BME Seminar Series: Dr. Damien Harkin, Queensland University of Technology

Damien Harkin, BSc, PhD
Research Group Leader, Ocular Cell Therapies
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health
Centre for Vision and Eye Research
Queensland University of Technology

Title: "Like for Like: the challenges and shifting goals for bioengineered corneal tissue substitutes"

Abstract: For at least three generations, an un-met global demand for donor corneal transplants has inspired the quest for laboratory grown tissue substitutes. The relative simplicity of corneal structure would suggest that this is a straight forward task, but corneal allograft remains the gold-standard. While artificial tissue substitutes have value as a last resort, the ideal goal of corneal tissue engineering remains, for many surgeons, to replace "like with like"; living tissue that matches the structure and function of normal tissue. Over the last twenty years, much has been learned regarding the optimal requirement for growing the three principal cell types of the cornea. Corneal epithelial cells are readily cultivated, banked and applied throughout the world as a treatment for ocular surface disease. Corneal stromal cells are logistically the easiest to grow, but the optimal cell phenotype for therapeutic outcomes remains unclear. Finally, the most posterior cell layer, consisting of corneal endothelial cells, while arguably the most important for long-term efficacy, remain the most challenging to cultivate. As such, the routine supply of full thickness corneal substitutes remains a challenging project for old and and new scientists alike. Moreover, emerging trends in the surgical treatment of corneal disease suggest a future where full-thickness corneas may no longer be needed to the extent that they once were. The final question that I hope to leave for audience consideration therefore is "will the demand for full thickness corneal tissue substitutes disappear before they can be routinely brought to market".

Bio: Professor Harkin is an experienced teacher and medical researcher. He has taught the principles of human structure, function and disease to undergraduate students across multiple fields including nursing, paramedical studies, optometry, podiatry, biomedical science and medical laboratory science. His main area of teaching focus for the last 15 years has been techniques for the analysis of tissue structure for diagnostic and research applications. His main area of research focus for the last 20 years has been the development of cell and tissue therapies for the treatment of common and severe eye diseases. This research has led to over 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters.

Professor Harkin received his BSc and PhD (Pathology) from the University of Adelaide (1993) before completing postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School (1994-1996) and the University of Melbourne (1997). He commenced working at QUT as a lecturer in 2001 and was promoted to Professor in 2016. Professor Harkin also holds honorary positions at the Queensland Eye Institute (since 2005) and Australian Red Cross LifeBlood (since 2020). Professor Harkin has also been awarded a Masters degree in Tertiary Education (2019) from the University of Melbourne.