Amnion Cell Biology

Overview

The human placenta is a rich source of stem cells and stem-like cells. Our work is focused on a stem cell-like population of cells obtained from the human amnion, a fetal membrane that comprises part of the placenta. Working closely with Professor Euan Wallace, we are keenly focused on translational outcomes and our preclinical studies on adult and neonatal respiratory disease have been translated into ongoing clinical trials. Our research has already pioneered the world’s first trial of amnion cells in premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

We are studying the interactions between the amnion cells and immune cell subsets as well as endogenous stem cell populations under different inflammatory conditions during development as well as adulthood. The outcomes from these studies will inform the design of clinical trials and allow us to develop target approaches for the clinical use of amnion cells. Our group combines clinically relevant physiological outcomes with unique 3D co-cultures and cutting edge molecular biology techniques to answer some of the most pressing questions when translating bench based stem cell research to clinical utility.

We collaborate widely with researchers around the Hudson Institute and Monash University to maximise our collective knowledge and access to platform technologies. Our international collaborations include key scientists at A*STAR, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

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Diseases we research

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Areas of focus

What have stem cells guts to do with it? ¬– A cell therapy approach to necrotising enterocolitis
Amnion cell therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A newborn cell therapy for a disease of aging
Amnion cell therapy for stroke
Long term outcomes of amnion cell therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Activating the quiescent stem cell niche
Understanding the stem cell sheddome and secretome
Amnion cells for limb extremity regeneration and protection against critical limb ischaemia

Research Group Head | Associate Professor Rebecca Lim

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is the most common chronic lung disease affecting low weight premature babies. My research is focused on using cells from the human placenta to repair the damaged lungs of premature babies.

Associate Professor Rebecca Lim from the Amnion Cell Biology Research Group at Hudson Institute

Meet the team

News from the lab

28 August 2024

Crohn’s disease: research developments

See more news articles about Amnion Cell Biology

Publication highlights

Murphy SV, Reid T, Atala A, Wallace EM, Lim R (2014) Isolation, cryopreservation and culture of human amnion epithelial cells for clinical applications. Journal of Visualised Experiments. Accepted 16^th May 2014.
Zhu D, Wallace EM, Lim R (2014) Cell-based therapies for diseases of prematurity. Cytotherapy. Accepted 30^thJanuary 2014.
Lim R, Tan JL, Wallace EM (2013) Cell Therapies For Lung Disease. In: Gene and Cell Therapies, 4^th Edition. Edited by Templeton, N. S. Taylor & Francis Group, CRC Press.
Lim R, Chan ST, Tan, JL, Murphy SV, Mockler JE, Wallace EM (2013) Preterm human amnion epithelial cells have limited reparative potential. Placenta 34: 486-492.
Vosdoganes P, Lim R, Kouleava E, Chan ST, Acharya R, Moss TJM, Wallace EM (2013) Human amnion epithelial cells modulate hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury in mice. Cytotherapy 2013 Apr 30. doi:pii: S1465-3249(13)00452-0. 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.03.004.
Tan JL, Chan ST, Wallace EM, Lim R (2013) Human amnion epithelial cells mediate lung repair by directly modulating macrophage recruitment and polarization. Cell Transplantation. Epub ahead of print. 2013 Jan 2.
Lim R, Milton P-L, Chan ST, Acharya R, Murphy M, Jenkin G (2013) Human mesenchymal stem cells reduce lung injury in immunocompromised mice but not immunocompetent mice. Respiration. 85 (4):332-41.
Murphy S, Lim R, Heraud P, Cholewa M, Le Gros M, de Jonge MD, Howard DL, Paterson D, McDonald C, Atala A, Jenkin G, Wallace EM (2012) Human amnion epithelial cells induced to express functional Cystic Fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Plos One 7(9):e46533. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046533. Epub 2012 Sep 28.
Vosdoganes P, Lim R, Moss TJM, Wallace EM (2012) Cell Therapy: a novel approach in the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Pediatrics 130(4):727-37.
Murphy S, Chin S, Tan JL, Chan S, Jenkin G, Wallace EM, Lim R (2012) Human Amnion Epithelial Cells Do Not Abrogate Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice With Impaired Macrophage Function. Cell Transplantation. 21(7): 1477-1492
Hodges R, Vosdoganes P, Westover W, Moss TJ, Alison B, Hooper S, Miller SL, Lim R, Dickinson D, Wallace EM (2012) Human amnion epithelial cells reduce ventilation-induced preterm lung injury in fetal sheep. Am J Obstet Gynaceol 206(5):448.e8-15. Epub 2012 Mar 7.
Vosdoganes P, Wallace EM, Chan ST, Acharya R, Moss TJM, Lim R (2012) Human amnion epithelial cells repair established lung injury. Cell Transplant. 2013;22(8):1337-49. doi: 10.3727/096368912X657657. Epub 2012 Oct 4.
Murphy S, Lim R, Dickinson H, Rosli, Acharya R, Jenkin G, Wallace E (2011) Human amnion epithelial cell prevent bleomycin induced lung injury and restore lung function. Cell Transplantation 20(6): 909-923.
Vosdoganes P, Hodges RJ, Lim R, Westover AJ, Acharya RY, Wallace E (2011) Human amnion epithelial cells as a treatment for inflammation induced fetal lung injury in sheep. American Journal of Obsterics and Gynaecology 205 (156): 26-33.

Our research group is keen to discuss funding opportunities

Support our research

Amnion Cell Biology

Overview

Diseases we research

Areas of focus

Research Group Head | Associate Professor Rebecca Lim

Meet the team

News from the lab

New treatment hope for perinatal lung and brain injury

CUREator funds Hudson Institute biotech innovation

Treating liver disease – NHRMC funding boost

Importance of donor age in treating BPD

Chronic lung disease treatment hits speed bump

Placental cell therapy could deliver new treatment options for liver disease

Study revolutionises cell therapy for premature babies

Crohn’s disease: research developments

Publication highlights

Our research group is keen to discuss funding opportunities