Overview
Background
Dr Abbas Shafiee is a tissue engineering & regenerative medicine scientist interested in translational cell-based and tissue engineering strategies to treat human diseases.
Dr Shafiee completed his PhD in Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani’s laboratory on stem cell biology. His research career during his PhD had key contributions to delineating endothelial niche and vascular stem cells in the human placental tissues, including the seminal discovery of an entirely new stem cell population, coined as ‘Meso-Endothelial Bipotent Progenitor’ and the identification of key driver signatures for endothelial and bipotential progenitor function (Stem Cell Reports 2018; The FASEB Journal 2017; Stem Cells 2016; Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2015).
In 2016, he joined Distinguished Professor Dietmar Hutmacher’s team and conducted multiple projects on cancer and bone tissue engineering. Dr Shafiee has developed innovative tissue engineered models intersecting concepts from stem cell biology, cancer, and tissue engineering to study species-specific cancer bone metastasis at an unprecedented level of detail. The results of his research have been published in: International Journal of Cancer 2018; Cancers 2018; Biomaterials 2018; Bone Research 2019; Biomaterials 2019; Applied Materials Today 2020; Biomaterials 2020; and Advanced Therapeutics 2020. Utilizing the tissue engineering concept, he was able to better understand the mechanisms of human cancer bone metastasis. Additionally, he was successful in obtaining project grants, including a project grants from Cooperative Research Centers (CRC), and developed a biomimetically designed scaffolds and investigated the interactions of multipotent mesenchymal stem/stromal cell and skin progenitors with 3D printed scaffolds. The application of 3D printed constructs in acute wound models decreased wound contracture and led to a significantly improved skin regeneration.
Dr Shafiee joined Metro North Health (MNH, Queensland Health) in 2020 and started a research program to develop, implement, and evaluate the applications of 3D printing, scanning, cell therapies, and biofabrication technologies in skin wound settings, and dermatology research. Using the 3D printing and organoid technologies he could develop new approaches to enhances physiological wound closure with reduced scar tissue formation (Biomaterials 2021, Small 2021, Advanced Healthcare Materials 2021, Advanced Healthcare Materials 2022) and advance the deramtology research (Advanced healthcare materials 2022, and Small 2024). Dr Shafiee is part of a national program, aiming to develop biofabrication technology to treat skin wounds (funded by MRFF, NHMRC). His groundbreaking organoid research resulted in establishing an international Consortium of Organoid Research in Dermatology, leveraging organoid technology to advance the understanding and treatment of genetic skin diseases. Dr Shafiee has supervised over 10 Masters and PhD students. Honours, Masters and PhD projects are available, please feel free to contact him.
Availability
- Dr Abbas Shafiee is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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Hydrogels, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
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Stem Cell Bioengineering
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Wound care
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Vascular development and homeostasis
Research impacts
My research program has been devoted to understanding human tissue development to develop advanced technologies for tissue regeneration.
- I discovered and developed a novel isolation strategy for a unique population, called "Meso-Endothelial Bipotent Progenitor," and published the first paper of its kind detailing the molecular signature of human placental vascular stem cells (lead author: Stem Cell Reports 2018, PMID: 29478891).
- Cancer biology studies often rely on xenografted models where the patient derived cancer cells do not interact with the microenvironment as they would in the patient. My innovative tissue engineered models developed via convergence of stem cell biology, and tissue engineering concepts provided an important platform to study fundamental aspects of bone development and cell-cell interactions in cancer by providing an environment with human hematopoietic and human bone cells. The results of my research have been published in several outstanding journals (Lead author: Int J Cancer 2018, PMID: 29659011. Senior Author: Bone 2022, PMID: 34023543; and Acta Biomater 2020, PMID: 33039595). Utilising the tissue engineering concept, I was able to better understand the molecular mechanism of cancer bone metastasis (Biomaterials 2020, PMID: 32109589 and Bone Res 2019, PMID: 31646018, Senior Author).
- In my current role, I applied this same concept in skin wound healing using cell therapies, and biofabrication technologies, of direct relevance to the current project. By combining 3D-printed biomimetic constructs and precursor cell delivery, I enhanced physiological wound closure with reduced scar tissue formation (Biomaterials 2021, PMID: 33307369, Lead/Senior author) attracting much interest from the research community. Additionally, I was successful in obtaining a research grant from the MRFF for skin bioprinting through combinations of stem/progenitors and extracellular matrix derivatives. Using human pluripotent stem cells and an organoid culture system I generated skin organoids, providing a foundation for future studies of human skin development, and reconstructive surgeries (Australian Provisional Patent).
Together, my research program has made significant contributions to the field of tissue development and regeneration, as evidenced by my publications in high-impact journals (>74 publications and > 100 conference abstracts, > 40 talks, >10 Invited talks) and citation record (Google Scholar: > 2700 citations, h-index > 31), and invitation to contribute papers or participate as guest editor (e.g., Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol), associate editor (in Interdisciplinary Medicine (Wiley), and Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (Springer Nature)), and successful grant applications from top-tier funding agencies.
Works
Search Professor Abbas Shafiee’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
Overexpression of microRNA-16 declines cellular growth, proliferation and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells
Mobarra, Naser, Shafiee, Abbas, Rad, Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Tasharrofi, Nooshin, Soufi-zomorod, Mina, Hafizi, Maryam, Movahed, Marjan, Kouhkan, Fatemeh and Soleimani, Masoud (2015). Overexpression of microRNA-16 declines cellular growth, proliferation and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Animal, 51 (6), 604-611. doi: 10.1007/s11626-015-9872-4
2015
Journal Article
Neuroregenerative effects of olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted in a multi-layered conductive nanofibrous conduit in peripheral nerve repair in rats
Kabiri, Mahboubeh, Oraee-Yazdani, Saeed, Shafiee, Abbas, Hanaee-Ahvaz, Hana, Dodel, Masumeh, Vaseei, Mohammad and Soleimani, Masoud (2015). Neuroregenerative effects of olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted in a multi-layered conductive nanofibrous conduit in peripheral nerve repair in rats. Journal of Biomedical Science, 22 (35) 35, 35. doi: 10.1186/s12929-015-0144-0
2015
Journal Article
Fetal endothelial and mesenchymal progenitors from the human term placenta: potency and clinical potential
Shafiee, Abbas, Fisk, Nicholas M., Hutmacher, Dietmar W., Khosrotehrani, Kiarash and Patel, Jatin (2015). Fetal endothelial and mesenchymal progenitors from the human term placenta: potency and clinical potential. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 4 (5), 419-423. doi: 10.5966/sctm.2014-0224
2015
Journal Article
Cytotoxicity evaluation and magnetic characteristics of mechano-thermally synthesized CuNi nanoparticles for hyperthermia
Amrollahi, P., Ataie, A., Nozari, A., Seyedjafari, E. and Shafiee, A. (2015). Cytotoxicity evaluation and magnetic characteristics of mechano-thermally synthesized CuNi nanoparticles for hyperthermia. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 24 (3), 1220-1225. doi: 10.1007/s11665-015-1398-0
2014
Journal Article
Enhanced chondrogenesis of human nasal septum derived progenitors on nanofibrous scaffolds
Shafiee, Abbas, Seyedjafari, Ehsan, Taherzadeh, Elham Sadat, Dinarvand, Peyman, Soleimani, Masoud and Ai, Jafar (2014). Enhanced chondrogenesis of human nasal septum derived progenitors on nanofibrous scaffolds. Materials Science and Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications, 40, 445-454. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.04.027
2014
Journal Article
Mir-302 cluster exhibits tumor suppressor properties on human unrestricted somatic stem cells
Jamshidi-Adegani, Fatemeh, Langroudi, Lida, Shafiee, Abbas, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh, Abdollah, Ardeshirylajimi, Abdolreza, Barzegar, Mansoureh, Azadmanesh, Keyhan, Naderi, Mahmood, Arefian, Ehsan and Soleimani, Masoud (2014). Mir-302 cluster exhibits tumor suppressor properties on human unrestricted somatic stem cells. Tumor Biology, 35 (7), 6657-6664. doi: 10.1007/s13277-014-1844-x
2014
Journal Article
Novel isolation strategy to deliver pure fetal-origin and maternal-origin mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) populations from human term placenta
Patel, J., Shafiee, A., Wang, W., Fisk, N. M. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2014). Novel isolation strategy to deliver pure fetal-origin and maternal-origin mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) populations from human term placenta. Placenta, 35 (11), 969-971. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.09.001
2013
Journal Article
miR-146a and miR-150 promote the differentiation of CD133(+) cells into T-lymphoid lineage
Fallah, Parviz, Arefian, Ehsan, Naderi, Mahmood, Aghaee-Bakhtiari, Seyed Hamid, Atashi, Amir, Ahmadi, Katayoun, Shafiee, Abbas and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). miR-146a and miR-150 promote the differentiation of CD133(+) cells into T-lymphoid lineage. Molecular Biology Reports, 40 (8), 4713-4719. doi: 10.1007/s11033-013-2567-6
2013
Journal Article
Comparison of acellular and cellular bioactivity of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite and poly 3-hydroxybutyrate scaffolds
Saadat, Abbas, Behnamghader, AliAsghar, Karbasi, Saeed, Abedi, Daryoush, Soleimani, Masoud and Shafiee, Abbas (2013). Comparison of acellular and cellular bioactivity of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite and poly 3-hydroxybutyrate scaffolds. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 18 (3), 587-593. doi: 10.1007/s12257-012-0744-4
2013
Journal Article
A comparison of pluripotency and differentiation status of four mesenchymal adult stem cells
Adegani, Fatemeh Jamshidi, Langroudi, Lida, Arefian, Ehsan, Shafiee, Abbas, Dinarvand, Peyman and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). A comparison of pluripotency and differentiation status of four mesenchymal adult stem cells. Molecular Biology Reports, 40 (5), 3693-3703. doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-2445-7
2013
Journal Article
Novel approach to reduce postsurgical adhesions to a minimum: administration of losartan plus atorvastatin intraperitoneally
Dinarvand, Peyman, Farhadian, Shirin, Seyedjafari, Ehsan, Shafiee, Abbas, Jalali, Arash, Sanaei-rad, Parisa, Dinarvand, Babak and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). Novel approach to reduce postsurgical adhesions to a minimum: administration of losartan plus atorvastatin intraperitoneally. Journal of Surgical Research, 181 (1), 91-98. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.05.035
2013
Journal Article
Comparative immunomodulatory properties of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media from BALB/c, C57BL/6, and DBA mouse strains
Hashemi, Seyed Mahmoud, Hassan, Zuhair Mohammad, Pourfathollah, Ali Akbar, Soudi, Sara, Shafiee, Abbas and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). Comparative immunomodulatory properties of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media from BALB/c, C57BL/6, and DBA mouse strains. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 114 (4), 955-965. doi: 10.1002/jcb.24437
2013
Journal Article
Isolation, characterization, and mesodermic differentiation of stem cells from adipose tissue of camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh, Abdollah, Shafiee, Abbas, Seyedjafari, Ehsan, Dinarvand, Peyman, Toghdory, Abdolhakim, Bagherizadeh, Iman, Schellander, Karl, Cinar, Mehmet Ulas and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). Isolation, characterization, and mesodermic differentiation of stem cells from adipose tissue of camel (Camelus dromedarius). In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Animal, 49 (2), 147-154. doi: 10.1007/s11626-012-9578-9
2013
Journal Article
In vitro immunomodulatory properties of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiated mesenchymal stem cells isolated from three inbred mouse strains
Hashemi, Seyed Mahmoud, Hassan, Zuhair Mohammad, Pourfathollah, Ali Akbar, Soudi, Sara, Shafiee, Abbas and Soleimani, Masoud (2013). In vitro immunomodulatory properties of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiated mesenchymal stem cells isolated from three inbred mouse strains. Biotechnology Letters, 35 (1), 135-142. doi: 10.1007/s10529-012-1051-z
2012
Journal Article
Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells to overexpress CXCR4 and CXCR7 does not improve the homing and therapeutic potentials of these cells in experimental acute kidney injury
Gheisari, Yousof, Azadmanesh, Kayhan, Ahmadbeigi, Naser, Nassiri, Seyed Mahdi, Golestaneh, Azadeh Fahim, Naderi, Mahmood, Vasei, Mohammad, Arefian, Ehsan, Mirab-Samiee, Siamak, Shafiee, Abbas, Soleimani, Masoud and Zeinali, Sirous (2012). Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells to overexpress CXCR4 and CXCR7 does not improve the homing and therapeutic potentials of these cells in experimental acute kidney injury. Stem Cells and Development, 21 (16), 2969-2980. doi: 10.1089/scd.2011.0588
2012
Journal Article
The aggregate nature of human mesenchymal stromal cells in native bone marrow
Ahmadbeigi, Naser, Soleimani, Masoud, Babaeijandaghi, Farshad, Mortazavi, Yousef, Gheisari, Yousof, Vasei, Mohammad, Azadmanesh, Kayhan, Rostami, Shahrbano, Shafiee, Abbas and Nardi, Nance Beyer (2012). The aggregate nature of human mesenchymal stromal cells in native bone marrow. Cytotherapy, 14 (8), 917-924. doi: 10.3109/14653249.2012.689426
2012
Journal Article
miRNAs expressed differently in cancer stem cells and cancer cells of human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45
Golestaneh, Azadeh Fahim, Atashi, Amir, Langroudi, Lida, Shafiee, Abbas, Ghaemi, Nasser and Soleimani, Masoud (2012). miRNAs expressed differently in cancer stem cells and cancer cells of human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45. Cell Biochemistry and Function, 30 (5), 411-418. doi: 10.1002/cbf.2815
2012
Journal Article
Effects of low level laser therapy on proliferation and neurotrophic factor gene expression of human schwann cells in vitro
Yazdani, Saeed Oraee, Golestaneh, Azadeh Fahim, Shafiee, Abbas, Hafizi, Maryam, Omrani, Hossein-Ali Ghelichnia and Soleimani, Masoud (2012). Effects of low level laser therapy on proliferation and neurotrophic factor gene expression of human schwann cells in vitro. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology, 107 (1), 9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.11.001
2011
Journal Article
Nasal septum-derived multipotent progenitors: a potent source for stem cell-based regenerative medicine
Shafiee, Abbas, Kabiri, Mahboubeh, Ahmadbeigi, Naser, Yazdani, Saeed Oraee, Mojtahed, Mohammad, Amanpour, Saeid and Soleimani, Masoud (2011). Nasal septum-derived multipotent progenitors: a potent source for stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Stem Cells and Development, 20 (12), 2077-2091. doi: 10.1089/scd.2010.0420
2011
Journal Article
Cytotoxicity evaluation of 63S bioactive glass and bone-derived hydroxyapatite particles using human bone-marrow stem cells
Doostmohammadi, Ali, Monshi, Ahmad, Salehi, Rasoul, Fathi, Mohammad Hossein, Seyedjafari, Ehsan, Shafiee, Abbas and Soleimani, Masoud (2011). Cytotoxicity evaluation of 63S bioactive glass and bone-derived hydroxyapatite particles using human bone-marrow stem cells. Biomedical Papers, 155 (4), 323-326. doi: 10.5507/bp.2011.028
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Abbas Shafiee is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Simultaneous absorption and evaporation PBPK models for topical drugs and inactive agents
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Yousuf Mohammed
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting epigenetic regulation to overcome immunotherapy resistance in cutaneous melanoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nikolas Haass, Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani, Associate Professor Jason Lee
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Doctor Philosophy
Computational modelling of confidence judgements across perceptual tasks and modalities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nidhi Bansal, Associate Professor Rahul Sharma, Dr Negareh Ghasemi, Dr Carolyn Jacobs
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Abbas Shafiee directly for media enquiries about:
- 3D Printing
- Biomaterials
- Dermatology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Skin
- Stem cell
- Wound Healing
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