Adjunct Associate Professor
David Leavesley

Biography

Research theme: Health
Research discipline: Cell and Molecular Biosciences
Research program: Tissue Repair & Regeneration
Research area

• Vitronectin-growth factor complexes in tissue repair

Associate Professor Leavesley and his team have discovered that cellular and tissue biological responses are enhanced when growth factors are complexed with the extracellular matrix protein, vitronectin. He has discovered that the enhanced response is triggered by the co-activation of cell surface receptors. In this project, he is producing novel recombinant chimeric proteins to mimic the effects the vitronectin-growth factor complex. These proteins will be useful for therapeutic, regenerative medicine and industrial cell culture applications and will be more cost effective than the current multimeric protein complexes.

• Multiprotein complexes for ex vivo tissue cultivation

Tissue grown ex vivo for clinical applications currently require animal-derived cells and/or non-defined products for their survival and propagation in the laboratory; these reagents can potentially infect patients who receive these ex vivo grown tissues. This project seeks to identify the essential components provided by these reagents in order to ultimately facilitate the development of a fully synthetic and defined culture system. This improvement will provide safer, cost-effective grafts and cell-based therapies that will benefit patients.

• Wound repair in diabetes and vascular disease

Non-healing (chronic) ulcers in the elderly and infirm represent an important community-wide challenge frequently result from vascular disease and diabetes. Patient quality of life is diminished and burdens the healthcare sector at least $1 billion per year. This research project is testing a new topical multiprotein therapy designed to have improved activity in wounds. The project is a collaboration between scientists and doctors in Australia (QUT, University of Western Australia) and Canada. Many wound types may ultimately benefit from this treatment.