Development of human brain-on-chip platform to investigate pathogen infection driven neuroinflammation modelling and therapeutics intervention

Summary

This project aims to develop a laboratory-grown human brain model that recapitulates an individual’s pathogen infection pathway including host-pathogen reaction and personalised therapeutic responses. The project will contribute to the fundamental understanding of underlying neuroinflammation mechanisms in pathogenic conditions and the discovery of anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

Research Areas:

brain organoid, neuroinflammation, pre-clinical model

Supervisor

Dr Ann Cho.

Research location

Biomedical Engineering

Synopsis

The project primarily focuses on the innovative humanised pre-clinical model by combining human brain organoids and personalised organ-on-chip. By advancing humanised pre-clinical model, this project will enable the comprehensive investigation of the neuroinflammation induced by pathological environment by establishing sophisticated profiling of multiomics and biomedical engineering analysis.

This project will lead to a paradigm-shift in the understanding of the i) human-specific neuroinflammatory system, ii) personalised host reaction and novel biomarkers to support the clinician for prompt cohort stratification under unknown pathogen infection, and iii) translation to discover an innovative, safe, and effective vaccine to treat neurological symptoms driven by exogenous pathogen infection.

Offering:

A PhD scholarship for 3.5 years at the RTP stipend rate (currently $40,109 in 2024). International applicants will have their tuition fees covered.

Successful candidates must:

Have a Bachelors degree (1st class honours or equivalent) or a Masters degree
Extensive tissue culture experience in neuroscience or pathology
Willingness to learn tissue engineering including organ-on-chip and biomaterials are highly preferred
Have a biological skillset covering molecular to cellular assay, and microsopy analysis is required

How to Apply:

To apply, please email ann.cho@sydney.edu.au the following:

CV
transcripts

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Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3450