The Therapeutic Technologies Research Initiative (TTRI) is focused on new applications of mechanopharmacology and organ-on-a-chip technology to transform drug-screening processes.
The Initiative has selected three Research Themes as initial areas of focus:
- Cell/Tissue/Organ-on-a-chip drug screening technology – Drug Evaluation.
- Cellular biomechanics – Mechanopharmacology.
- Stem cells and disease modelling.
Drug Evaluation
2D –> 3D.
Plastic –> (patho)physiologically stiff matrix.
Static –> Dynamic mechanical input (shear/stress/strain/compression).
Seconds –> Minutes –> Days (chronicity).
Square wave concentration escalation –> Realistic pharmacokinetic profiling.
Mechanopharmacology
Mechanopharmacology is a discipline at the interface of biology and engineering examining the effects of physical forces on the response of cells, tissues and organs to drugs. Cellular mechanics strongly influences development, physiology and disease. New screening processes are needed to examine therapeutic candidates that target mechanosensing and/or cellular mechanical performance. The TTRI will bring together the expertise needed to achieve drug screening in microfluidic environments that are mechanically appropriate, with a focus on use of human cell culture.
Source
http://research.unimelb.edu.au/hallmark-initiatives/therapeutic-technologies-research-initiative
