Dr Gabriella Lindberg using the new rheometer that was purchased with support from the Te Tahua Rangahau Hauoratanga Lottery Health Research Grant.
Multiple life science research efforts are benefitting from the purchase of a new commercial rheometer at the University of Otago's Christchurch campus, thanks to the efforts of Dr Gabriella Lindberg and the sponsorship of Te Tahua Rangahau Hauoratanga Lottery Health Research Grant.
Lindberg prepared a successful grant application and then liaised over an extensive Request for Tender process in order to purchase the Anton Paar MCR 702 MultiDrive Rheometer, valued in excess of NZ$140,000.
The device offers mechanical testing capabilities for biofabrication, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery strategies.
“This is a really exciting addition to the lab since it allows us to measure vitally important end-points to help solve problems such as how to 3D print light-activated biomaterials, determine when a pharmaceutical suspension is stable, or how alterations in blood flow or tumour stiffness relates to disease progression” says Lindberg.
Lindberg works as part of the Christchurch Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering research group (CReaTE), which is part of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the Christchurch campus. The rheometer is available for use by Christchurch-based researchers, and the research group is open to receiving requests for time with the machine from colleagues nationwide who may be travelling to Christchurch.