Associate Professor Giselle Yeo
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Associate Professor Giselle Yeo

Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer
Academic Fellow
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Phone
+61 2 8627 1727
Address
D17 - Charles Perkins Centre
The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Giselle Yeo

Dr Yeo completed her PhD in matrix protein biochemistry at the University of Sydney, then continued on with postdoctoral studies in the biofunctionalisation of materials for tissue engineering applications. In 2018, Dr Yeo was appointed on a USyd Early Career Development Fellowship, during which she established a research program focused on matrix-induced stem cell biology and stem cell-based regenerative materials.

Dr Yeo is also the site director of the Amgen Biotech Experience program in Australia, a global school outreach program dedicated to increasing biotechnology knowledge and skills in schools.

Dr Yeo's research is in the area of stem cell biotechnology, with two main objectives:

1) To characterise fundamental processes regulating stem cell behaviour

Stem cells occupy a complex environment with soluble factors and matrix proteins. We aim to understand the interplay between these mechanical and biochemical cues, and their effects on cell growth, aging, function, and plasticity.

2) To develop technologies for effective stem cell manipulation

A key barrier to the clinical translation of stem cell therapies is the lack of an abundant and quality cell supply. We aim to design biomimetic, cell-instructive 3D materials for robust and effective stem cell expansion, differentiation, and functional manipulation.

Molecular biology and biotechnology, Biochemistry and metabolism
Project titleResearch student
Regulation of mesenchymal stem cell ageing by extracellular matrix proteinsSunny LEE
Hydrogels for large scale 3D stem cell culture and harvestRenjian TAN
Investigating the Effects of Extracellular Matrix Proteins on Stem Cell ReprogrammingThu Thuy VU

Publications

Journals

  • Major, G., Joukhdar, H., Choi, Y., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Wise, S., Ju, A., Cox, T., Xu, C., Yeo, G., Young, J., Lim, K. (2025). Photochemistry as a tool for dynamic modulation of hydrogel mechanics. Cell Reports Physical Science, 6(1). [More Information]
  • Major, G., Doan, V., Longoni, A., Bilek, M., Wise, S., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Yeo, G., Lim, K. (2024). Mapping the microcarrier design pathway to modernise clinical mesenchymal stromal cell expansion (In Press). Trends in Biotechnology. [More Information]
  • Al Halawani, A., Teo, J., Weiss, A., Yeo, G. (2024). The Matrix Protein Tropoelastin Prolongs Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Vitality and Delays Senescence During Replicative Aging. Advanced Science, 11(39). [More Information]

Conferences

  • Wakelin, E., Yeo, G., Kondyurin, A., Davies, M., McKenzie, D., Weiss, A., Bilek, M. (2015). Bio-functionalisation of polyether ether ketone using plasma immersion ion implantation. SPIE Micro+Nano Materials, Devices, and Applications Symposium, Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]

2025

  • Major, G., Joukhdar, H., Choi, Y., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Wise, S., Ju, A., Cox, T., Xu, C., Yeo, G., Young, J., Lim, K. (2025). Photochemistry as a tool for dynamic modulation of hydrogel mechanics. Cell Reports Physical Science, 6(1). [More Information]

2024

  • Major, G., Doan, V., Longoni, A., Bilek, M., Wise, S., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Yeo, G., Lim, K. (2024). Mapping the microcarrier design pathway to modernise clinical mesenchymal stromal cell expansion (In Press). Trends in Biotechnology. [More Information]
  • Al Halawani, A., Teo, J., Weiss, A., Yeo, G. (2024). The Matrix Protein Tropoelastin Prolongs Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Vitality and Delays Senescence During Replicative Aging. Advanced Science, 11(39). [More Information]

2023

  • Zhang, A., Wong, K., Redzikultsava, K., Baldry, M., Alavi, S., Wang, Z., van Koten, E., Weiss, A., Bilek, M., Yeo, G., Akhavan, B. (2023). A cost-effective and enhanced mesenchymal stem cell expansion platform with internal plasma-activated biofunctional interfaces. Materials Today Bio, 22, 100727. [More Information]

2022

  • Roohani, I., Yeo, G., Mithieux, S., Weiss, A. (2022). Emerging concepts in bone repair and the premise of soft materials. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 74, 220-229. [More Information]
  • Al Halawani, A., Mithieux, S., Yeo, G., Hosseini Beheshti, E., Weiss, A. (2022). Extracellular Vesicles: Interplay with the Extracellular Matrix and Modulated Cell Responses. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(6). [More Information]

2021

  • Wong, K., Zhang, A., Akhavan, B., Bilek, M., Yeo, G. (2021). Biomimetic Culture Strategies for the Clinical Expansion of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering. [More Information]
  • Bochicchio, B., Yeo, G., Lee, P., Emul, D., Pepe, A., Laezza, A., Ciarfaglia, N., Quaglino, D., Weiss, A. (2021). Domains 12 to 16 of tropoelastin promote cell attachment and spreading through interactions with glycosaminoglycan and integrins alphaV and alpha5beta1. FEBS Journal, 288(13), 4024-4038. [More Information]
  • Huang, A., Hancock, D., Clemson, M., Yeo, G., Harney, D., Denny, P., Denyer, G. (2021). Selecting student-authored questions for summative assessments. Research in Learning Technology, 29, 1-25. [More Information]

2020

  • Alavi, S., Lotz, O., Akhavan, B., Yeo, G., Walia, R., McKenzie, D., Bilek, M. (2020). Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Treatment of Polymers Enables Reagent-Free Covalent Attachment of Biomolecules for Bioprinting. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 12(34), 38730-38743. [More Information]
  • Walia, R., Akhavan, B., Kosobrodova, E., Kondyurin, A., Oveissi, F., Naficy, S., Yeo, G., Hawker, M., Kaplan, D., Dehghani, F., Bilek, M. (2020). Hydrogel-Solid Hybrid Materials for Biomedical Applications Enabled by Surface�]Embedded Radicals. Advanced Functional Materials, 30(38), 1-16. [More Information]

2019

  • Yeo, G. (2019). A New Vascular Engineering Strategy Using 3D Printed Ice. Trends in Biotechnology, 37(5), 451-453. [More Information]
  • Wang, R., Ozsvar, J., Yeo, G., Weiss, A. (2019). Hierarchical assembly of elastin materials. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 24, 54-60. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Kosobrodova, E., Kondyurin, A., McKenzie, D., Bilek, M., Weiss, A. (2019). Plasma-Activated Substrate with a Tropoelastin Anchor for the Maintenance and Delivery of Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells. Macromolecular Bioscience, 19(3), 1-13. [More Information]

2018

  • Tarakanova, A., Yeo, G., Baldock, C., Weiss, A., Buehler, M. (2018). Molecular model of human tropoelastin and implications of associated mutations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(28), 7338-7343. [More Information]
  • Wakelin, E., Yeo, G., McKenzie, D., Bilek, M., Weiss, A. (2018). Plasma ion implantation enabled bio-functionalization of PEEK improves osteoblastic activity. APL Bioengineering, 2(2), 026109-1-026109-15. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Mithieux, S., Weiss, A. (2018). The elastin matrix in tissue engineering and regeneration. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 6, 27-32. [More Information]

2017

  • Lee, P., Yeo, G., Weiss, A. (2017). A cell adhesive peptide from tropoelastin promotes sequential cell attachment and spreading via distinct receptors. The FEBS Journal, 284, 2216-2230. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Kondyurin, A., Kosobrodova, E., Weiss, A., Bilek, M. (2017). A sterilizable, biocompatible, tropoelastin surface coating immobilized by energetic ion activation. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 14(127), 20160837. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Baldock, C., Wise, S., Weiss, A. (2017). Targeted Modulation of Tropoelastin Structure and Assembly. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 3(11), 2832-2844. [More Information]

2016

  • Wise, S., Liu, H., Yeo, G., Michael, P., Chan, A., Ngo, A., Bilek, M., Bao, B., Weiss, A. (2016). Blended Polyurethane and Tropoelastin as a Novel Class of Biologically Interactive Elastomer. Tissue Engineering - Part A, 22(5-6), 524-533. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Santos, M., Kondyurin, A., Liskova, J., Weiss, A., Bilek, M. (2016). Plasma-Activated Tropoelastin Functionalization of Zirconium for Improved Bone Cell Response. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2(4), 662-676. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Tarakanova, A., Baldock, C., Wise, S., Buehler, M., Weiss, A. (2016). Subtle balance of tropoelastin molecular shape and flexibility regulates dynamics and hierarchical assembly. Science Advances, 2(2), 1-14. [More Information]

2015

  • Wakelin, E., Yeo, G., Kondyurin, A., Davies, M., McKenzie, D., Weiss, A., Bilek, M. (2015). Bio-functionalisation of polyether ether ketone using plasma immersion ion implantation. SPIE Micro+Nano Materials, Devices, and Applications Symposium, Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
  • Yu, Y., Wise, S., Michael, P., Bax, D., Yuen, G., Hiob, M., Yeo, G., Filipe, E., Dunn, L., Chan, K., Mollahajian, H., Celermajer, D., Weiss, A., Ng, M. (2015). Characterization of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Interactions with Human Tropoelastin. PloS One, 10(6), 1-16. [More Information]
  • Yeo, G., Aghaei Ghareh Bolagh, B., Brackenreg, E., Hiob, M., Lee, P., Weiss, A. (2015). Fabricated Elastin. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 4(16), 2530-2556. [More Information]

2014

  • Yeo, G., Baldock, C., Wise, S., Weiss, A. (2014). A Negatively Charged Residue Stabilizes the Tropoelastin N-terminal Region for Elastic Fiber Assembly. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289(50), 34815-34826. [More Information]
  • Wise, S., Yeo, G., Hiob, M., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Kaplan, D., Ng, M., Weiss, A. (2014). Tropoelastin: A versatile, bioactive assembly module. Acta Biomaterialia, 10(4), 1532-1541. [More Information]

2012

  • Yeo, G., Baldock, C., Tuukkanen, A., Roessle, M., Dyksterhuis, L., Wise, S., Matthews, J., Mithieux, S., Weiss, A. (2012). Tropoelastin bridge region positions the cell-interactive C terminus and contributes to elastic fiber assembly. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(8), 2878-2883. [More Information]

2011

  • Yeo, G., Keeley, F., Weiss, A. (2011). Coacervation of tropoelastin. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 167(1-2), 94-103. [More Information]
  • Waterhouse, A., Bax, D., Wise, S., Yin, Y., Dunn, L., Yeo, G., Ng, M., Bilek, M., Weiss, A. (2011). Stability of a Therapeutic Layer of Immobilized Recombinant Human Tropoelastin on a Plasma-Activated Coated Surface. Pharmaceutical Research, 28(6), 1415-1421. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2024

  • Engineering Cellular Longevity, Yeo G, Nano Institute/Kickstarter
  • Gingiva-mimetic Soft Interfaces: Enabling Seamless Soft Tissue Integration in Dental Implants, Yeo G, Lim K, ITI International Team for Implantology/Research Grant
  • In-situ biofunctionalisation for additive manufacturing, Akhavan B, Bilek M, Yeo G, McKenzie D, Garcia D, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)

2023

  • Engineering an antibacterial and osseointegrative protein coating for 3D-printed implants, Kwan A, Yeo G, School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES)/Strategic Partnership Seeding Grant
  • Eliminating implant biofilms, Kwan A, Yeo G, Gao J, Sunde M, Nano Institute/Kickstarter
  • Increasing STEM Equity, Access, and Engagement in Amgen Communities Through the Amgen Biotech Experience, Yeo G, Amgen Foundation/Research Support