Sean McElwain
  1. Current research activities

    2. I carry out research in two areas; the application of mathematics in biology and medicine as well as industrial modelling. I have projects in novel ironmaking techniques, tissue mechanics, infectious disease transmission, angiogenesis, wound healing and the cellular dynamics of human infectious diseases. I currently hold ARC Discovery grants on cartilage mechanics and on the strength of composite materials and an ARC Linkage grant on improving health care outcomes in hospitals. I have strong collaborative links, including grants, with academics in life sciences, optometry and medical engineering here at QUT and international collaboration with colleagues at the universities of Southampton, Nottingham and Oxford.

  2. Keywords

    3. mathematical modelling,wound healing, cell migration, tissue mechanics, tumour growth, foil rolling, batteries, ironmaking.

  3. End-user applications

    • Improved wound healing
    • Novel bone substitute materials


  4. Key publications

    5. I. Balding, D. and McElwain, D.L.S., A Mathematical Model of Tumour-induced Capillary Growth. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 114, 53-73 (1985)
    II. McElwain, D.L.S. and Pettet, G.J., Cell Migration in Multicell Spheroids: Swimming Against the Tide. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. 55, 655-674 (1993).
    III. Pettet, G.J., Chaplain, M.A. McElwain, D.L.S. and Byrne, H.M., On the Role of Angiogenesis in Wound Healing. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. B263, 1487-1493 (1996).
    IV. Maini, P.K., McElwain, D.L.S. and Leavesley, D.I., A Travelling Wave Model to Interpret a Wound Healing Cell Migration Assay for Human Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells. Accepted for Tissue Engineering.
    V. Araujo, R. and McElwain, D.L.S., The Nature of the Stresses Induced During Tissue Growth. Accepted for Applied Mathematics Letters.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Not as Yet.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. I am a member of the Society for Mathematical Biology and on the Editorial Board of the journal: Journal of Theoretical Medicine

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Applied mathematics
    • Mathematical modelling
    • High level computations
    • Developing mathematical models for tissue engineering applications

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Access to Supercomputing facilities at QUT

© 2004

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