3D-bioprinted urogynaecological repair treatment

The search for new treatments for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) will take Hudson Institute researcher Kallyanashis Paul to New Zealand and Singapore next year as part of a veski fellowship.

The Victoria Fellowships are funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by veski, allowing promising young researchers the opportunity to broaden their experience, develop networks, and better identify where their activities fit into the local and international community.

The $18,000 prize will support Dr Paul to undertaking international study and advance his 3D-printing work in a global setting. Dr Paul’s project, titled ‘Designing bioinks for improving uterine stem cells bioprinting for women’s urogynecological health’, aims to create pelvic mesh products from a woman’s own cells, which would be better tolerated than existing products.

“I have shown that bioprinted 3D degradable construct is a promising new alternative, which can significantly be improved by bioprinting of therapeutic eMSCs,” said Dr Paul.

“However, this needs a robust ‘bioink’ that can print and retain cells with their therapeutic value intact.

“My overseas research activities in this mission will ultimately fabricate a clinically relevant bioprinted tissue engineering construct for transvaginal POP surgery.”

He will spend four months at the University of Otago and two months at the National University of Singapore working on his project and collaborating with other leaders in the field.

POP is a hidden condition affecting up to 50% of women. While usually caused by injury during childbirth, the patient may not know about the damage until many years later, often during menopause.

The Hudson Institute research team, led by Professor Caroline Gargett and Dr Shayanti Mukherjee, is working with collaborators Professor Jerome Werkmeister and Associate Professor Anna Rosamilia.