Director - Professor Robert Short
Rob has a long and exemplary track record of research and commercialisation in the fields of thin film coatings, biomaterial science and life science tools research. He studied Chemistry (BSc) and Physical Chemistry (PhD) at the University of Durham (UK) and joined the University of Sheffield in 1988, where until joining UniSA, he held the Chair of Material and Biomaterial Chemistry from 2001. During this period, he was a founder Director of two spin-out companies, CellTran Ltd and Plasso Technology. Over the past 18 years Rob has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles, won and managed research contracts exceeding $16M and venture capital of $16.5M. In 2004 he was awarded the UK Society for Biomaterials' second highest prize, the Biocompatibles Endowed Lecture (for mid-career achievement). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was appointed Director of the Mawson Institute in 2006. In 2008 he joins the ARC College of Experts.
In the field of thin film coatings Rob has undertaken fundamental studies of plasma polymerisation and made significant contributions to our understanding of this multi-facetted process, through the application of mass spectrometry and novel electrostatic probes. In 1992 he was awarded the CR Burch Prize for outstanding work in Physical Chemistry for Thin Films or Vacuum and his extensive knowledge has been applied in projects involving SMEs and large multinationals.
Relevant contributions in biomaterial science, in the areas of protein adsorption, cellular attachment and wound-healing led to the development of a bandage that attaches and releases cells into non-healing wounds, such as chronic ulcers. This technology was commercialised in 2000 by the University of Sheffield. Its first product, MyskinTM is used clinically to treat burns, scalds and more recently, chronic ulcers. In 2006 the company merged with a division of Innogenetics, a Belgium multinational, creating a new woundcare company.
Plasso Technology, an advanced surface engineering company developing tailored coatings for surfaces in diagnostics and life science research was formed in 2003, where Rob, as a founder Director held a position on the Board. The company's first product EpranEXTM, designed to immobilise heparin without modification, thereby retaining its natural ability to interact with other biomolecules, was launched in 2006. In May 2007, the investors realised a successful exit when Plasso Technology was acquired by BD Biosciences, a leading global medical technology company. The BDTM Heparin Binding Plate (as EpranEX is now known) is being used at leading laboratories in Europe and the US to study a wide range of disease processes that involve the heparin family.