Novel stroke treatment project gains $250,000 grant
A Monash Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) Major Grant has provided a welcome boost to a cross-disciplinary project developing novel injectable hydrogels to deliver stem cells to the brain to treat stroke.
Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers Dr Brad Broughton (Department of Pharmacology), Dr Mark Del Borgo and Professor Mibel Aguilar (both Biochemistry), are collaborating with Associate Professor John Forsythe (Materials Science & Engineering) and Dr Rebecca Lim (Hudson Institute) on the research.
The project fuses two exciting developments at Monash.
Dr Broughton and Dr Lim have been researching amniotic epithelial cells for a number of years and have demonstrated that the cells can reduce brain injury and aid recovery following stroke. A Monash-led clinical trial that tests the safety and feasibility of these cells in stroke patients is expected to commence within the next six months, Dr Broughton said.
“The nice thing about this current project is that it is building on that work,” he said.
“What we’ve found is that if we put these stem cells inside our novel hydrogel we are able to keep the cells in the brain region for a longer period of time with the hope that they can secrete their beneficial factors for longer,” Dr Broughton said.
The injectable gel was developed at Monash as part of a collaboration between Dr Del Borgo, Professor Aguilar, and Associate Professor Forsythe. The gel has unique properties: it is biocompatible to encourage cell survival, whilst being porous enough to release various factors and is of a similar “stiffness” to the brain. Having confirmed that the cells remain in the brain, the scientists are testing in animal models whether the gel containing stem cells is able to provide long-term brain repair post-stroke.
Dr Broughton said being awarded the Monash IDR Major Grant $250,000 grant was a “fantastic opportunity”.
“It’s always nice in the sense that funding support means that some of our ideas can become reality,” Dr Broughton said.
“In addition to that it has enabled us to branch out from stem cells – which are our primary focus – to do some pilot studies exploring other pharmacological agents,” he said.
“We can look at other neuroprotective agents, such as those that can stimulate neurogenesis, and also test whether the gel could be used in the treatment of other neurological diseases.”
It is hoped that the current project will generate commercial interest, he said.
Dr Broughton said the work of PhD student Andrew Hong in the past 12 months had been instrumental in securing the grant.
The Monash IDR Major Grant will enable the researchers to use a number of Monash platforms and technologies to support their research.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.