Researchers from the University of Queensland have made significant strides in developing a new treatment method for burn victims in Australia. This innovative approach employs algae to accelerate the growth of muscle tissue cells, potentially transforming the care and recovery process for thousands of patients.
Led by Dr Melanie Oey at the Institute of Molecular Bioscience, the team has commenced pre-clinical trials that demonstrate how algae can promote faster cell growth at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional techniques, which often take several weeks. This breakthrough could lead to shorter hospital stays and a decreased risk of infections for burn patients.
Dr Oey’s inspiration came from her passion for diving and observing the resilience of coral and algae in natural environments. Over the past four years, her research has focused on developing this algae-based method, which appears to enhance the longevity and vitality of the muscle cells while reducing the need for expensive additives. “Our work shows muscle cells co-cultivated with the algae grow faster, live longer, and require fewer expensive additives,” Oey explained. The algae effectively serve as tiny life-support systems, addressing multiple challenges in tissue growth simultaneously.
Statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlight the prevalence of burn injuries, with 5,550 Australians hospitalised due to burns between 2021 and 2022. Beyond its implications for burn treatment, this method may also have broader applications, such as creating more affordable lab-grown meat. Despite recent approvals for the sale of cell-cultured meat by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, high production costs remain a barrier. Dr Oey notes that lab-grown meat is currently expensive due to the nutritional needs and waste produced by animal cells.
With a growing population demanding more protein, Dr Oey suggests that lab-grown meat offers a sustainable alternative to traditional animal farming, which raises environmental concerns. “Growing meat in the lab is expensive largely due to the nutrients and oxygen the cells need and the waste they produce,” she stated, adding that her research could help make cultivated meat a viable and ethical protein source.
In essence, the breakthrough at the University of Queensland not only stands to benefit burn victims significantly but also poses an exciting possibility for revolutionising the sustainability and affordability of protein sources in the future.