
Overview
Background
Professor Justin Cooper-White is a global leader in using engineering to solve problems in biology. In addition to holding the position of Head of School and Professor of Bioengineering in the School of Chemical Engineering, he is Affiliate Professor in the AIBN, Director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility-Queensland Node, Research Director of the Herston Biofabrication Institute (a partnership between UQ and MNHHS) and co-Director of the Australian Organoid Facility at UQ. Professor Cooper-White is a past President of both the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering and the Australian Society of Rheology and held the position of CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) Science Leader. He has previously held a Visiting Professor Fellowships at ETH Zurich (2007) and Politecnico di Milano (2012-2013). Professor Cooper-White is the Australian representative and Past President of the Asian Biomaterials Federation; an elected Fellow of and Australian representative on the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBE), and an elected Fellow and past vice President of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Cooper-White has many past and currently active international collaborations with world leading research groups at MIT (US); Stanford (USA); ETH (Switzerland); EPFL (Switzerland); SNU (Korea); University Of Grenoble (France); Politecnico di Milano (Italy); UCL (UK); and the Max Planck Institute (Germany). He has performed contract research and consultancy work for many multinational companies, including Unilever in the UK; Nestle International, Switzerland; Rhodia, US; Inion, Finland, Syngenta, UK; and NuFarm, AU since 2001.
He is the Editor-in-Chief of APL Bioengineering (American Institute of Physics Publishing); serves or has served on the editorial boards of Rheological Acta, Soft Materials, Biomicrofluidics and the Open Biomedical Engineering Journal; and is a reviewer of major international journals, including Nature Materials, Nature Methods, Advanced Materials, Lab on a Chip, Stem Cells, Stem Cells and Development, Biomacromolecules, Tissue Engineering, Langmuir, Biomaterials and Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics.
Availability
- Professor Justin Cooper-White is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research impacts
Research
Areas of focus: Smart surfaces, hydrogels, scaffolds and diagnostic microdevices for gene therapy, tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, and early disease detection. Materials and systems for understanding/probing mechanotransduction signalling and impacts on stem cell fate choices.
Recognition of Professor Cooper-White’s standing in the research field is reflected in the more than 20 plenary and 50 keynote presentations he has been invited to give at national and international conferences since 2001. He has served on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) review panels for Centres of Research Excellence (2011) and Project Grants (2012-2014), the Health Research Council of New Zealand Assessment Committee (Biomedical) (2015-2016), and most recently the Singapore Ministry of Education Expert Panel for Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering (2022, 2023). He has produced 6 Worldwide patents that have reached National Phase Entry in USA, Europe and Australia in the areas of formulation design for agriproducts, microbioreactor arrays (MBAs) and tissue engineering scaffolds. Technologies developed in his laboratory has been commercialised by an Australian SME and a USA-based start-up company. Professor Cooper-White has received more than $57 million in competitive grant funding.
His research focuses on understanding the role of microenvironmental cues on stem cell commitment and tissue genesis, and the critical roles that stem cells and their niches play in systemic losses of tissue and organ function as we age. His team applies this understanding to develop biomicrodevices, engineered surfaces and advanced scaffolds for cell therapy manufacturing and engineering tissue replacement or repair, and more recently, nanoparticles for targeted rejuvenation of our aged tissues.
One of the research group's projects involves developing bioengineered systems and device platforms that allow them to dissect the microenvironment in which stem cells ‘live’ during early tissue development. Variations in the microenvironment lead to the generation of different tissues.Using Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project funding, Professor Justin Cooper-White’s research group has determined the importance of spacing of adhesion peptides presented to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in influencing morphology, migration and differentiation. MSCs presented with closely-spaced peptides are predisposed to form bone, while those on widely-spaced peptides are more likely to differentiate into fat cells. The research is showing, for the first time, that nanoscale spacing of adhesion peptides influences stem cell differentiation and adds to the understanding of how MSCs interact with their surroundings.
Professor Cooper-White’s research group has developed a microbioreactor array technology platform that permits cells to be cultured under hundreds to thousands of different conditions, to work out the best conditions for growing them or differentiating them into target cell lineages - all in a device the size of a credit card. The technology has been patented and the Cooper-White research group is seeking to develop it in new applications with collaborators, with the aim of proving the value of data the technology can provide with industrial partners. Ultimately, the technology will accelerate research in stem cell development and regenerative medicine, drug screening, and bioprocess engineering, so the researchers want to take it to the world.
Works
Search Professor Justin Cooper-White’s works on UQ eSpace
2007
Journal Article
An approximate solution to flow through a contraction for high Trouton ratio fluids
Lubansky, A. S., Boger, D. V., Servais, C., Burbidge, A. S. and Cooper-White, J. J. (2007). An approximate solution to flow through a contraction for high Trouton ratio fluids. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 144 (2-3), 87-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jnnfm.2007.04.002
2007
Conference Publication
Flow visualization of polymer/water/surfactant droplets in oil using coflow and flow-focusing channels with µpiv technique
Duxenneuner, Manuela R., Fischer, Peter, Windhab, Erich J. and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2007). Flow visualization of polymer/water/surfactant droplets in oil using coflow and flow-focusing channels with µpiv technique. Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society.
2007
Journal Article
Extensional flows of polymer solutions in microfluidic converging/diverging geometries
McKinley, G. H., Rodd, L. E., Oliveria, M. and Cooper-White, J. J. (2007). Extensional flows of polymer solutions in microfluidic converging/diverging geometries. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 14 (1), 6-9. doi: 10.1007/s11771-007-0202-1
2007
Journal Article
Effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) macromer chemistry and chain interactions on hydrogel mechanical properties
Martens, Penny, Blundo, Jennifer, Nilasaroya, Anastasia, Odell, Ross A., Cooper-White, Justin J. and Poole-Warren, Laura A. (2007). Effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) macromer chemistry and chain interactions on hydrogel mechanical properties. Chemistry of Materials, 19 (10), 2641-2648. doi: 10.1021/cm0626381
2007
Conference Publication
Surface protein regulators of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell morphology
Clark, Sharon F., Cao, Yang, Croll, Tristan, Jahnke, Sani, Dyne, Al, Rolfe, Barbara, Brooke, Gary, Atkinson, Kerry, Campbell, Julie and Cooper-White, Justin (2007). Surface protein regulators of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell morphology. International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting, Cairns, Qld, Australia, 17-20 June, 2007.
2007
Journal Article
Conjugation of bioactive groups to poly(lactic acid) and poly[(lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid)] films
Prime, E., Cooper-White, J.J. and Qiao, G.G. (2007). Conjugation of bioactive groups to poly(lactic acid) and poly[(lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid)] films. Macromolecular Bioscience, 7 (12), 1272-1279. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200700153
2007
Conference Publication
Uniform droplet generation in surfactants/polymer/oil systems using macro to micro scaled co-flow channels
Duxenneuner, Manuela R., Fischer, Peter, Windhab, Erich J. and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2007). Uniform droplet generation in surfactants/polymer/oil systems using macro to micro scaled co-flow channels. Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society.
2007
Journal Article
From scrawny to brawny: the quest for neomusculogenesis; smart surfaces and scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering
Rowlands, Andrew, Hudson, James and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2007). From scrawny to brawny: the quest for neomusculogenesis; smart surfaces and scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 4 (5), 709-728. doi: 10.1586/17434440.4.5.709
2007
Journal Article
Transplantation of 3D scaffolds seeded with human embryonic stem cells: biological features of surrogate tissue and teratoma-forming potential
Lees, J. G., Lim, S. A., Croll, T., Williams, G., Lui, S., Cooper-White, J., McQuade, L. R., Mathiyalagan, B. and Tuch, B. E. (2007). Transplantation of 3D scaffolds seeded with human embryonic stem cells: biological features of surrogate tissue and teratoma-forming potential. Regenerative Medicine, 2 (3), 289-300. doi: 10.2217/17460751.2.3.289
2007
Journal Article
Role of the elasticity number in the entry flow of dilute polymer solutions in micro-fabricated contraction geometries
Rodd, L. E., Cooper-White, J. J., Boger, D. V. and McKinley, G. H. (2007). Role of the elasticity number in the entry flow of dilute polymer solutions in micro-fabricated contraction geometries. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 143 (2-3), 170-191. doi: 10.1016/j.jnnfm.2007.02.006
2007
Conference Publication
Biopolymer coated particle formation utilising a microfluidic device and multiphase flow
Rondeau, Elisabeth and Cooper-White, Justin (2007). Biopolymer coated particle formation utilising a microfluidic device and multiphase flow. Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society.
2007
Conference Publication
Worm-like surfactant solutions, flow induced gelation and effective slip in microchannels
Rodd, Lucy E. and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2007). Worm-like surfactant solutions, flow induced gelation and effective slip in microchannels. Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society.
2006
Journal Article
Experimental and analytical study of the effect of contact angle on liquid convective heat transfer in microchannels
Rosengarten, G., Cooper-White, J. J. and Metcalfe, G. (2006). Experimental and analytical study of the effect of contact angle on liquid convective heat transfer in microchannels. International Journal Of Heat And Mass Transfer, 49 (21-22), 4161-4170. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2006.02.057
2006
Journal Article
Coupling hydrophilic amine-containing molecules to the backbone of poly(ε-caprolactone)
Prime, Emma L., Cooper-White, Justin J. and Qiao, Greg G. (2006). Coupling hydrophilic amine-containing molecules to the backbone of poly(ε-caprolactone). Australian Journal of Chemistry, 59 (8), 534-538. doi: 10.1071/CH06144
2006
Journal Article
Drop formation and breakup of low viscosity elastic fluids: Effects of molecular weight and concentration
Tirtaatmadja, V., McKinley, G. H. and Cooper-White, J. J. (2006). Drop formation and breakup of low viscosity elastic fluids: Effects of molecular weight and concentration. Physics of Fluids, 18 (4) 043101, Article number 043101. doi: 10.1063/1.2190469
2006
Journal Article
Engineering tissue tubes using novel multilayered scaffolds in the rabbit and rat peritoneal cavity
Cao, Yang, Zhang, Bing, Croll, Tristan I., Rolfe, Barbara E., Campbell, Julie H., Campbell, Gordon R., Martin, Darren J. and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2006). Engineering tissue tubes using novel multilayered scaffolds in the rabbit and rat peritoneal cavity. Tissue Engineering, 12 (4), 1020-1021.
2006
Journal Article
Wiping the slate clean: Development of durable, tunable surfaces on various substrates via layer-by-layer deposition
Croll, T., O'Connor, J., Stevens, W. and Cooper-White, J. J. (2006). Wiping the slate clean: Development of durable, tunable surfaces on various substrates via layer-by-layer deposition. Tissue Engineering, 12 (4), 997-998.
2006
Journal Article
The influence of architecture on degradation and tissue ingrowth into three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds in vitro and in vivo
Cao, Y., Mitchell, G., Messina, A., Price, L., Thompson, E., Penington, A., Morrison, W., O'Connor, A., Stevens, G. and Cooper-White, J. (2006). The influence of architecture on degradation and tissue ingrowth into three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. Biomaterials, 27 (14), 2854-2864. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2005.12.015
2006
Journal Article
The creation of drops in T-shaped microfluidic devices with the 'modified' laser-LIGA technique: I. Fabrication
Husny, J., Jin, H. Y., Harvey, E. C. and Cooper-White, J. (2006). The creation of drops in T-shaped microfluidic devices with the 'modified' laser-LIGA technique: I. Fabrication. Smart Materials & Structures, 15 (1), S117-S123. doi: 10.1088/0964-1726/15/1/019
2006
Journal Article
A blank slate? Layer-by-layer deposition of hyaluronic acid and chitosan onto various surfaces
Croll, Tristan I., OConnor, Andrea J., Stevens, Geoffrey W. and Cooper-White, Justin J. (2006). A blank slate? Layer-by-layer deposition of hyaluronic acid and chitosan onto various surfaces. Biomacromolecules, 7 (5), 1610-1622. doi: 10.1021/bm060044l
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Justin Cooper-White is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Droplet Impaction Dynamics on Superhydrophobic Leaves and Their Mimics
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing recovery post traumatic brain injury with reparative hydrogels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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Doctor Philosophy
Design, optimisation, and fabrication of patient-specific multi-phasic total disc replacements to address accelerated degenerative disc disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ali Shokoohmand
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Doctor Philosophy
Droplet Impaction Dynamics on Superhydrophobic Leaves and Their Mimics
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Synthesis and characterisation of hyaluronic acid mimetic polymers
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of drop impact on leaves and microfabricated mimics thereof.
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Overcoming roadblocks in mammalian cell biomanufacturing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Leonardi
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Doctor Philosophy
An In Vitro Human iPSC-Based Model for Understanding the Roles of Ageing & Mechanotransduction in Rotator Cuff Tendon Healing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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Doctor Philosophy
Intervertebral disc-on-a-chip
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
An In Vitro Human iPSC-Based Model for Understanding the Roles of Ageing & Mechanotransduction in Rotator Cuff Tendon Healing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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Doctor Philosophy
Intervertebral disc regeneration using human nucleus pulposus cells encapsulated in HA/PEG hydrogel in a rat model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Joan Li
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Doctor Philosophy
Regenerative engineering solutions for rotator cuff repair using stem cells and bioactives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Simon Cool, Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of electrical fields on cell fates
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Simon Cool
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Doctor Philosophy
A multi-scale simulation approach for high-throughput screening of polymer blend nanocomposite formulations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suresh Bhatia
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimization of engineered scaffolds for improved scaffold integration, tissue growth, repair and functional regeneration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl, Dr Ali Shokoohmand
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Doctor Philosophy
Engineering tissue organisation using intelligent additive biomanufacturing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mark Allenby
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Doctor Philosophy
A multi-scale simulation approach for high-throughput screening of polymer blend nanocomposite formulations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suresh Bhatia
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of 3D printed Metal Scaffold to enhance bone in-growth
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Intervertebral disc regeneration using human nucleus pulposus cells encapsulated in HA/PEG hydrogel in a rat model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Joan Li
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2024
Master Philosophy
Synthesis and characterisation of hyaluronic acid mimetic polymers
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
An in vitro human iPSC-based model to decipher cellular contributions to age-related heart failure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Joan Li, Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Addressing delivery limitations for cardiac cell reprogramming
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Joan Li
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
A versatile microfluidic platform for vector free intracellular delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Biomimetic Multilayered Nano-Fibrous Scaffolds for Guided Bone Regeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Allison Pettit
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
In vitro optimization of osteogenic differentiation outcomes from human mesenchymal stem cells
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
In-vitro Studies of the Effects of Applied Electrical Fields on Various Mammalian Cell Types
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Selective Capture of Native Extracellular Matrix by Protein Binding Peptides for Directed Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
A microfluidic device for co-culture: investigating the role of cell-cell interactions in Mesenchymal Stem Cell behaviour
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Effect of spray liquid physical properties and dynamics of fluids on atomization and spray drift
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Hewitt
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Self-Assembling, Targeted Biomaterial Delivery System for Cardiac Regeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2015
Master Philosophy
Effects of hyaluronan-pentosan polysulfate and bone morphogenetic protein-6 on human mesenchymal stem cells
Principal Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Development of self-assembled hydrogels for stem cell based tissue engineering applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
In Vitro Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Model for Pharmacological Post Conditioning of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering cell/matrix and cell/cell interactions to control the flow behaviour of high volume fraction cell suspensions
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Development of novel materials and scaffold fabrication methodologies for soft tissue engineering applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Methods for Plasma Polymerization of Surfaces in Two and Three Dimensions for Tissue Engineered Interfaces
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Cartilage tissue engineering using mesenchymal stromal cells
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of substrate creep on mesenchymal stem cell behaviour and phenotype
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Professor Darren Martin
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Microbioreactor Arrays for Screening and Controlling Pluripotent Stem Cell Expansion, Maintenance and Differentiation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Modulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Behaviour via Integrin- Extracellular Matrix Interactions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Functional Myocardium for Regenerative Treatment of Heart Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a biomimetic scaffold for meniscal tissue engineering
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Ex vivo tissue vascularisation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Development of functionalized polymeric scaffolds for the long term propagation of human embryonic stem cells
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
A microfluidic platform for screening immobilised biomolecule mixtures
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Modulation of Cell Behaviour Using Tailored Polymeric Substrates
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The development of a continuous encapsulation method in a microfluidic device
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Manufacture and Characterization of Alginate-PEG Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering Applications
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of Drop Formation in Microfluidic Devices
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tony Howes
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
THERMODYNAMICS OF POLYMER SOLUTION AND ITS APPLICATION IN 3D SCAFFOLD MANUFACTURING FOR USE IN TISSUE ENGINEERING
Principal Advisor
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2007
Master Philosophy
SURFACE MODIFICATION USING AMPHIPLILIC DIBLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Monteiro
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Design of microscale devices for the detection of melanocytic growths in the skin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Degradable polyester carbonate biomaterials for application in vascular regeneration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
An investigation into the surface modification of nanohydroxyapatite for the development of composite scaffolds
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Optimizing the surface properties of biodegradable scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Modulation of gap junction expression in injured equine superficial digital flexor tendon
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Mills
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and characterisation of poly (glycerol-sebacate) bioelastomers for tissue engineering applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Halley
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Justin Cooper-White directly for media enquiries about:
- Biomaterials
- Microdevices
- Regenerative medicine
- Stem cells
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