Dr John Forsythe

Dr John Forsythe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Materials Engineering at Monash University and the Project Leader in the Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers.

His main area of research focuses on the synthesis and modification of novel biopolymers for use in tissue engineering and cell culture.

In his work on neural tissue engineering Dr Forsythe has explored the manufacturing of injectable or nanofibrous scaffolds which can assist in the repair of damaged neural pathways. He is also focused on the development of nanofibrous anti-bacterial wound dressings for burns victims. He is investigating photoactive or ‘smart’ biopolymers  - polymers that will dissolve when exposed to light. In addition, Dr Forsythe is studying functional surfaces for the expansion of stem cells.

The use of nanotechnology in science has opened up limitless possibilities and it is an exciting time to be engaged in this area. Dr Forsythe’s passion for his research is obvious. “The intersection with engineering and the biological sciences is where all the action is!” He can see a direct health benefit for business and society from his work.

Dr Forsythe has collaborated widely in his research. At home he works with Professor Mal Horne from the Howard Florey Institute, Professor David Finkelstein of the Mental Health Research Institute Victoria, Professor Claude Bernard at Monash’s Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Dr George Thouas at Monash’s Division of Biological Engineering and Dr Wei Shen at Monash’s Australian Pulp and Paper Institute. He also consults regularly with Monash’s Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers, the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists and the Biomaterials Group in CSIRO.

Internationally, Dr Forsythe maintains a close alliance with Professor Molly Shoichet from the University of Toronto.

In other areas, Dr Forsythe is pursuing research into polymer and surface engineering.

Selected Publications

Nisbet D.R., Yu L.M.Y., Zahir T.,  Forsythe J.S., Shoichet M.S. Characterization of neural stem cells on electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) submicron scaffolds: evaluating their potential in neural tissue engineering.  J. Biomat. Sci. Polym. Ed. In Press (accepted 2/05/2007). Invited paper.

Nisbet D.R., Moses D., Gengenbach T.,  Forsythe J.S., Finkelstein D.I. & Horne M.K. Enhancing neurite outgrowth from primary neurones and neural stem cells using thermoresponsive hydrogel scaffolds for the repair of spinal cord injury. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A In Press (accepted 02/01/2008).

Nisbet D.R., Crompton K.E., Horne M.K., Finkelstein D.I., Forsythe J.S. Neural tissue engineering of the CNS using hydrogels [A review] Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: App. Biom., In Press (accepted 27/07/2007).

Nisbet D.R., Pattanawong S., Ritchie N.E., Shen W., Finkelstein D.I., Horne M.K. &  Forsythe J.S.(2007) Interaction of embryonic cortical neurons on nanofibrous scaffolds for neural tissue engineering. J. Neural Eng. 4, 35-41.

Crompton K.E., Goud J.D., Bellamkonda R.V., Gengenbach T.R., Finkelstein D.I., Horne M.K. & Forsythe J.S. (2007)  Polylysine-functionalised thermoresponsive chitosan hydrogel for neural tissue engineering.  Biomaterials 28,441-449.