Modelling enthesis development in vitro to produce anatomically and clinically relevant bone-tendon constructs for flexor tendon repair

This project will increase the clinical relevance of a novel tissue-engineered model to study bone-to-tendon repair, building on previous work in our laboratory. Bone-tendon constructs mimicking native human bone-tendon tissues have been developed in an innovative co-culture system based on native anatomical morphometrics. These constructs have real potential to be used as in-vitro or as a composite grafts for implantation after injury. Despite exciting progress in construct design and manufacture, these constructs do not yet possess the mechanical characteristics of the native bone-tendon interface (enthesis), important for achieving real clinical relevance. Therefore, the main project aim is to improve the tissue-engineered bone-tendon constructs in vitro by using a key regulator of in vivo enthesis development - mechanical stimulation.

The two key objectives of this work are to tissue-engineer anatomically-relevant bone-tendon constructs with human cells and to
evaluate the impact of mechanical loading on the engineered constructs.


This project would suit an enthusiastic and motivated student with a biomedical sciences or biomedical engineering background. The supervisory team consists of Dr Jennifer Paxton (Anatomy, University of Edinburgh), Dr Jan Vorstius (Mechanical Engineering, University of Dundee) and Miss Philippa Rust (NHS/University of Edinburgh).

Applications can be made by sending a current CV, cover letter and details of two academic referees to [Email Address Removed]