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Tissue Engineering & Stem Cells (BMEN90011)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Assoc Prof Andrea O'Connor
Email: a.oconnor@unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
Students studying Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells will become familiar with the history, scope and potential of tissue engineering, and the potential role of stem cells in this field. This subject will address the use of biomaterials in tissue engineering; major scaffold materials and fabrication methods, scaffold strength and degradation; cell sources, selection, challenges and potential manipulation; cell-surface interactions, biocompatibility and the foreign body reaction; the role and delivery of growth factors for tissue engineering applications; in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering strategies, challenges, cell culture, scale-up issues and transport modelling; ethical and regulatory issues; clinical applications of tissue engineering, such as bone regeneration, breast reconstruction, cardiac and corneal tissue engineering, and organogenesis (e.g. pancreas).
This subject provides students with exposure to and understanding of a range of new and emerging applications of biomedical engineering. It includes research-led learning with opportunities to interact with experts and active researchers in the fields of stem cells and tissue engineering. The subject covers aspects of biology, materials engineering and process engineering which underpin tissue engineering and provides examples of the applications of this evolving area of technology.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include tissue organization & tissue dynamics, stem cells, cellular fate processes & signalling, the ECM as scaffold material, natural and synthetic polymers for tissue engineering, bioceramics, scaffold design and fabrication, tailoring biomaterials, cell culture and cell nutrition, bioreactors for tissue engineering, risk management in tissue engineering, ethics in tissue engineering.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Explain the significance, current status and future potential of tissue engineering
- Identify key challenges in tissue engineering of different human tissues
- Describe the design, fabrication and biomaterials selection criteria for tissue engineering scaffolds
- Describe the sources, selection, potential manipulations and challenges of using stem cells for tissue engineering
- Use simple models to quantify aspects of bioreactor design
- Discuss the challenges of in vivo implantation of biomaterials and scale-up issues relating to human clinical applications and explain the ethical and regulatory issues of significance in tissue engineering.
Generic skills
- Apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
- Undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
- Function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
411-394 / 411-651 Tissue Engineering
411-650 Tissue Engineering & Bionanotechnology
600-652 Tissue Engineering & Stem Cells
BTCH90008 Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells
Recommended background knowledge
It is recommended that students have completed ANY ONE of:
CHEN90008 Biology for Engineers (Prior to 2013)
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90031 | Bioprocess Engineering | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
(Prior to 2014 CHEN30014 Bioprocess Engineering or BTCH90006 Bioprocess Engineering)
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL10002 | Biomolecules and Cells | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10004 | Biology of Cells and Organisms | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND ONE OF:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEM10006 | Chemistry for Biomedicine | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CHEM10003 | Chemistry 1 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
AND:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST10006 | Calculus 2 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Semester 2
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written assignment (Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1,2 and 6 are addressed)
| From Week 2 to Week 12 | 30% |
Two laboratory classes and report (Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 3 and 5 are addressed)
| From Week 3 to Week 9 | 20% |
Written Exam (Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 6 are addressed)
| During the examination period | 50% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Andrea O'Connor Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures, 12 hours of workshops, 12 hours of tutorials and 6 hours of laboratory work per semester. Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Assoc Prof Andrea O'Connor
Email: a.oconnor@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated 200 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
None
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject will be delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Students will also complete two laboratory practical sessions which will reinforce the material covered in lectures.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students will have access to lecture notes and tutorial problem sheets with solution guides for the tutorial calculations provided after the tutorials. The assignments will involve a literature review along with peer reviewing and feedback.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
Guest lectures will be given by experts in the field from industry and/or research institutions.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Biotechnology Specialisation (formal) Biochemical Specialisation (formal) Chemical Specialisation (formal) Biomedical Specialisation (formal) Chemical with Business Specialisation (formal) Biomedical with Business - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022