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Professor Simon Cool
Professor

Simon Cool

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54175

Overview

Background

Professor Simon Cool is Professor of Bioengineering and Director of the UQ Advanced Cell Therapy Manufacturing Initiative in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland.

Professor Cool began his scientific career at the University of Queensland more than 20 years ago. He received his BSc (hons) and PhD degrees from the University of Queensland, where he subsequently held a faculty position in the School of Biomedical Sciences. His areas of studies have included age-related changes in the structure of bone and teeth and the extracellular matrix compartment of skeletal tissue that guide stem cell behaviour and wound repair. Professor Cool was invited to join the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR, Singapore in 2003 as a Principal Investigator. He then joined A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) in 2008, shortly after its inception, to further his research in regenerative medicine, serving as Senior Principal Investigator of the Glycotherapeutics Group. In October 2020, Professor Cool re-joined the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) as a Research Director, Glycotherapeutics, where he focused on developing novel glycosaminoglycan biomolecules that enhance wound repair and control adult human mesenchymal stem cell activity.

Professor Cool has 117 patent applications across 26 families with 51 granted in the fields of glycosaminoglycan biochemistry, regenerative medicine and stem cell science. He has more than 150 publications and continues to foster strong strategic collaborations both nationally and internationally with academic and industry groups. He has a strong biomanufacturing and translational focus with experience in taking glycosaminoglycan-based devices through discovery RnD on to pre-clinical and clinical testing. Professor Cool also has an entrepreneurial and licensing background having successfully spun-off some of his technology to a US-based regenerative medicine start-up company, SMC Biotechnology Ltd. Professor Cool holds a Visiting Professor appointment at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR, Singapore and an Adjunct Professor (Research) appointment in the Orthopaedic Department at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prior to his move back to UQ, he previously held the position of Treasurer, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, Asia Pacific Chapter (TERMIS-AP) and Treasurer, Stem Cell Society Singapore (SCSS). He also held senior leadership positions in several Singapore-based R&D programmes, notably as Director, Allogeneic Stem Cell Manufacturing (ASTEM) and Theme Leader in Advanced Manufacturing for Biological Materials (AMBM). Prof Cool currently serves on the Editorial Board of the journals Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and is Asia-Pacific Regional Editor for Stem Cells and Development.

Availability

Professor Simon Cool is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Honours), unknown
  • PhD, unknown

Research interests

  • Manufacturing highly-potent stem cells

    Developing novel media, assays, and processes to enable the scale-up manufacturing of cell therapy products.

  • Rejuvenation of ageing stem cells

    Developing innovative methods to rejuvenate ageing stem cells to generate best-in-class cell banks for therapeutic use.

  • Synthesis of glycosaminoglycans as medical devices

    Developing scalable methods to manufacture fully synthetic glycosaminoglycans for use as media additives, biocoatings and medical devices for treating disease, injury or trauma.

  • Modification of stem cells to improve their therapeutic utility

    Altering stem cell surfaces to encourage protein binding and drive stem cell fate decisions for improved therapeutic efficacy.

  • Enhanced angiogenesis through glycosaminoglycan administration and medical device formulation

    Developing pro-angiogenic microenvironments using novel glycosaminoglycan formulations.

Research impacts

I have over 25 years of leadership in identifying novel heparan sulphate (HS) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sugars within stem cell niches and repairing tissues. These sugars sequester, protect, hold, and present key growth factors to stem cells. I have successfully used this complexation paradigm to unlock pathways critical to stem cell biology, mainly signalling cascades essential for maintaining naïve phenotypes. I have also shown that this strategy effectively develops bioadditives for manufacturing cell therapy devices for treating vascular ischemia/stroke, cartilage regeneration, and bone repair. A significant part of this pioneering effort has been manufacturing HS variants that mimic sugars in native tissues. Anchoring this strategy is my novel discovery platform that identifies specific domains in HS chains that form complexes with growth factors and growth factor receptors to generate powerful signalling complexes that mediate cell-fate decisions and potentiate tissue regeneration. Using this blueprint, I have developed a library of bio-inspired HS variants and subjected them to structure/function analyses. I strongly advocate for the safety/tolerability testing of HS materials and continue to lead industry-based projects in this area. I have considerable experience leading outcome-focused multidisciplinary research teams across all scientific discovery and translation aspects, with a proven track record in developing transformative technology and biotechnology entrepreneurship. I lead a long-standing effort to bank mesenchymal stem cells cultured in HS-supplemented media to treat age-related diseases (pre-clinical stage only) and have been working to transition this project to a commercial facility to develop suitable manufacturing and banking protocols for future clinical testing. Through these various opportunities, I have mentored numerous PhD students in Australia, Singapore, and the UK, which has helped accelerate research opportunities and led to significant gains in generating novel findings.

Works

Search Professor Simon Cool’s works on UQ eSpace

130 works between 2000 and 2024

1 - 20 of 130 works

2024

Journal Article

Rational synthesis of a heparan sulfate saccharide that promotes the activity of BMP2

Shaffer, Karl J., Smith, Raymond A. A., Daines, Alison M., Luo, Xiaoman, Lu, Xiaohua, Tan, Tuan Chun, Le, Bach Q., Schwörer, Ralf, Hinkley, Simon F. R., Tyler, Peter C., Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2024). Rational synthesis of a heparan sulfate saccharide that promotes the activity of BMP2. Carbohydrate Polymers, 333 121979, 121979. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121979

Rational synthesis of a heparan sulfate saccharide that promotes the activity of BMP2

2024

Conference Publication

Preserving clinical efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells with glycosaminoglycan additives

Shokoohmand, A., Srinivasan, A., Ling, L., Silva, F. Rodrigues de Oliveira, Eio, M.Y., Lu, X., Loberas, M., Tao, K., Tan, C., Nurcombe, V., Hui, J., Smith, R. and Cool, S. (2024). Preserving clinical efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells with glycosaminoglycan additives. 30th Annual ISCT Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 29 May - 1 June 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.03.116

Preserving clinical efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells with glycosaminoglycan additives

2024

Journal Article

Fundamentals and translational applications of stem cells and biomaterials in dental, oral and craniofacial regenerative medicine

Daneshian, Yasaman, Lewallen, Eric A., Badreldin, Amr A., Dietz, Allan B., Stein, Gary S., Cool, Simon M., Ryoo, Hyun-Mo, Cho, Young Dan and van Wijnen, Andre J. (2024). Fundamentals and translational applications of stem cells and biomaterials in dental, oral and craniofacial regenerative medicine. Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene Expression, 34 (6), 37-60. doi: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2024053036

Fundamentals and translational applications of stem cells and biomaterials in dental, oral and craniofacial regenerative medicine

2023

Journal Article

Enhancing BMP-2-mediated osteogenesis with a synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic

Smith, Raymond A. A., Luo, Xiaoman, Lu, Xiaohua, Tan, Tuan Chun, Le, Bach Q., Zubkova, Olga V., Tyler, Peter C., Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2023). Enhancing BMP-2-mediated osteogenesis with a synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic. Biomaterials Advances, 155 213671, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213671

Enhancing BMP-2-mediated osteogenesis with a synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic

2023

Journal Article

Scalable mesenchymal stem cell enrichment from bone marrow aspirate using deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic sorting

Tan Kwan Zen, Nicholas, Zeming, Kerwin Kwek, Teo, Kim Leng, Loberas, Mavis, Lee, Jialing, Goh, Chin Ren, Yang, Da Hou, Oh, Steve, Hui Hoi Po, James, Cool, Simon M., Hou, Han Wei and Han, Jongyoon (2023). Scalable mesenchymal stem cell enrichment from bone marrow aspirate using deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic sorting. Lab on a Chip, 23 (19), 4313-4323. doi: 10.1039/d3lc00379e

Scalable mesenchymal stem cell enrichment from bone marrow aspirate using deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic sorting

2023

Journal Article

Affinity-selected heparan sulfate collagen device promotes periodontal regeneration in an intrabony defect model in Macaca fascicularis

Luo, Xiaoman, Lau, Chau Sang, Le, Bach Quang, Tan, Tuan Chun, Too, Jian Hui, Smith, Raymond Alexander Alfred, Yu, Na and Cool, Simon M. (2023). Affinity-selected heparan sulfate collagen device promotes periodontal regeneration in an intrabony defect model in Macaca fascicularis. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 11774, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38818-y

Affinity-selected heparan sulfate collagen device promotes periodontal regeneration in an intrabony defect model in Macaca fascicularis

2023

Journal Article

Bioactive polyethylene by ring opening metathesis polymerization for potential orthopaedic applications

Guo, Jiayi, Park, Eun Ju, Teo, Yew Chin, Abbas, Asyraf, Goh, Denise, Smith, Raymond Alexander Alfred, Nie, Yuntong, Nguyen, Hang T. L., Yeong, Joe Poh Sheng, Cool, Simon, Haruyuki, Makio and Teo, Peili (2023). Bioactive polyethylene by ring opening metathesis polymerization for potential orthopaedic applications. Polymer Chemistry, 14 (15), 1743-1751. doi: 10.1039/d2py01545e

Bioactive polyethylene by ring opening metathesis polymerization for potential orthopaedic applications

2022

Journal Article

Bioactive PCL-peptide and PLA-peptide brush copolymers for bone tissue engineering

Teo, Yew Chin, Park, Eun Ju, Guo, Jiayi, Abbas, Asyraf, Smith, Raymond Alexander Alfred, Goh, Denise, Yeong, Joe Poh Sheng, Cool, Simon and Teo, Peili (2022). Bioactive PCL-peptide and PLA-peptide brush copolymers for bone tissue engineering. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 5 (10), 4770-4778. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00455

Bioactive PCL-peptide and PLA-peptide brush copolymers for bone tissue engineering

2022

Journal Article

Strategies to enhance immunomodulatory properties and reduce heterogeneity in mesenchymal stromal cells during ex vivo expansion

Srinivasan, Akshaya, Sathiyanathan, Padmapriya, Yin, Lu, Liu, Tong Ming, Lam, Alan, Ravikumar, Maanasa, Smith, Raymond Alexander Alfred, Loh, Han Ping, Zhang, Ying, Ling, Ling, Ng, Say Kong, Yang, Yuan Sheng, Lezhava, Alexander, Hui, James, Oh, Steve and Cool, Simon M. (2022). Strategies to enhance immunomodulatory properties and reduce heterogeneity in mesenchymal stromal cells during ex vivo expansion. Cytotherapy, 24 (5), 456-472. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.11.009

Strategies to enhance immunomodulatory properties and reduce heterogeneity in mesenchymal stromal cells during ex vivo expansion

2022

Journal Article

FGFR2 accommodates osteogenic cell fate determination in human mesenchymal stem cells

Zhang, Ying, Ling, Ling, Ajayakumar, Arya Ajay D. O., Eio, Yating Michelle, van Wijnen, Andre J., Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2022). FGFR2 accommodates osteogenic cell fate determination in human mesenchymal stem cells. Gene, 818 146199, 146199. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146199

FGFR2 accommodates osteogenic cell fate determination in human mesenchymal stem cells

2022

Journal Article

Variability in the composition of porcine mucosal heparan sulfates

Sargison, Liam, Smith, Raymond A A, Carnachan, Susan M, Daines, Alison M, Brackovic, Amira, Kidgell, Joel T, Nurcombe, Victor, Cool, Simon M, Sims, Ian M and Hinkley, Simon F R (2022). Variability in the composition of porcine mucosal heparan sulfates. Carbohydrate Polymers, 282 119081, 119081. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.119081

Variability in the composition of porcine mucosal heparan sulfates

2022

Journal Article

A combined cell and growth factor delivery for the repair of a critical size tibia defect using biodegradable hydrogel implants

Cohen, Talia, Kossover, Olga, Peled, Eli, Bick, Tova, Hasanov, Lena, Chun, Tan Tuan, Cool, Simon, Lewinson, Dina and Seliktar, Dror (2022). A combined cell and growth factor delivery for the repair of a critical size tibia defect using biodegradable hydrogel implants. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 16 (4), 380-395. doi: 10.1002/term.3285

A combined cell and growth factor delivery for the repair of a critical size tibia defect using biodegradable hydrogel implants

2021

Journal Article

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with low dose bone morphogenetic protein 2 enhances scaffold-based spinal fusion in a porcine model

Hu, Tao, Liu, Ling, Lam, Raymond Wing Moon, Toh, Soo Yein, Abbah, Sunny Akogwu, Wang, Ming, Ramruttun, Amit Kumarsing, Bhakoo, Kishore, Cool, Simon, Li, Jun, Cho-Hong Goh, James and Wong, Hee-Kit (2021). Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with low dose bone morphogenetic protein 2 enhances scaffold-based spinal fusion in a porcine model. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 16 (1), 63-75. doi: 10.1002/term.3260

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with low dose bone morphogenetic protein 2 enhances scaffold-based spinal fusion in a porcine model

2021

Journal Article

Paraspinal myopathy-induced intervertebral disc degeneration and thoracolumbar kyphosis in TSC1mKO mice model—a preliminary study

Hey, Hwee Weng Dennis, Lam, Wing Moon Raymond, Chan, Chloe Xiaoyun, Zhuo, Wen-Hai, Crombie, Elisa Marie, Tan, Tuan Chun, Chen, Way Cherng, Cool, Simon and Tsai, Shih Yin (2021). Paraspinal myopathy-induced intervertebral disc degeneration and thoracolumbar kyphosis in TSC1mKO mice model—a preliminary study. The Spine Journal, 22 (3), 483-494. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.09.003

Paraspinal myopathy-induced intervertebral disc degeneration and thoracolumbar kyphosis in TSC1mKO mice model—a preliminary study

2021

Journal Article

Combination of BMP2 and EZH2 inhibition to stimulate osteogenesis in a 3D bone reconstruction model

Lui, Hayman, Samsonraj, Rebekah M., Vaquette, Cedryck, Denbeigh, Janet, Kakar, Sanjeev, Cool, Simon M., Dudakovic, Amel and Van Wijnen, Andre J. (2021). Combination of BMP2 and EZH2 inhibition to stimulate osteogenesis in a 3D bone reconstruction model. Tissue Engineering - Part A, 27 (15-16), 1084-1098. doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2020.0218

Combination of BMP2 and EZH2 inhibition to stimulate osteogenesis in a 3D bone reconstruction model

2021

Journal Article

Application of a BMP2-binding heparan sulphate to promote periodontal regeneration

Le, B. Q., Too, J. H., Tan, T. C., Smith, R. A. A., Nurcombe, , Cool, S. M. and Yu, N. (2021). Application of a BMP2-binding heparan sulphate to promote periodontal regeneration. European Cells and Materials, 42, 139-153. doi: 10.22203/eCM.v042a10

Application of a BMP2-binding heparan sulphate to promote periodontal regeneration

2021

Journal Article

Fibroblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is enhanced by hypoxia in 3D cultures treated with bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF5)

Lui, Hayman, Denbeigh, Janet, Vaquette, Cedryck, Tran, Hoai My, Dietz, Allan B., Cool, Simon M., Dudakovic, Amel, Kakar, Sanjeev and van Wijnen, Andre J. (2021). Fibroblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is enhanced by hypoxia in 3D cultures treated with bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF5). Gene, 788 145662, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145662

Fibroblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is enhanced by hypoxia in 3D cultures treated with bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF5)

2021

Journal Article

Age-related changes in the inflammatory status of human mesenchymal stem cells: Implications for cell therapy

Zhang, Ying, Ravikumar, Maanasa, Ling, Ling, Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2021). Age-related changes in the inflammatory status of human mesenchymal stem cells: Implications for cell therapy. Stem Cell Reports, 16 (4), 694-707. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.021

Age-related changes in the inflammatory status of human mesenchymal stem cells: Implications for cell therapy

2021

Journal Article

A biomimetic collagen-bone granule-heparan sulfate combination scaffold for BMP2 delivery

Le, Bach Quang, Tan, Tuan Chun, Lee, Seong-Baek, Jang, Ju Woong, Kim, Young Sik, Lee, Jung Soo, Choi, Jae Won, Sathiyanathan, Padmapriya, Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2021). A biomimetic collagen-bone granule-heparan sulfate combination scaffold for BMP2 delivery. Gene, 769 145217, 145217. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145217

A biomimetic collagen-bone granule-heparan sulfate combination scaffold for BMP2 delivery

2020

Journal Article

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans: key mediators of stem cell function

Ravikumar, Maanasa, Smith, Raymond Alexander Alfred, Nurcombe, Victor and Cool, Simon M. (2020). Heparan sulfate proteoglycans: key mediators of stem cell function. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8 581213, 581213. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.581213

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans: key mediators of stem cell function

Funding

Past funding

  • 2003
    DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL BIOMATERIAL FOR BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Fibroblast growth factors and their effects on bone mesenchymal stem cells.
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2003
    Promotion of bone healing by exogenous applications of growth factors
    Wesley Merdical Research
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Fibroblast growth factor: unlocking the secrets of osteoblast growth, differentiation and apoptosis.
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Simon Cool is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Orthopaedic application of glycotherapeutics linked to implantable scaffolds

    We have developed a range of glycosaminoglycan compounds that drive cell fate decisions through complexation with protein/protein receptors that are important for bone formation. Here we seek to coat implantable scaffolds (doi: 10.1116/1.4933109) with these materials and to progress these implantable orthopaedic devices through a range of preclinical models in an effort to define their future clinical utility.

  • Age-related changes in stem cell glycosaminoglycans

    We have identified a range of glycosaminoglycan-altering enzymes that can potentially drive senescent phenotypes linked to stem cell ageing during scale-up manufacturing. Here we seek to develop glycosaminoglycan variants capable of replenishing these lost glycosaminoglycan structures that can restore growth and potency.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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