Abbas Shafiee

Dr. Abbas Shafiee is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Frazer Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland. He holds a PhD from Queensland University of Technology and has established himself as a leading researcher in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. His work bridges multiple disciplines including biomaterials science, stem cell biology, and dermatology, with a particular focus on translational applications for human disease treatment.

Dr. Shafiee's research interests span several interconnected fields including Hydrogels, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering; Stem Cell Bioengineering; Wound Care; and Vascular Development and Homeostasis. His work has evolved from early discoveries in placental stem cell biology to innovative tissue engineering models for cancer metastasis and, most recently, to cutting-edge applications of 3D printing and organoid technology in skin wound healing. His research program has demonstrated how combining tissue engineering principles with stem cell biology can create more physiologically relevant models for studying disease mechanisms and developing regenerative therapies.

His publication record reveals a clear progression from foundational stem cell research to increasingly sophisticated biofabrication and organoid models. Early work focused on vascular stem cells in placental tissues, including the discovery of 'Meso-Endothelial Bipotent Progenitors,' while more recent publications emphasize skin organoid development, sensation-enabled skin substitutes, and advanced wound healing strategies. The consistent thread throughout his work is the application of tissue engineering principles to create more accurate human disease models and develop regenerative therapies.

• Associate Editor for Interdisciplinary Medicine (Wiley) and Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (Springer Nature)
• Invited guest editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Dr. Shafiee has successfully supervised over 10 Masters and PhD students and currently serves as Associate Advisor for multiple doctoral projects including research on non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma for wound healing and targeting epigenetic regulation to overcome immunotherapy resistance in melanoma. His funding portfolio includes a significant MRFF STEM Cell Therapies Mission Grant (2020-2022) for optimizing preclinical models for skin bioprinting. His groundbreaking organoid research has led to the establishment of an international Consortium of Organoid Research in Dermatology, positioning him at the forefront of this emerging field.