Interview with Dr Yinghong Zhou

Position: Deputy Director Australia-China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ACCTERM) and Senior Research Fellow,  

Organisation: School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology 

One-liner: Dr Yinghong Zhou is leading clever research into bone tissue engineering to improve bone repair and regeneration.

The advancement of communication technologies provides an enormous opportunity for researchers to not only learn about the world, but interact with the world. 

The Interview

What motivated you to become a Senior Research Fellow leading the Bone Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Dentistry research team at the Centre for Biomedical Technologies?  

Lauren Nguyen, Southport SHS Gold Coast 

Leveraging my training in both clinical dentistry and biomedical engineering, my vision is to develop ‘smart’ biomaterials to harness the body’s regenerative potential to regrow damaged tissues for inflammatory bone diseases, such as periodontitis and osteoarthritis. My passion for translational research derives from my personal quest as a curiosity-driven researcher to tackle unresolved clinical issues and spread the knowledge to next generation of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) pursuers as well as a broader community.

What are you working on at the Australia–China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine? 

STEM Girl Power 

As Deputy Director of Australia-China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ACCTERM), I lead a team of two project officers to grow our global research partners (academic + industry) beyond China, USA, UK, and Canada. We are aiming to create a highly visible hub for international research by:  

  • Developing annual research forums. 
  • Managing more than five multi-institutional collaborative research projects. 
  • Providing leadership to support three joint PhD supervision and student/scholar exchange programs a year. 
  • Leading the development of the quarterly e-newsletter and the ACCTERM website to disseminate the latest research findings to research partners and the public. 

What are the most common bone-related diseases that can be treated?     

STEM Girl Power 

A fracture is one of the most common bone-related diseases that can be treated. A fracture is a broken bone, usually due to trauma and osteoporosis. Fractures can generally be treated with a cast or splint. These supports keep the bone immobilised and straighten it. For some breaks, surgery may be needed to hold the bone steady using screws and plates. 

As a person who has had many accomplishments in their life, are there any other goals or achievements that you would like to obtain in the future?  

Grace Johnstone, Moranbah SHS 

I’d like to see my research outcomes translated from labs to clinics to improve outcomes for patients and contribute to a cost-effective Australian and global healthcare system. 

As communication technologies have changed over time has that made it easier to work with researchers across the globe? 

STEM Girl Power

The advancement of communication technologies provides an enormous opportunity for researchers to not only learn about the world but interact with the world. The instant connection enables novel multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary collaborations. You can see evidence of this already, with the increasing numbers of research papers and grants being published with national and international collaborators. 

Do you look at case studies of those with injuries or abnormalities or is it bigger picture work?   

STEM Girl Power 

My research is expanded on the pathogenesis of bone-related disease, dissecting the mechanisms behind general cases to create new approaches to disease prevention, treatment and management. 

What do you think could be commercialised in bone tissue engineering?    

STEM Girl Power 

I think a great opportunity for commercialisation is bone grafts that are customised for individual needs – this could include the size, shape, material composition, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the bone grafts. 

Bio

Dr Yinghong Zhou is a Senior Research Fellow leading the Bone Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Dentistry research team at the Centre for Biomedical Technologies.   

She obtained her PhD in Medical Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2013.   

Yinghong seeks to understand the mechanisms for bone repair and regeneration, with a particular interest in stem cell therapy and biomaterial application. Much of her past and current research work has utilised animal models to investigate the pathophysiology and treatment of bone-related diseases.   

She has been awarded a prestigious NHMRC Early Career Fellowship(2016-2020) to investigate cell signalling cues involved in periodontal tissue (around and supporting teeth) regeneration, as well as an Endeavour Research Fellowship (2017) for a collaborative project on dissecting the role of DMP1 in cell transformation at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry.   

In 2013 she was appointed as the Coordinator of the Australia–China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ACCTERM), then Deputy Director in 2016 and has worked in the role since.  

In July 2021 Yinghong was one of twenty pharmaceutical and MedTech researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators in Australia to be awarded a BridgeTech Program fellowship, these industry-based fellowships aim to boost skills and advance research or technology towards commercialisation.  

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