The Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne, now a major Tissue Engineering Laboratory, was established in 1970 to promote research and training in microsurgery. Initially known as the Microsurgery Research Centre, it quickly developed a pre-eminent reputation and attracted plastic and orthopaedic surgeons from the US, UK, Europe, Japan and elsewhere and many of these researchers have returned to their home countries to become leaders in the field. More than 200 surgically trained researchers have completed Fellowships since 1972. The Bernard O’Brien Institute, is affiliated with St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and The University of Melbourne and continues to be held in the highest regard. It has developed into unquestionably the largest surgical Institute dedicated to the advancement of microsurgical reconstruction and research in the world.
With the universal adoption of microsurgery skills as a standard pre-requisite for all plastic surgeons, the need for clinical microsurgery training has diminished and the Institute has evolved into basic science research. Its focus is particularly in the fields of Tissue Engineering, Angiogenesis, Matrix Biology, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Anti-fibrosis, Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury and Prostate Cancer. The Institute has been configured into 7 laboratories according to the specific field of research and expertise under the overall direction of a Chief Scientific Advisor. Each laboratory comprises a Senior Scientist, Post Docs, technicians and students. Ph.D., Doctorate, Masters and B.Sc(Hons) students are an integral part of our program. Overseas and Australian Surgical Fellowships have also been a key feature of the Institute and generally 4 – 6 surgical research fellowship positions are available each year, some of which are partially funded by a Scholarship from our Microsurgery Foundation, or through Melbourne University if a degree is undertaken. Shorter term visiting clinical Fellowships are available, but are unfunded.
We have strengthened our field of research in Tissue Engineering, through collaborations, especially with Chemical Engineering, (University of Melbourne), the Adult Stem Centre, (Peter McCallum Institute), The National Stem Cell Centre, (Monash University) and with Matrix Biology groups. Recently, we have adopted a prostate cancer and metastasis group with overlap expertise in matrix biology and a team of Vascular Biologists interested in Stroke, IR injury and Angiogenesis.
The Institute now has a staff of over 50 and an annual budget of almost $3 million. Its funding is from State and Federal grants, NH&MRC, Medical Trusts and Foundations, business, private donors, contract research and the Microsurgery Foundation.
Vascularisation of tissues, a concept fundamental to plastic surgery is seen to be key to the successful translation of laboratory based tissue engineering into humans. We have developed a platform technology for vascularising tissue engineered products and organs and as our team comprises plastic surgeons, trained microsurgeons and scientists, with joint appointments to a co-located major teaching hospital, we see ourselves and our collaborators positioned to be essential players not only in the exciting development of tissue engineered products, but also in their fabrication and transfer into patients.
