Multiplexed Micro-physiological Perfusion System for Drug Testing

Dr Bryan Gao (MDHS)

Dr Bryan Gao received his BSc(Hon) in Biomedical Sciences and his PhD in Mechanobiology in National University of Singapore. He then joined the University of Melbourne, ARC Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies (CPTT), as a postdoctoral researcher in 2018, leading cross-disciplinary projects to develop engineering/LoC solutions for the unmet needs in biomedical research. His main research interests include microfluidic device innovation, in-vitro microenvironment control, and automated long-term culturing method, generating quality first-author publications in Nature Physics, Lab-on-Chip, and Applied Physics Letters. His key innovations has attracted strong industrial interest and led to two patent applications. Bryan also has substantial industrial experience, as founder and lead R&D Scientist of biotechnology start-ups during and after his PhD. He has recently completed his MBA training and finished the Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) Fellowship through Australian Medical Research Future Fund, focusing on development and commercialisation of multiplexed perfusion technology with the industry partner.

Prof Alastair Stewart (MDHS)

Prof Alastair Stewart has extensive experience in the field of respiratory and inflammation research. He has published over 200 papers, has had numerous patents proceed to grant and has served on various peer review committees for the NHMRC and the scientific advisory boards of several Australian Medical Research Institutes. Prof Stewart is currently the Director of the national ARC Industry Transformation Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies (ARC CPTT), and the Co-Director of the Lung Health Research Centre (LHRC). He is Vice President of the Asia Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists and a member of the Nominating and Programming Committees of the Respiratory Structure Function assembly of the American Thoracic Society.  His editorial roles include Chief Editor of the Translational Pharmacology section of Frontiers in Pharmacology and Senior Associate Editor of the American Society for Mechanical Engineering Journal (ASME), Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy. Prof Stewart is developing and applying the concept of mechanopharmacology in drug discovery and ultra-high content screening through his capacity as member of the Inaugural Board of the International Microphysiological Systems (MPS) Society, and a steering committee of a CSIRO-initiated review of Non-animal models for preclinical development.