Stephen Livesey
  1. Current research activities

    2. Research involves the investigation of a structurally and biochemically intact acellular matrix as a template for tissue regeneration and as a vehicle for stem cell growth and delivery. The matrix derived from human skin is processed to remove all cells to eliminate the targets of the specific immune response while preserving the structure and biochemistry of the acellular dermis to avoid the non specific immune response. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the information content in the matrix will direct a normal revascularization and cell repopulation response.

    Clinical studies have demonstrated the matrix to act in a manner equivalent to the patients own tissue in a variety of clinical applications. With a full complement of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, collagens and elastin the matrix represents a stable environment for stem cell propagation, differentiation and delivery. Research will focus on the nature of stem cell- matrix interaction and the ability of a transplantable environment to sustain stem cell viability. Information gained from studies of the biological matrix will be used to develop a systematic approach to the development of biosynthetic matrices for tissue regeneration.

  2. Keywords

    3. Acellular matrix, basement membrane complex, cellular repopulation, tissue regeneration, stem cell delivery.

  3. End-user applications

    • Soft tissue regeneration e.g. post oncology surgery
    • Skin grating e.g. Treatment of burns
    • Reconstruction e.g. Complex abdominal wall hernia repair
    • Cardiac regeneration e.g. Repair of ventricular aneurysms
    • Biological model for biosynthetic matrices
    • Stem cell propagation differentiation and delivery

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Karpenko AN, Dworkin JP, Meleca RJ, Stachler RJ. Cymetra injection for unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2003 Nov;112(11):927-34.
    II. Menon NG, Rodriguez ED, Byrnes CK, Girotto JA, Goldberg NH, Silverman RP. Revascularization of human acellular dermis in full-thickness abdominal wall reconstruction in the rabbit model. Ann Plast Surg 2003 May;50(5):523-7.
    III. Beniker D, McQuillan D, Livesey S, Urban RM, Turner TM, Blum B, Hughes K, Haggard WO. The use of acellular dermal matrix as a scaffold for periosteum replacement. Orthopedics. 2003 May;26(5 Suppl):s591-6.
    IV. Izumi K, Feinberg SE, Iida A, Yoshizawa M. Intraoral grafting of an ex vivo produced oral mucosa equivalent: a preliminary report. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2003 Apr;32(2):188-97.
    V. Clark JM, Saffold SH, Israel JM. Decellularized dermal grafting in cleft palate repair. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2003 Jan-Feb;5(1):40-4; discussion 45.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Monash Engineering Department Parents Students Night
    Rice University Tissue Engineering Workshop

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. TeamVIC

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Medicine
    • Regulatory submissions
    • Signal transduction
    • Tissue engineering biological matrices
    • Technology transfer
    • Public sector funding
    • Marketing and sales

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • N/A at present NSCC is still in formation and plans include the establishment of an MNRF with capabilities in –
      • Stem cell isolation propagations and differentiation
      • FACS analysis
      • Antibody production
      • Proteomics
      • Genomics
      • Tissue and biosynthetic matrix production

© 2004

back