Wayne Morrison
  1. Current research activities

    2. The Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery has devised two new in vivo models of tissue engineering utilizing intrinsic vascularization where major blood vessels are encased in a chamber, producing rapid new blood vessel growth in parallel with specific tissue growth. In a rat in vivo chamber model of tissue engineering an arterio-venous (AV) loop is created by harvesting a femoral vein graft which is anastomosed between the cut ends of the opposite femoral artery and vein and inserted into an empty polycarbonate chamber.

    The chamber is sealed (other than the entry/exit port for the femoral vessels) and placed under the groin skin for up to 16 weeks. We have traced blood vessel and tissue growth within the chamber, monitored its state of hypoxia via pimonidazole labelling and added components such as chamber wall perforations, the extracellular matrix - salt leached poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), and tissues – myoblasts, pancreatic islets, skeletal muscle, liver chunks, etc.

    A mouse tissue engineering model has been developed on the intact superficial epigastric vessels which are cleared of tissue prior to enclosing the pedicle in a silicone tube filled with MatrigelÒ and sealed at both ends around the entry/exit points of the pedicle. Mouse fat, angiogenic growth factors, adult human stem cells and fat tissue have been inserted and subsequent tissue growth monitored.

  2. Keywords

    3. Angiogenesis, tissue repair, adipogenesis, wound healing, organogenesis

  3. End-user applications

    • Breast reconstruction
    • Tissue repair/regeneration
    • Diabetes
    • Organ transplantation 
  4. Key publications

    5. I. Tanaka Y, Tsutsumi A, Crowe DM, Tajima S, Morrison WA (2000) Generation of an autologous tissue (matrix) flap by combining an arteriovenous shunt loop with artificial skin in rats: preliminary report. Br J Plast Surg 53: 51-57
    II. Mian R, Morrison WA, Hurley JV, Penington AJ, Romeo R, Tanaka Y, Knight KR (2000) Formation of new tissue from an arteriovenous loop in the absence of added extracellular matrix. Tissue Eng 6: 595-603.
    III. Cassell OCS, Morrison WA, Messina A, Penington AJ, Thompson EW, Stevens GW, Perera JM, Kleinman HK, Hurley JV, Romeo R, Knight KR (2001). The influence of extracellular matrix on the amount and type of engineered tissue in an experimental rat model. Ann NY Acad Sci 944: 429-442.
    IV. Hofer SOP, Knight KM, Cooper-White JJ, O’Connor AJ, Perera JM, Romeo-Meeuw R, Penington AJ, Knight KR, Morrison WA, Messina A (2003). Increasing the volume of vascularized tissue formation in engineered constructs. An experimental study in rats. Plast Reconstr Surg 111: 1186-1192.
    V. Tanaka Y, Sung KC, Tsutsumi A, Ohba S, Ueda K, Morrison WA (2003). Tissue engineering skin flaps: which vascular carrier, arteriovenous shunt loop or arteriovenous bundle, has more potential for angiogenesis and tissue generation? Plast Reconstr Surg 112: 1636-1644.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Talks to groups such as Rotary International, etc.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. TeamVIC

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    • Hand Surgery
    • Vascularization of tissue grafts
    • Nerve grafting
    • Surgical prefabrication of body parts
    • Microsurgery
  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Operating microscopes in the Experimental Medicine & Surgery Unit (animal research facility) 

  11. Contact Details 

    Professor Wayne Morrison
    rnard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery and Department of Surgery,
    St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne University of Melbourne
    Address: 42 Fitzroy Street Fitzroy, Victoria 3065
    Country: Australia
    Phone: +61 3 9288 4018
    Fax: +61 3 9416 0926
    Email: morriswa@svhm.org.au

© 2004

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