Professor Laurence Meagher is interested in how material science and engineering can be applied to and help solve medical problems. As the world population ages, new solutions are required to help shape the future of medicine. The approaches Laurence uses are framed by his extensive experience leading commercially focused research and development with commercial clients. For example, Laurence was a key member of the team that developed the Air OPTIX(TM) soft silicone hydrogel contact lens.

There are still strong clinical needs in three main areas: (i) bacterial infections which arise from the implantation of medical devices or use of catheters, (ii) thrombosis or blood clot formation on materials which are placed in the bloodstream and (iii) fibrosis or scar tissue formation on or around devices implanted devices or materials which, as most foreign objects do, invoke an immune response. These are three examples of clinical areas where designed surface coatings can really help to provide solutions to these very challenging problems.

For example, Laurence is applying controlled radical polymerisation approaches to the preparation of antibacterial coatings. He has already developed new polymers that work very well against a range of medically relevant and drug-resistant bacteria and fungi; and which kill biofilms, whilst having low toxicity to human cells. Of great importance is that these polymers do not result in the development of resistance and are very inexpensive to make on a large scale.

Surface coating approaches are also very important in the new area of cell therapies. Where material science and surface engineering can make a difference in this field is in the generation of synthetic coatings and culture systems for cell manufacture that do not use animal products. This reduces the risk of infection and makes the manufacture of these important cells less expensive, which can make the treatments available to more people. These types of concepts (synthetic materials for cell growth) can also be applied in the preparation of synthetic scaffold materials that support the growth of cells for tissue regeneration. This field is often called tissue engineering.

Prof Meagher is the Director of the ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies which will carry out research in collaboration with industry partners and train a cohort of HDR in all aspects of the translation and commercialisation of cell and tissue-engineered products. He leads one of the four Centre research themes, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing.

Prof Meagher is Director of the Monash SPARK program which provides seed funding and industry mentoring for academic-led research where the team is seeking to translate the medical device, in-vitro diagnostic or therapeutic agent to the clinic for use with patients.

In 2020, Prof Meagher joined the Monash Centre to Impact AMR as Chair of the Industrial Engagement working group to drive translational outcomes from the Centres core research. The Centre will benefit from his extensive expertise in anti-microbial coatings and materials to develop new surfaces to stop the spread of AMR infections