Current Grants
Name of Project
Quantification of balancing in total knee replacement – $48,320
Aim: Developing a device to measure the loads transmitted through the knee during balancing. Combined with navigation system measurements of displacement, a comprehensive investigation into the relationship between knee balance and clinical outcomes would be possible. If a method for measuring the loads (stress) applied to knee during TKR balancing were combined with gap (strain) measurements obtained from robotic or navigation systems, it would be possible to appropriately characterise balance, and only then understand it’s influence on clinical outcomes via well structured studies.
Name of Project
Canberra Trauma Database – ACTOR – $45, 396
Name of Project
Analysing forces and pressures arising in the lateral hip – $18, 248
Name of Project
Biomarkers for Prevention and Drug Development on Arthrofibrosis in Post Total Knee Arthroplasty – $20,000
Applicant Name: Associate Professor Rachel W. Li
Other applicants: Dr Joe Lynch, Professor Paul N. Smith
Date of application: 13-02-2024
Background information (statement of problem and how this project fits into it):
Background Arthrofibrosis has been described in most joints like knee, hip, ankle, foot joints, shoulder, elbow (stiff elbow), wrist, hand joints as well as spinal vertebrae. It can occur after injury or surgical procedures of TKA, which causes significant disability and limitation in daily living [1]. There is no preventative care for arthrofibrosis. It poses a significant unsolved clinical challenge, which involves implant and materials, surgical technique, and patients’ genetic responses. Some patients must be performed manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) or revision surgery. To investigate the mechanisms underpinning the interplay between monocytes and fibroblast in the local tissue has important therapeutic implications. The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has revolutionized our ability to surgically modify the genomes of human cells [2]. The ability to knock out individual genes rapidly and effectively in freshly isolated cells from patients would provide a valuable early target validation platform to assess novel mechanistic approaches.
Pilot Study. With the support from Canberra Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (CORE), we have initiated pilot research on circulating miRNA pre-operation of the TKA and knee tissue mRNA post primary TKA. The miRNA and mRNA sequencing has shown the overexpression and activation of pathways that are under the control of TGFβ1. Also increased expression of CXCL3 in fibroblasts or monocytes and its receptor CXCR2 has been proved. Excepting CXCL3 and CXCR2.
Name of Project
Development of 3B Material for Future Orthopaedic Implant – $25,000
Applicant Name: Associate Professor Rachel W. Li
Other applicants: Professor Paul N. Smith, Dr Tom Cheng
Date of application: 14-02-2024
Background information (statement of problem and how this project fits into it):
Background Prosthetic joint infections remain a significant cause of mortality and morbidity for patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures. It requires long-term antibiotic treatment, as well as several surgeries (revision surgery), which is a significant economic burden to healthcare systems (1). In recent years there has been a rapid increase in research interest on the development of biocompatible, bioactive, and bioresorbable (3B) metals for orthopaedic applications. We have tested Ga/SrOPO4@Mg against four bacterial species using LIVE/DEAD viability assay and found that S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa were on average inhibited by 93.38%, 32.09%, 85.8% and 47.69%, respectively, compared to stainless steel (used as control). This was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy whereby the surface of Ga/SrOPO4@Mg discs had scant bacterial attachment compared to confluent bacterial attachment on stainless steel.