My research is focused on understanding the relationship between biomaterials and their target tissues to provide the basis for rational design of new scaffolds that orchestrate appropriate cellular responses, improve tissue integration and have enhanced functional lifespan. These goals are addressed through projects that encompass aspects of mesenchymal stem cell/bone/cartilage cell biology and micro/nanoscale fabrication. The strategy is to translate basic research findings that investigate the regulation of mesenchymal stem cell fate, bone-forming osteoblasts and cartilage-forming chondrocytes and couple this with studies that investigate how specific micro/nanotopography and physical structure can influence all aspects of cell behaviour including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.
