Associate Professor Aaron Schindeler
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Associate Professor Aaron Schindeler

Head, Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW) and Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR)
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Conjoint Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine &
Health
Phone
02 98451451
Fax
02 98453078
Associate Professor Aaron Schindeler

A/Prof Schindeler heads the Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine laboratory at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. He holds an academic position in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Faculty of Engineering).

He leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and health professionals that tackle major clinical issues affecting children’s musculoskeletal health and genetic disease. He has a strong research track record with 120+ peer-review publications and eight NHMRC project grants, and an ARC Linkage Grant.

A/Prof Schindeler has been working at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead since 2003, after completing his PhD at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

A/Prof Schindeler has a diverse range of research interests across the fields of medicine, health, and engineering. Key focus areas include the development of novel tools for functional genomics and gene therapy for bone fragility disorders; pharmaceutical modulation of bone healing; bone tissue engineering using novel biomaterials and 3D printing; and treating the musculoskeletal complications associated with Neurofibromatosis type 1.

“My research aims to target major problems affecting children’s health. To accomplish this, I am working to create new tools for understanding the mechanisms of disease and subsequent disease treatment. In some cases we are repurposing old drugs, in other cases we are designing new drugs as well as new gene editing strategies using technologies such as CRISPR.

“One example of the timeline of such research can be seen in the treatment of the genetic disease neurofibromatosis type I or NF1. Children with this condition have a broad range of complications, but my work has focused on those affecting muscle and bone. Together with my colleagues we found that other drugs used for treatment of non-unions combined with adult osteoporosis drugs could reduce the number of amputations seen in children with crippling bone non-unions. More recently, we found that specific over-the-counter dietary supplements were able to effectively treat muscle weakness in a preclinical model, and this work has now moved into clinical trials.

“Another exciting advance is how we are using CRISPR gene editing to develop functional genomics methods to identify causes of bone disease in hospital patients. However the real challenge will be to then find ways to repair these mutations. Recently we had a major advance, developing an adeno-associated viral vector system that specifically targets the bone and that can affect gene editing throughout the skeleton with a single injection. While there is a lot of work to be done before we can cure genetic bone diseases, this is a critical first step.”

A/Prof has supervised over 50 resesarch students from the faculties of Medicine & Health (including MDs pursuing research doctrates) and Engineering.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3415.html

https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3416.html

https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3417.html

Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, Biomedical engineering and technology
Project titleResearch student
Development of CRISPR-based gene therapy for dominant negative Osteogenesis ImperfectaChristal AU-YEUNG
Development of tissue-targeted vectors for musculoskeletal gene therapyJulian CHU
Gene Therapy for Neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2Hsien KAO
Exploring Vitamin D's Effects on Muscle Regeneration and Mitochondrial FunctionJohnson LI
Engineering a Targeted Delivery SystemTimothy SCHOFIELD
Microfluidic Analysis of Protein Condensate Interactions for Drug DiscoveryJiaxin, Caramel XIE

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Wu, J., Blackshaw, K., Cho, J., Koolaji, N., Yun, J., Schindeler, A., Valtchev, P., Dehghani, F. (2021). Recovery of high-value compounds from food by-products. In Not known (Eds.), Food Engineering Innovations Across the Food Supply Chain, (pp. 61-88). TBC. [More Information]

Journals

  • Schindeler, A., Ludwig, K., Munns, C. (2024). Enzyme replacement therapy for hypophosphatasia—The current paradigm. Clinical Endocrinology. [More Information]
  • Julovi, S., Dao, A., Trinh, K., O'Donohue, A., Shu, C., Smith, S., Shingde, M., Schindeler, A., Rogers, N., Little, C. (2023). Disease-modifying interactions between chronic kidney disease and osteoarthritis: A new comorbid mouse model. RMD Open, 9(3). [More Information]
  • O'Donohue, A., Dao, A., Bobyn, J., Munns, C., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2023). Modeling anabolic and antiresorptive therapies for fracture healing in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 41(4), 808-814. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Schindeler, A., Ramachandran, M., Little, D. (2006). BMP-2 treatment produces an attenuated response in a mouse model of type 1 neurofibromatosis.
  • Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2006). Osteoclasts but not osteoblasts are affected by bispbospbonate bound to a calcified substrate.

2024

  • Schindeler, A., Ludwig, K., Munns, C. (2024). Enzyme replacement therapy for hypophosphatasia—The current paradigm. Clinical Endocrinology. [More Information]

2023

  • Julovi, S., Dao, A., Trinh, K., O'Donohue, A., Shu, C., Smith, S., Shingde, M., Schindeler, A., Rogers, N., Little, C. (2023). Disease-modifying interactions between chronic kidney disease and osteoarthritis: A new comorbid mouse model. RMD Open, 9(3). [More Information]
  • O'Donohue, A., Dao, A., Bobyn, J., Munns, C., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2023). Modeling anabolic and antiresorptive therapies for fracture healing in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 41(4), 808-814. [More Information]
  • Dao, A., O'Donohue, A., Vasiljevski, E., Bobyn, J., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2023). Murine models of orthopedic infection featuring Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. Journal of Bone and Joint Infection, 8(2), 81-89. [More Information]

2022

  • Talebian, S., schofield, T., Valtchev, P., Schindeler, A., Kavanagh, J., Adil, Q., Dehghani, F. (2022). Biopolymer-Based Multilayer Microparticles for Probiotic Delivery to Colon. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 11(11). [More Information]
  • Lee, L., Holman, A., Li, X., Vasiljevski, E., O'Donohue, A., Cheng, T., Little, D., Schindeler, A., Biggin, A., Munns, C. (2022). Combination treatment with growth hormone and zoledronic acid in a mouse model of Osteogenesis imperfecta. Bone, 159, 116378-1-116378-12. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., Lee, L., O'Donohue, A., Ginn, S., Munns, C. (2022). Curative Cell and Gene Therapy for Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 37(5), 826-836. [More Information]

2021

  • Casanova, M., Schindeler, A., Peacock, L., Lee, L., Schneider, P., Little, D., Müller, R. (2021). Characterization of the Developing Lacunocanalicular Network During Fracture Repair. JBMR Plus, 5(9), e10525. [More Information]
  • Fois, C., Schindeler, A., Valtchev, P., Dehghani, F. (2021). Dynamic flow and shear stress as key parameters for intestinal cells morphology and polarization in an organ-on-a-chip model. Biomedical Microdevices, 23(4), 55. [More Information]
  • Mirkhalaf Valashani, M., Goldsmith, J., Ren, J., Dao, A., Newman, P., Schindeler, A., Woodruff, M., Dunstan, C., Zreiqat, H. (2021). Highly substituted calcium silicates 3D printed with complex architectures to produce stiff, strong and bioactive scaffolds for bone regeneration. Applied Materials Today, 25, 101230. [More Information]

2020

  • Koolaji, N., Shammugasamy, B., Schindeler, A., Dong, Q., Dehghani, F., Valtchev, P. (2020). Citrus Peel Flavonoids as Potential Cancer Prevention Agents. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4(5), 1-20. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., Biggin, A., Munns, C. (2020). Clinical Evidence for the Benefits of Burosumab Therapy for X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH) and Other Conditions in Adults and Children. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11, 338. [More Information]
  • Mills, R., Boyling, A., Cheng, T., Peacock, L., Savage, P., Tägil, M., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2020). CSA-90 reduces periprosthetic joint infection in a novel rat model challenged with local and systemic Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 38(9), 2065-2073. [More Information]

2019

  • Arab, M., Bahramian, B., Schindeler, A., Fathi, A., Valtchev, P., McConchie, R., Dehghani, F. (2019). A benign process for the recovery of solanesol from tomato leaf waste. Heliyon, 5(4), 1-17. [More Information]
  • Cheng, T., Leblanc, E., Kalinina, A., Cantrill, L., Valtchev, P., Dehghani, F., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2019). A Bioactive Coating Enhances Bone Allografts in Rat Models of Bone Formation and Critical Defect Repair. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 37(11), 2278-2286. [More Information]
  • Lee, L., Peacock, L., Ginn, S., Cantrill, L., Cheng, T., Little, D., Munns, C., Schindeler, A. (2019). Bone Marrow Transplantation for Treatment of the Col1a2+/G610C Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mouse Model. Calcified Tissue International, 104(4), 426-436. [More Information]

2018

  • Daly, S., Fathi, A., Bahramian, B., Manavi Tehrani, I., McClure, D., Valtchev, P., Schindeler, A., Dehghani, F., Kavanagh, J. (2018). A green process for the purification of biodegradable poly(B-hydroxybutyrate). The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 135, 84-90. [More Information]
  • Torabian, G., Bahramian, B., Zambon, A., Spilimbergo, S., Adil, Q., Schindeler, A., Valtchev, P., Dehghani, F. (2018). A hybrid process for increasing the shelf life of elderberry juice. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 140, 406-414. [More Information]
  • Mills, R., Cheng, T., Mikulec, K., Peacock, L., Isaacs, D., Genberg, C., Savage, P., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2018). CSA-90 Promotes Bone Formation and Mitigates Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection in a Rat Open Fracture Model. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 476(6), 1311-1323. [More Information]

2017

  • Little, D., Peacock, L., Mikulec, K., Kneissel, M., Kramer, I., Cheng, T., Schindeler, A., Munns, C. (2017). Combination sclerostin antibody and zoledronic acid treatment outperforms either treatment alone in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta. Bone, 101, 96-103. [More Information]
  • Manavi Tehrani, I., Fathi, A., Wang, Y., Maitz, P., Mirmohseni, F., Cheng, T., Peacock, L., Little, D., Schindeler, A., Dehghani, F. (2017). Fabrication of a Biodegradable Implant with Tunable Characteristics for Bone Implant Applications. Biomacromolecules, 18(6), 1736-1746. [More Information]
  • Yang, I., Gottliebsen, M., Martinkevich, P., Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2017). Guided Growth: Current Perspectives and Future Challenges. JBJS Reviews, 5(11), 1-12. [More Information]

2016

  • Cheng, T., Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2016). BMP-2 delivered via sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) improves bone repair in a rat open fracture model. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 34(7), 1168-1176. [More Information]
  • Murphy, C., Duffy, G., Schindeler, A., O'Brien, F. (2016). Effect of Collagen-Glycosaminoglycan Scaffold Pore Size on Matrix Mineralisation and Cellular Behaviour in Different Cell Types. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research A, 104(1), 291-304. [More Information]
  • Casanova, M., Herelle, J., Thomas, M., Softley, R., Schindeler, A., Little, D., Schneider, P., Muller, R. (2016). Effect of combined treatment with zoledronic acid and parathyroid hormone on mouse bone callus structure and composition. Bone, 92, 70-78. [More Information]

2015

  • Bobyn, J., Little, D., Gray, R., Schindeler, A. (2015). Animal Models of Scoliosis. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 33(4), 458-467. [More Information]
  • Ravarian, R., Murphy, C., Schindeler, A., Rawal, A., Hook, J., Dehghani, F. (2015). Bioactive poly(methyl methacrylate) for bone fixation. RSC Advances, 5(75), 60681-60690. [More Information]
  • Cheng, T., Murphy, C., Ravarian, R., Dehghani, F., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2015). Bisphosphonate-adsorbed ceramic nanoparticles increase bone formation in an injectable carrier for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Tissue Engineering, 6, 1-9. [More Information]

2014

  • Murphy, C., Schindeler, A., Gleeson, J., Yu, N., Cantrill, L., Mikulec, K., Peacock, L., O'Brien, F., Little, D. (2014). A collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffold allows for binding and co-delivery of recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins and bisphosphonates. Acta Biomaterialia, 10, 2250-2258. [More Information]
  • El-Hoss, J., Cheng, T., Carpenter, E., Sullivan, K., Deo, N., Mikulec, K., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2014). A combination of rhBMP-2 (recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2) and MEK (MAP kinase/ERK kinase) inhibitor PD0325901 increases bone formation in a murine model of neurofibromatosis type I pseudarthrosis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: American Volume, 96(14), 1-11. [More Information]
  • Shen, K., Murphy, C., Chan, B., Kolind, M., Cheng, T., Cheng, T., Mikulec, K., Peacock, L., Xue, M., Park, S., Little, D., Jackson, C., Schindeler, A. (2014). Activated Protein C (APC) can Increase Bone Anabolism via a Protease Activated Receptor (PAR)1/2 Dependent Mechanism. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 32(12), 1549-1556. [More Information]

2013

  • Cheng, T., Valtchev, P., Murphy, C., Cantrill, L., Dehghani, F., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2013). A sugar-based phase-transitioning delivery system for bone tissue-engineering. European Cells and Materials, 26, 208-221. [More Information]
  • Stevenson, D., Little, D., Armstrong, L., Crawford, A., Eastwood, D., Friedman, J., Greggi, T., Gutierrez, G., Hunter-Schaedle, K., Kendler, D., Schindeler, A., et al (2013). Approaches to Treating NF1 Tibial Pseudarthrosis: Consensus From the Children's Tumor Foundation NF1 Bone Abnormalities Consortium. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 33(3), 269-275. [More Information]
  • Murphy, C., O'Brien, F., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2013). Cell-scaffold interactions in the bone tissue engineering triad. European Cells and Materials, 26, 120-132. [More Information]

2012

  • El-Hoss, J., Sullivan, K., Cheng, T., Yu, N., Bobyn, J., Peacock, L., Mikulec, K., Baldock, P., Alexander, I., Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2012). A murine model of neurofibromatosis type 1 tibial pseudarthrosis featuring proliferative fibrous tissue and osteoclast-like cells. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 27(1), 68-78. [More Information]
  • Cairns, D., Liu, R., Sen, M., Canner, J., Schindeler, A., Little, D., Zeng, L. (2012). Interplay of Nkx3.2, Sox9 and Pax3 Regulates Chondrogenic Differentiation of Muscle Progenitor Cells. PloS One, 7(7), 1-17. [More Information]
  • Carr, D., Yu, N., Fitzpatrick, J., Peacock, L., Mikulec, K., Ruys, A., Cooper-White, J., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2012). Synergy between rhBMP-2 and IKK-Inhibitor PS-1145 Delivered via a Porous Biodegradable Polymer Implant. Journal of Tissue Science and Engineering, S1, 1-7. [More Information]

2011

  • El-Hoss, J., Micallef, A., Fairfull-Smith, K., Bottle, S., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2011). Assessment of Tumor Prevention in Type 1 Neurofibromatosis using a Nitroxide Compound. Free Radicals and Antioxidants, 1(3), 13-18. [More Information]
  • McDonald, M., Morse, A., Peacock, L., Mikulec, K., Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2011). Characterization of the Bone Phenotype and Fracture Repair in Osteopetrotic Incisors Absent Rats. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 29(5), 726-733. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., Birke, O., Yu, N., Morse, A., Ruys, A., Baldock, P., Little, D. (2011). Distal tibial fracture repair in a neurofibromatosis type 1-deficient mouse treated with recombinant bone morphogenetic protein and a bisphosphonate. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: British Volume, 93 B (8), 1134-1139. [More Information]

2010

  • Yu, N., Schindeler, A., Little, D., Ruys, A. (2010). Biodegradable poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part B Applied Biomaterials, 93B(1), 285-295. [More Information]
  • Yu, N., Schindeler, A., Peacock, L., Mikulec, K., Baldock, P., Ruys, A., Little, D. (2010). In vivo local co-delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 and pamidronate via poly-D, L-lactic acid. European Cells and Materials, 20, 431-442. [More Information]
  • Birke, O., Schindeler, A., Ramachandran, M., Cowell, C., Munns, C., Bellemore, M., Little, D. (2010). Preliminary experience with the combined use of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein and bisphosphonates in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Journal of Children's Orthopaedics, 4(6), 507-517. [More Information]

2009

  • Liu, R., Ginn, S., Lek, M., North, K., Alexander, I., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2009). Myoblast sensitivity and fibroblast insensitivity to osteogenic conversion by BMP-2 correlates with the expression of Bmpr-1 a. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 10, 51-1-51-12. [More Information]
  • Elefterious, F., Kolanczyk, M., Schindeler, A., Viskochil, D., Hock, J., Schorry, E., Crawford, A., Friedman, J., Little, D., Peltonen, J., et al (2009). Skeletal Abnormalities in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Approaches to Therapeutic Options. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, 149(10), 2327-2338. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., Liu, R., Little, D. (2009). The contribution of different cell lineages to bone repair: exploring a role for muscle stem cells. Differentiation, 77(1), 12-18. [More Information]

2008

  • Yu, N., Ruys, A., Zenios, M., Godfrey, C., McDonald, M., Kiely, P., Mikulec, K., Little, D., Schindeler, A. (2008). Bisphosphonate-Laden Acrylic Bone Cement: Mechanical Properties, Elution Performance, and In Vivo Activity. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part B Applied Biomaterials, 87B(2), 482-491. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., McDonald, M., Little, D., Bokka, P. (2008). Bone remodeling during fracture repair: The cellular picture. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 19(5), 459-466. [More Information]
  • Schindeler, A., Ramachandran, M., Godfrey, C., Morse, A., McDonald, M., Mikulec, K., Little, D. (2008). Modeling Bone Morphogenetic Protein and Bisphosphonate Combination Therapy in Wild-Type and Nf1 Haploinsufficient Mice. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 26(1), 65-74. [More Information]

2007

  • Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2007). Bisphosphonate action: Revelations and deceptions from in vitro studies. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 96(8), 1872-1878. [More Information]
  • Dulai, S., Briody, J., Schindeler, A., North, K., Cowell, C., Little, D. (2007). Decreased bone mineral density in neurofibromatosis type 1: results from a pediatric cohort. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 27(4), 472-475. [More Information]
  • Little, D., Ramachandran, M., Schindeler, A. (2007). The anabolic and catabolic responses in bone repair. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: British Volume, 89(4), 425-433. [More Information]

2006

  • Schindeler, A., Ramachandran, M., Little, D. (2006). BMP-2 treatment produces an attenuated response in a mouse model of type 1 neurofibromatosis.
  • Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2006). Osteoclasts but not osteoblasts are affected by bispbospbonate bound to a calcified substrate.
  • Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2006). Ras-MAPK signaling in osteogenic differentiation: friend or foe? Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 21(9), 1331-1338. [More Information]

2005

  • Schindeler, A., Little, D. (2005). Osteoclasts but not osteoblasts are affected by a calcified surface treated with zoledronic acid in vitro. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 338(2), 710-716. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2023

  • Gene Therapy for Neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, Schindeler A, Burgio G, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Ideas Grant

2020

  • Design a Targeted Delivery System for Probiotics, Dehghani F, Kavanagh J, Valtchev P, Schindeler A, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)