and migratory activities of breast cancer cells can be differentially regulated by heparan sulfates. J Biol Chem. 2000 Sep 29;275(39):30009-18.
    VI. Nurcombe V, Ford MD, Wildschut JA, Bartlett PF. Developmental regulation of neural response to FGF-1 and FGF-2 by heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Science. 1993 Apr 2;260(5104):103-6.

  5. Outreach activities

    • TV (ABC Stateline, Channel 10 News, WIN News)
    • Radio (Local ABC Brisbane -Susan Mitchell, Radio National – The Buzz, Science in the Pub at Toowoomba, Science in the Pub Westend, Health Report, Radio Australia, BBC World Service)
    • Newspapers (Courier-Mail, The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age)
    • Australian Biotechnology News
    • New Scientist
    • Talks to High School students as part of “Biofutures”, “Frontiers of Science”
    • Multiple participations in “Science meets Parliament” Day
    • Asked to make expert comments on Draft Stem Cell Bills by the National Health and Medical Research Council and both the Premier’s Department and the State Department of Innovation; also made expert comments on behalf of the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Singapore to the Singapore Parliament.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. Australian tissue engineering interest groups

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. Yes.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. Yes.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • AFM
    • MALDI MS
    • Peptide/DNA synthesis
    • Surface modifications
    • Bioconjugate Chemistry
    • Cell culture

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Image Analysis Facility with state-of the art microscopes (e.g for live cell imaging) and image capture (This full histological service is now known as Cell Central).
    • Good tissue culture facilities.
    • Surgical suites for animal work.

© 2004

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