Dr Mo Chen is part of the SIP Research team with a big vision and even bigger dreams. His complete passion and dedication for The Spinal Injury Project has seen Mr.Chen tackle the role of creating revolutionary 3D cell culture techniques for the Olfactory Ensheathing Cell (OEC)-based transplantation therapy.
1) Name / where you’re from?
My name is Dr Mo Chen. I am from China.
2) Current role within the Spinal Injury Project?
Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Investigating the application of 3-dimensional nerve bridges for spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury.
3) What outcomes are you hoping to achieve with your particular role?
I want to design the most suitable 3D cell culture technique for the Olfactory Ensheathing Cell (OEC)-based transplantation therapy.
4) What’s a day ‘on the job’ look like for you?
My morning typically starts around 7:30 am, where I check my cell cultures and start my experiments and finish around 11 am. I then take time to talk to other students about their experiment plans or results. After lunch, I prepare for my second set of experiments and in the afternoon I often analyse data and try to work through any obstacles I’ve encountered in my experiments. After work I take the train home where I enjoy making creations of my own with my 3D printer.
5) What keeps you inspired with your work?
Nine years ago, I came to Australia, where I was given a chance to do something I hadn’t been able to do in China – scientific research. During this time I received a lot of guidance from lecturers at Griffith and I want to pay-it-forward through my complete dedication to an incredibly important cause. Undertaking scientific research has been my dream since childhood and I have been inspired by my mentors Jenny Ekberg and James St John. I strongly believe in the research that we are doing in our lab.
6) What are you most excited about working on the SIP?
The most exciting aspect of working on The Spinal Injury Project is the chance to develop new skills and techniques and learn from some of the best in this particular field of study.
Pictured: Dr Mo Chen working in the Laboratory at Griffith Gold Coast
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