Brain injury and disease results in neuronal loss and disruption of the brain parenchyma. Therefore, to achieve functional recovery post insult or disease, it is necessary to promote the long-term survival of neurones and circuitry reconstruction. This is a complicated process, which will not only involve attenuating secondary injury, but also simultaneously providing a neuroprotective microenvironment.

In this talk I will tell two stories. The first relates to our ability to control the inflammatory response post insult. I will introduce an in vitro model where brain inflammation can be programmed, allowing the decoupling of progressive degeneration and inflammation, and ultimately the development of advanced regenerative therapies. The second is about the utilisation of the materials used to produce our 3D models, to promote the survival, differentiation and proliferation of transplanted progenitor cells post stroke. In both stories, I will demonstrate how a variety of functionality can be engineered into self-assembled peptide hydrogels.

While the focus of my talk will be on repairing the injured brain, our hydrogels have broader implications in areas such as cell reprogramming, cancer therapy, muscle and bone regeneration and gene therapy, which I will briefly introduce along with our work on biosensors and pathogen repellent coatings.