Mesenchymal Stem Cell Group

Stan Gronthos (BSc., MSc., PhD.) currently holds an R.D. Wright NHMRC Fellowship, and Heads the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Group, situated in the Division of Haematology, I.M.V.S./Hanson Institute. He is a University of Adelaide Affiliate Senior Lecturer and an Associate Member of the Hanson Institute.

Staff List

Scientific staff

PhD Students

Summer Students

Research Focus

The focus of the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Group is to investigate the origin and biological properties of post-natal mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that form supportive connective tissues such as fat, muscle, bone, ligament, cartilage and dentin. We have previously identified different MSC populations from a variety of adult tissues including bone marrow, peripheral blood, adipose, and dental pulp. These MSC can be readily grown and expanded in culture as potential therapeutic agents for the repair of non-healing connective tissue defects caused by trauma or disease. However, during extensive cell culture adult MSC display a limited growth potential leading to a gradual loss of their stem cell properties. Currently, the general use of MSC for tissue regeneration is hampered by the availability of large numbers of quality MSC. We are one of only a few groups world wide, capable of purifying MSC directly from human tissue using our patented isolation protocol. This work has led to new developments in manipulating MSC populations in culture to increase their growth potential up to two or three fold while still maintaining their capacity to differentiate into multiple cell types. Future developments will determine whether genetically modified MSCs in combination with bio-compatible implant materials may provide a novel solution for various tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Grant Support for 2003/2004

Royal Adelaide Hospital/Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science Research Fund-Clinical Project Grants

• Title: Can The Level of Stromal-Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1a ) In Myeloma Patients Predict if They Will Develop Osteolytic Bone Disease? Zannettino ACW, Gronthos S. (2004)

National Health & Medical Research Council, Project Grant ID#299009

• Title of Grant: Periodontal mesenchymal stem cells for periodontal regeneration
• Principal Investigators: Bartold PM., Gronthos S. (2004-2006)

National Health & Medical Research Council, Project Grant ID#299031

• Title of Grant: Relationships between human osteoblasts and haemopoietic cells in bone remodelling. Principal Investigators: Atkins G., Findlay DM, Zannettino ACW, Gronthos S., Morris H. (2004-2006)

National Health & Medical Research Council, R.D. Wright Career Development Award ID#298950.

• Principal Investigator: Gronthos S. (2004-2008)

National Health & Medical Research Council, Project Grant ID# 242804

• Title of Grant: The Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Maintenance of Osteogenic Precursor Cells and Skeletal Tissue Regeneration. Principal Investigator: Gronthos S. (2003-2005)

Ramaciotti Foundation

• Title: Molecular mechanisms governing development and pathogenesis of human osteosarcomas. Principal Investigator: Gronthos S. (2003)

Florey Fellowship, Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee (AUD $213,000)

• Title of Grant: Gene expression analysis of bone marrow stromal stem cells. Principal Investigator: Gronthos S. (2002-2004)

Publications for 2003-2004

• Beiqing Pan, Luen To, Amanda Farrugia, David Findlay, Jonathan Green, Stan Gronthos, Andreas Evdokiou, Kevin Lynch, Gerald Atkins, Andrew Zannettino (2004). Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid, increases mineralisation of human bone-derived cells in vitro. Bone 34(1):112-123.
• Gronthos S., Cherman N., Gehron Robey P, Shi S. (2004). Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells: Characterization and Developmental Potential. Kursal Turksen (ed). Adult Stem Cells. Humana Press Inc., NJ, Chapter 5, p.67-82.
• Batouli S., Miura M., Brahim J., Tsutsui TW., Fisher LW., Gronthos S., Gehron Robey P., Shi S. (2003). Comparison of stem-cell-mediated osteogenesis and dentinogenesis. Journal of Dental Research 82(12): 975-980.
• Gerald J. Atkins, Panagiota Kostakis, Bei Qing Pan, Amanda Farrugia, Stan Gronthos, Andreas Evdokiou, Kate Harrison, David M. Findlay^* and Andrew C.W. Zannettino (2003). RANKL expression is related to the differentiation state of human osteoblasts. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 18(6): 1088-1098.
• Masako Miura, Stan Gronthos, Mingrui Zhao, Bai Lu, Larry W. Fisher, Pamela Gehron Robey, and Songtao (2003). Shi. SHED: Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 100 (10): 5807-5812. TRACK II
• Shi S. and Gronthos S. (2003). Perivascular Niche of Postnatal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Human Bone Marrow and Dental Pulp. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 18(4): 696-704.
• Gronthos .S, Chen S., Wang C-Y., Robey P.G., and Shi S. (2003). Telomerase Accelerates Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells by Increasing Proliferation and by Up-regulation of CBFA1, Osterix, and Osteocalcin. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 18(4): 716-722.
• Gronthos S., Zannettino ACW, Graves SE, Hay SJ, Simmons PJ (2003). Molecular and cellular characterisation of highly purified human bone marrow stromal stem cells. Journal of Cell Science 116: 1827-1835.