Innovative Bioengineered In-Vitro Model for Studying Bone Aging and Stem Cell Senescence in Joints

Start year: 2025

Summary: The number of Australians aged 85 and over is expected to double by 2042. Aging impairs tissue repair and regeneration due to the accumulation of senescent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Seed funding will support the creation of a bioengineered in vitro model that mimics the bone microenvironment. This model will help researchers understand bone aging at cellular, micro-, and nanoscale levels, focusing on factors like collagen crosslinking, mineral defects, and water redistribution. The goal is to explore whether aging can be slowed or reversed, paving the way for future research and potential therapies.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.