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Unit outline_

BMET3971: Tissue Engineering

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

With the severe worldwide shortage of donor organs and the ubiquitous problem of donor organ rejection, there is a strong need for developing technologies for engineering replacement organs and other body parts. Recent developments in engineering and the life sciences have begun to make this possible, and as a consequence, the very new and multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering has been making dramatic progress in the last few years. This unit will provide an introduction to the principles of tissue engineering, as well as an up to date overview of recent progress and future outlook in the field of tissue engineering. This unit assumes prior knowledge of cell biology and chemistry and builds on that foundation to elaborate on the important aspects of tissue engineering. The objectives are: To gain a basic understanding of the major areas of interest in tissue engineering; To learn to apply basic engineering principles to tissue engineering systems; To understand the promises and limitations of tissue engineering; To understand the advances and challenges of stem cell applications; Enable students to access web-based resources in tissue engineering; Enable students to develop basic skills in tissue engineering research.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
MECH2901 or BMET2901 or [MEDS2005 and (MEDS2001 or PHSI2007)]
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
AMME4971 or BMET4971 or AMME9971 or BMET9971
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Peter Newman, p.newman@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Quiz 1 - online, short answer and multiple choice questions
3% Week 03
Due date: 09 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 09 Mar 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Quiz 2
3% Week 04
Due date: 16 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 16 Mar 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 3
Quiz 3
3% Week 05
Due date: 23 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 23 Mar 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 4
Quiz 4
3% Week 06
Due date: 30 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 30 Mar 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 5
Quiz 5
3% Week 07
Due date: 06 Apr 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 06 Apr 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Presentation group assignment Group presentation
Student group presentation given during tutorials
33% Week 08
Due date: 14 Apr 2022 at 17:00

Closing date: 14 Apr 2022
15 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Tutorial quiz Quiz 6
Quiz 6
3% Week 08
Due date: 13 Apr 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 Apr 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 7
Quiz 7
3% Week 09
Due date: 27 Apr 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 27 Apr 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO1 LO5
Tutorial quiz Quiz 8
Quiz 8
3% Week 10
Due date: 04 May 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 04 May 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 9
Quiz 9
3% Week 11
Due date: 11 May 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 May 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO1
Assignment group assignment In-depth project report
In-depth project report
34% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2022 at 17:00

Closing date: 19 May 2022
12 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12 TNR font,
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Tutorial quiz Quiz 10
Quiz 10
3% Week 12
Due date: 18 May 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 18 May 2022
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 11
Quiz 11
3% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 May 2021
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • 33% – 11 quizes each worth 3%
  • 33% – Group presentation
  • 34% – In-depth project report

Assessment criteria

The unit will be assessed through:

  • 33% – 11 quizes available from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon each Semester Thursday for 11 weeks, each quiz is worth 3%
  • 33% – Group presentation, 15 mins in length, groups of 4-6, presented in tutorials from weeks 6-10
  • 34% – In-depth project report, completed in groups with, 12 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12 TNR font (or equivalent)

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10% per day for project report and presentations

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Overview of tissue engineering - Prof. Hala Zreiqat Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Tissue engineering in burns: clinical reality - Peter Maitz Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 The therapeutic use of adult stem cells - Prof. Jeremy Crook Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 The future of cell and gene therapies - Prof. John Rasko Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Synthetic elastic biomaterials - Prof. Tony Weiss Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Cortical and retinal regenerative cell therapies using organoid technologies - A/Prof Anai Gonzalez-Cordero Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 in vitro meat tissues - Vowfoods Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Bone materials and regeneration using synthetic approaches - Dr. Roohani; Prof. Hala Zreiqat Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Heart transplantation in the era of marginal donors and frail recipients - Prof. Peter Macdonald Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Role of the microenvironment in tissue engineering - Prof. Kris Killian Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Vascular & cardiac tissue engineering - Dr. Steve Wise Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Stem cell biology and applications in tissue engineering with microfluidics - Prof. Majid Warkani Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Structuroids - a new generation of structured emergent organoids and tissue models - Dr. Pete Newman Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. This unit introduces students to the field of Tissue Engineering. Students in this subject will leave with high-level knowledge of the various approaches and methods being used by tissue engineers. The unit explores machine, material, pharmacological and biological-based engineering solutions as tissue replacements and supportive therapies.
  • LO2. Design - The students will work in groups to complete an assignment on the applications of tissue engineering to a specified tissue area. In their assignment they will discuss the advances and future direction and identify key areas of shortcoming in the specific fields and discuss the general problem and think critically to develop and postulate novel possible future solutions.
  • LO3. Engineering/IT Specialisation - To develop a theoretical understanding of the basic concepts of tissue engineering and be exposed to the various specific disciplines of this field. The students will develop specific expertise through the lectures given by invited speakers at the forefront of their research, later reviewing, integrating and applying this knowledge in a series of short-quizzes.
  • LO4. Information Seeking - Students will gain deeper specialised knowledge through review of the scientific literature, including current progress in the field of tissue engineering in general. Specifically, they will undertake a thorough scientific search on the latest development in the research conducted in their chosen assignment topics during their work on both the presentation and report.
  • LO5. Communication - Weekly communication tasks will arise during tutorials and lectures where students expand on the materials provided in lectures. Expanded studies will be presented and discussed within tutorial classes, critically evaluating their findings.
  • LO6. Professional Conduct & Teamwork - Team work skills will be developed by participating in group tutorial projects. Each group will then discuss the assigned paper/project in detail, decide on key points and then report back to the entire class

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

tutorials will be broken into smaller class sizes; no final quiz - but a series of smaller quizzes each week; major report is now a group task; additional tutor support during lectures to help with student questions and management of the class;

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.