Research staff involved in the HYANJI SCAFFOLD project

HYANJI SCAFFOLD brings together a range of experienced researchers from Europe and China.

The exchange programme forms a strong link between Europe and China and solves problems in multidisciplinary tissue engineering project which a single institution cannot usually tackle. Moreover the exchange programme harnesses global strength for long term collaboration.

Key members of the team, in alphabetical order, are:

Click on the names to read a short biography as background to their involvement in the HYANJI SCAFFOLD project.

Prof Nureddin ASHAMMAKHI, formerly of Keele University, United Kingdom.

Professor Nureddin Ashammakhi holds research (PhD) and surgical (FRCSEd) qualifications. As Keele's Professor of Regenerative Medicine he was co-author of the HYANJI SCAFFOLD application to EC Framework 7 IRSES programme. Previously he was Professor of Biomanterials Technology in Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Prof Ashammakhi's research is mainly in musculoskeletal tissue engineering with focus on biodegradable multifunctional materials and composites, especially drug releasing biomimetic nanoscaffolds. His expertise brings together science and its application to medicine in a truly multidisciplinary environment.

Prof Ashammakhi is the editor of the "e-boo" series Topics in Tissue Engineering and associate editor in the Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology. He is experienced in participation in European projects, eg BIOCRANIO, SPARE PARTS, EXPERTISSUES. 

Relevant publications.
1) Ashammakhi N, Ndreu A, Piras A, Nikkola L, Sindelar T, Ylikauppila H, Harlin A, Chiellini E, Hasirci V, Redl H. Biodegradable nanomats produced by electrospinning: expanding multifunctionality and potential for tissue engineering. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2006;6(9-10):2693. 
2) Bajada S, Harrison PE, Ashton BA, Cassar-Pullicino VN, Ashammakhi N, Richardson JB. Successful treatment of refractory tibial nonunion using calcium sulphate and bone marrow stromal cell implantation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2007;89(10):1382. 
3) Ashammakhi N, Ndreu A, Yang Y, Ylikauppila H, Nikkola L, Hasirci V. Tissue engineering: a new take-off using nanofiber-based scaffolds. J Craniofac Surg. 2007;18(1):3.

Prof George Guo-Qiang CHEN, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Prof Chen's research areas include:
- Biosynthesis and application of novel macromolecular materials,
- Microbial synthesis and application of biopolyesters- PHA. 
- Molecular biology of PHA synthesis, 
- Application of PHA monomers-hydroxyalkanaotes in cell biology.

Professor George Guo-Qiang Chen’s team includes 2 full professors, 2 associate professors, 10 PhD candidates and 40 MSc candidates.

Professor Chen is a Cheung Kong Scholar, Winner of the National Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of China. 1985, BSc, South China University of Technology. 1989, PhD, Graz University of Technology, Austria. He is the Director of Multidisciplinary Research Center of Shantou University.

Relevant publications: 
1) Chen GQ, Wu Q. Microbial Production and Applications of Chiral Hydroxyalkanoates. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 67 (2005) 592. 
2) Chen GQ and Wu Q. Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Tissue Engineering Materials. Biomaterials 26 (2005) 6565. 
3) Qu XH, Wu Q, Liang J, Qu X, Wang SG, Chen GQ. Enhanced Vascular-Related Cellular Affinity on Surface Modified Copolyesters of 3-Hydroxybutyrate and 3-Hydroxyhexanoate (PHBHHx). Biomaterials 26 (2005) 6991.

Professor Emo CHIELLINI, Pisa University, Italy.

Professor Chiellini is a Professor of fundaments of chemical technology (Polymer chemistry and organic chemistry) at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pisa and he is the President of the PhD course in Biomaterials of the PhD school in Molecular Biosciences (BIOS-School). He is the founder of the Laboratory of Bioactive Polymeric Materials for Biomedical & Environmental Applications (BIOlab) that has been selected as National Centre of Reference for Biomaterials within the Interuniversity National Consortium for Materials Science & Technology (INSTM). Prof. Chiellini has held a position for more than 10 years of adviser in a promotional scientific and training program supported by UNIDO for the Sustainable Development and Plastic waste management in Emerging Countries and Countries in Transition. He is author of more than 450 publications in peer reviewed journals. He is editor of 22 books, and is holding 25 patents in the field of polymer  science and technology. The team leaded, by Prof Chiellini, consisting of 6 permanent staff and 40-45 students and postdocs is distinguished for being very interdisciplinary. It comprises indeed researchers with scientific and technical background in polymer science & technology, organic chemistry, materials science, biotech & chemical engineering, pharmaceutical technology, computational chemistry, molecular & cellular biology. Pisa, as a partner, will deal with polymer preparation and characterization and scaffold fabrication.

Relevant publications: 
1) F. Signori, R. Solaro, E. Chiellini, Micelles from new biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymers containing PEG and PCL, J. Controlled Release, 101, 379 (2005), 
2) A Krzan, S Hemjinda, S Miertus, A Corti, E Chiellini, Standardization and Certification in the area of Environmentally Degradable Plastics, Polym. Degr. Stab., 91 (12), 2819 (2006), 
3) F. Chiellini, D. Dinucci, C. Bartoli, A.M. Piras, E. Chiellini, Intracellular Fate Investigation of Bioeliminable Polymeric Nanoparticles by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, J.Bioact.Compat.Polym., 22, 667 (2007).

Professor Alicia EL HAJ, Keele University, United Kingdom.

Professor El Haj is Professor of Cell Engineering and until November 2009 was Director of the Research Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine ISTM) at Keele University. ISTM forms part of a new Medical School established between Manchester and Keele Universities. She is involved in bringing together interdisciplinary groups within biomedicine, physical sciences and engineering interested in aspects of cell and tissue engineering. Under Prof El Haj's leadership the Research Institute was rated highly through the past 3 UK Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) and the research programme is at the clinical interface, with cell therapies in routine clinical practice for orthopaedic repair and leading MRC multi-centre funded trials. The Institute recently started a Doctoral Training Centre in Regenerative Medicine, funded by the UK Engineering &Physical Sciences Research Council.

Prof El Haj has published over a 100 publications in the area of cell and tissue engineering with an emphasis on developing stem cell therapy using novel enabling technology approaches with funding from the EPSRC, Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, Wellcome Trust and EU Framework Programmes.

Prof. El Haj is a member of the European council for TERMIS, the UK National Stem Cell Advisory Board, the IFMBE Working Group for Cellular Engineering, and the IPEM Academic Advisory board and has recently stepped down from President of the UK Tissue and Cell engineering Society. She has been a member of the EPSRC and BBSRC Funding and Advisory Panels, the MRC College of Experts and a panel member for the RAE 2008.

Relevant publications: 
1) Baas E, Kuiper JH, Yang Y, Wood MA, El Haj AJ (2009) In vitro bone growth responds to local mechanical strain in three-dimensional polymer scaffolds. J Biomech. 2009 Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print]
2) Araujo JV, Cunha-Reis C, Rada T, Alves da Silva M, Gomes M, Yang Y, Ashammakhi N, Reis RL, El Haj AJ, Neves NM. (2009) Dynamic culture of osteogenic cells in biomimetically coated poly(caprolactone) nanofibre mesh constructs. Tissue Eng Part A. 2009 Sep 3.
3) Aydin HM, El Haj AJ, Pi?kin E, Yang Y. (2009) Improving pore interconnectivity in polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2009 Aug;3(6):470-6.
4) Bagnaninchi PO, Yang Y, El Haj AJ, Maffulli N. (2007) Tissue engineering for tendon repair. Br J Sports Med. 2007 Aug;41(8):e10; discussion e10. Epub 2006 Oct 24. Review. 20.
5) Magra M, Hughes S, El Haj AJ, Maffulli N. (2007) VOCCs and TREK-1 ion channel expression in human tenocytes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2007 Mar;292(3):C1053-60. Epub 2006 Oct 11

Dr Nicolas FORSYTH, Keele University, United Kingdom

Dr Nicholas Forsyth’s research group is based at the Keele University Hartshill campus and located in the Guy Hilton Research Centre. Dr Forsyth joined the Keele University Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine in 2006 after having performed postdoctoral research at the Roslin Institute (Edinburgh, UK) and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre (Dallas, USA).

The research interests of the group lie in the development and application of advanced cell culture environments for the optimized expansion and differentiation of adult and embryonic stem cells. This includes control of multiple parameters such as oxygen tension, metabolite levels, substrate composition, and growth factor supplementation. The group has specific interests in the development/optimization of differentiation assays for turning stem cells into tendons and have made substantial progress in this area in recent times.

Relevant publications: 
1) Wimpenny I, Hampson K, Yang Y, Ashammakhi N, Forsyth NR. One step recovery of marrow stromal cells on nanofibers. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 19686057. 
2) Bullough R, Finnigan T, Kay A, Maffulli N, Forsyth NR. Tendon repair through stem cell intervention: cellular and molecular approaches. Disabil Rehabil.2008;30(20-22):1746-51. Review. PubMed PMID: 18720123. 
3) Forsyth NR, Kay A, Hampson K, Downing A, Talbot R, McWhir J. Transcriptome alterations due to physiological normoxic (2% O2) culture of human embryonic stem cells. Regen Med. 2008 Nov;3(6):817-33. PubMed PMID: 18947306.

Dr Zheng Gui TANG, formerly of Keele University, United Kingdom.

Dr Tang's research is in self-assembly and guided self-assembly of macromolecules; micro- and nano-fabrication; process analytical technology; formulation and controlled release; biomaterials and tissue engineering.

His specific interests include: 
- Protein and materials interaction specifically in controlled protein release 
- Materials science specifically in biomedical materials, degradation, and characterisation 
- Manufacturing specifically in micro- and nano- fabrications
- Chemical and biochemical analyses specifically in FTIR, HPLC, ELISA, MTT, and LDH 
- Tissue fixation and calcification specifically in development of tissue heart valves

Dr Tang was previously a Research Fellow at the UK Centre for Tissue Engineering, University of Liverpool, and while Research Fellow at the Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine at Keele University was co-author of the HYANJI SCAFFOLD application to EC Framework 7 IRSES programme.

Dr Tang has been a guest professor affiliated with the College of Pharmacy and the College of Polymer Science and Engineering at Sichuan University since 2008.

Dr Tang has also held research posts at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Singapore, and at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales, Australia.  His education and training 1984-87 was at the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, and the Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science in Chengdu, China. 

Professor Zhirong ZHANG, Sichuan University, China.

Prof Zhang's research areas include:
- Quantitative analysis of encapsulation efficiency of polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticle with Zeta potentials,
- Pharmacological kinetic model of multi-compartment linear metabolism of targeted drug delivery systems, 
- Novel fabrication for polybutylcyanoacrylate microspheres, 
- Drug targeting using nanoparticles and conjugation of cancer affinity molecules, 
- Injectable macromolecules.

The school at Sichuan has 152 faculty members, including 23 professors.

Prof Zhang is a member of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, the deputy of State Pharmacopeia Committee of China, the director of the committee of pharmaceutical excipents and package materials, vice president of the compiling of the book for academic medical colleges, vice president of the pharmaceutical committee in Pharmaceutical Society of. China. He is also the editor of both Chinese Medicine and Pharmaceutics Education, Editorial board member of Asia Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and many Chinese Journals. Reviewer in International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Biomaterials, Macromolecules, pda Journal of Pharmaceutical Science And Technology, Macromolecular Biosciences, and Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. He has research projects with 10millions Yuan supports. He edited 8 books, documented 11 patents, and published 285 papers, together with ongoing projects attracting more than c. 650 K Euro. Prof Zhang was a winner of the National Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of China.

Relevant publications. 
1) Zhao D, Gong T, Fu Y, Nie Y, He LL, Liu J, Zhnag ZR. Lyophilized Cheliensisin A submicron emulsion for intravenous injection: Characterisation, in vitro and in vivo antitumor effect. Int J Pharm. 2008 Feb 6; 
2) Chen F, Zhang ZR, Huang Y. Evaluation and modification of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride nanoparticles as protein carriers. Int J Pharm 2007; 336(1):166, 
3) Zhang HW, Zhang L, Sun X, Zhang ZR. Sucessful transfection of hepatoma cells after encapsulation of plasmid DNA into negatively charged liposomes. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2007; 96(1):118.