Tissue
Engineering
Group Head
Dr Tom Flanagan
01 716 6631 / [email protected]
UCD Health Sciences Centre
The TERG is currently based in the UCD Health Sciences Centre and focusses
on which to grow cells, which then transform the fibrin into a tissue-like
on the application of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine principles
structure. The current 4-year translational study will employ novel techniques
to the improved treatment of disease. The two major group research themes
to generate more stable, long-lasting vascular graft materials using specialised
are summarised below.
equipment, defined chemical supplementation, together with the patient’s own
cells.
1. Vascular graft / heart valve prostheses. The major research focus of
The Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG) is focussed on the development of next-generation implants by combining nanotechnology and tissue
engineering methods, with a particular focus on living, cardiovascular devices
for the treatment of both paediatric and adult populations.
the group specifically targets the treatment of congenital cardiac defects,
2. In vitro models of disease. The second major research interest of the
and namely the development of vascular and heart valve prostheses to
TERG is the application of tissue-engineered constructs as in vitro models
reconstruct such defects. The principal project within the group, funded by
of disease, primarily myxomatous mitral valve disease. While much work has
the National Children’s Research Centre, is a highly multidisciplinary study
been performed to look at diagnosis and treatment of this disease, efforts to
that aims to synthesise a novel, autologous elastogenic vascular graft that can
better understand the cellular and molecular basis of this disease have been
be constructed entirely from materials isolated from the infant patient. The
hampered by the lack of a suitable in vitro system. In a collaborative study
premise of this study is that autologous, or ‘self-made’, materials will remove
with the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh and NUI, Galway, the TERG
the potential for graft rejection, and provide the infant patient with a living,
is developing an in vitro bioreactor system to determine the factors that may
elastic graft that can grow together with their surrounding body tissues,
influence the onset and progression of canine and human myxomatous mitral
thereby eliminating the need for successive re-operations. The group has been
valve disease.
working closely with Prof Stefan Jockenhoevel (RWTH Aachen, Germany)
over the last number of years developing techniques to generate both living
In addition to a number of publications and presentations, the highlight of the
vascular grafts and heart valve prostheses based on a fibrin scaffold material.
group in 2012 was to secure substantial funding from the National Children’s
Fibrin can be isolated from a sample of patients’ blood, and used as a material
Research Centre for paediatric vascular graft development.
Tissue Engineering Group
Researchers Supported:
Ian Woods, PhD candidate
Sean Strauther, MSc candidate
Grants:
Title: Autologous, elastogenic tissue-engineered
Dr Tom Flanagan
vascular conduits for repair of congenital heart
Lecturer
defects
Funder: National Children’s Research Centre, Our
Location: UCD Health Sciences Centre
Contact: 01 716 6631
Email: [email protected]
Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (CRC)
Start/End Dates: 01-OCT-12 / 01-OCT-16
Amount: €260,000
Dr Flanagan’s heads the Tissue Engineering research group at the School of Medicine & Medical
Publications:
Science, with a primary research focus in the fields
of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular tissue
engineering, and in particular the development of
novel heart valve prostheses and vascular grafts.
1. Koch S, Stappenbeck N, Cornelissen CG, Flanagan TC, Mela P, Sachweh J, et al. Tissue engineering:
Additionally, the group are involved in developing
selecting the optimal fixative for immunohisto-
in vitro models of disease (e.g. myxomatous mitral
chemistry. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2012,18:976-
valve disease, cancer), and have a number of active
983.
national and international collaborations in these
areas.
2. Weinandy S, Rongen L, Schreiber F, Cornelissen
C, Flanagan TC, Mahnken A, et al. The BioStent:
novel concept for a viable stent structure. Tissue
Eng Part A 2012,18:1818-1826.
3. Wirz S, Dietrich M, Flanagan TC, Bokermann
G, Wagner W, Schmitz-Rode T, et al. Influence of
platelet-derived growth factor-AB on tissue development in autologous platelet-rich plasma gels.
Tissue Eng Part A 2011,17:1891-1899.
Active national and international
collaborators & projects:
Prof Stefan Jockenhoevel, Helmholtz Institute
for Biomedical Engineering & Institute for Textile
Technology, Aachen University, Germany
Alex Black, Department of Anatomy, National
University of Ireland, Galway
Prof Brendan Corcoran, Royal (Dick) School of
Veterinary Studies & Roslin Institute, University of
Edinburgh, Scotland
Tissue Engineering