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A profile photo of Research Associate Professor Jaydee Cabral

Chemical Microbiologist
Bioengineer
Research Associate Professor

Appointed: 2021

PhD (Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University, USA)

Email jaydee.cabral@otago.ac.nz
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5620-0330

Job description

Research Associate Professor Cabral’s expertise in biomaterials, bioengineering, and chemical microbiology combines three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting and regenerative medicine to guide cells to make more complex living structures. A/P Cabral’s laboratory has the only GeSiM 3.1 Bioscaffolder in New Zealand, a 4-axis, interchangeable, 3D bioprinter equipped with Melt Electrowriting and Piezoelectric capability. Her research resides at the interface of chemistry, microbiology, and bioengineering with the goal of developing novel medical devices for various biomedical applications. She was a key researcher in the development of an FDA approved, commercialized postsurgical ENT gel, Chitogel®.

Find out more about Chitogel®

Research interests

Biomaterials, medical hydrogels, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, medical device development

Current research

Current projects include medical device development to treat hearing loss in collaboration with Professor Peter Thorne, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland and Callaghan Innovation funded via a 2021 MBIE Smart Ideas grant.

Other projects include development of 3D printed nipple areolar complex (NAC) implants for breast cancer patients and to 3D print a medical device to treat precancerous cervical lesions. The NAC project is in collaboration with the University of Maryland, USA, Professor John Fisher, Department Chair, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, Director of the Center of Complex Tissues, and funded via a Catalyst Seed grant. The precancerous cervical lesions medical device project is in collaboration with Dr. Noelyn Hung (Pathology) and Dr. Adel Mekhail (gynecologist, SDHB), and funded by a recently awarded Translation Research Grant.

Research

Associate Professor Cabral's research applies a multidisciplinary approach to the development of biomaterials; more specifically medical hydrogels, bioinks, and 3D printed tissue engineered constructs. She utilizes synthetic chemistry, chemical and physical characterization techniques, microbiological analysis, as well as in vitro mammalian tissue culture and in vivo mouse models. Biofabrication of tissue engineered constructs are made possible with the only GeSiM 3.1 Bioscaffolder, state of the art 3D bioprinter with multifunctional capability, in New Zealand that was acquired through funding provided by Lottery Health and Otago University Major Equipment Grants. The Bioscaffolder has unique 3D co-axial bioprinting capabilities.

Find out more about 3D co-axial bioprinting

Previous funding includes a Health Research Council Explorer Grant and a Lottery Health Research Grant to 3D bioprint vascularized, regenerative living dressings for the treatment of chronic wounds. As a key researcher in a multi-million-dollar Ministry of Business, Innovation, & Employment Funded project entitled “Smart gels for Commercialization” Dr Cabral’s contribution in biomaterial development and characterization resulted in an FDA approved and now commercialized surgical gel, Chitogel®.

Associate Professor Cabral’s current research is funded by a Ministry of Business, Innovation, & Employment Smart Ideas grant in collaboration with the University of Auckland’s Department of Physiology and Callaghan Innovation to develop a novel medical device for delivering therapies to the inner ear to treat hearing loss. Other research projects relate specifically to women's health and include a Catalyst Seed funded grant to 3D print nipple areolar complexes for breast cancer patients in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Fischell Department of Bioengineering, and a recently awarded Translation grant to develop a medical device to enhance intravaginal therapies to treat precancerous cervical lesions.

Associate Professor Cabral is affiliated with Otago University’s Centre of Bioengineering & Nanomedicine. She is a member of the NZ Institute of Chemistry, the NZ Microbiological Society, Royal Society Te Apārangi, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine Society, Society for Biomaterials, and the American Chemical Society.

Find out more about Otago University’s Centre of Bioengineering & Nanomedicine

Teaching

She lectures in postgraduate Bioengineering courses.

Current Group Members

A photo of Jaydee Cabral at work in a laboratoryJaydee Cabral
Research Associate Professor
Email jaydee.cabral@otago.ac.nz

Postgraduate Students

A profile photo of Caitlin Berry-Kilgour Caitlin Berry-Kilgour
PhD Student

A profile photo of Judy Ann Cocadiz Judy Ann Cocadiz
PhD Student

A profile photo of Alexandria Leonard Alexandria Leonard
PhD Student

A profile photo of Emily Crosse Emily Crosse
MSc Student

Opportunities

MSc scholarships are available for capable students interested in studying bioengineering at Otago.

The MSc position requires the applicant to be eligible for admission to the thesis-based Master’s Bioengineering Programme and for a Master’s Research Scholarship

Funding for the scholarship is NZ$17,172 stipend per annum. We are seeking an MSc Bioengineering candidate with a BSc degree with distinction in a health science, materials science, or engineering-related discipline to investigate the development of 3D bioprinted, vascularized, nipple-areolar complexes using custom-made bioreactors for mastectomy patients.

Project brief: There is currently no clinically viable solution for nipple areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction. This project's goal is to develop a personalized, resorbable, vascularized NAC using additive manufacturing and custom bioreactor technologies to result in better long term mastectomy breast reconstruction outcomes. This project includes travel and training in collaboration with the University of Maryland, USA, Professor John Fisher, Department Chair, Fischell Department of Bioengineering.

John Fisher's profile page

If interested, please contact Research Associate Professor Jaydee Cabral providing an explanation of your interest in the project, a CV, academic certificates, and details of 2-3 academic referees. Starting date is 1 April 2023.

Email jaydee.cabral@otago.ac.nz

For inquiries about MSc Bioengineering admission, please contact, Associate Professor Azam Ali, Director, Bioengineering Academic Program, University of Otago.

Email azam.ali@otago.ac.nz
Mob +64 211 397 912

News

Publications

Leonard, A. R., Cumming, M. H., Ali, M. A., & Cabral, J. D. (2024). Fish collagen cross-linking strategies to improve mechanical and bioactive capabilities for Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Advanced Functional Materials. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202405335 Journal - Research Other

Cabral, J. (2024, February). Intro to biofabrication and tissue engineering, 3D printing in medicine. Workshop presentation at the Bioengineering Symposium & 3D Biofabrication Workshop, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Cabral, J. (2023, February). Development of peptide-functionalized hydrogel bioinks to create 3D living wound dressings. Verbal presentation at the Maurice Wilkins Centre (MWC) for Molecular Biodiversity Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thorsnes, Q. S., Turner, P. R., Ali, M. A., & Cabral, J. D. (2023). Integrating fused deposition modeling and melt electrowriting for engineering branched vasculature. Biomedicines, 11, 3139. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11123139 Journal - Research Article

Kok, J. M. L., Dowd, G. C., Cabral, J. D., & Wise, L. M. (2023). Macrocystis pyrifera lipids reduce cytokine-induced pro-inflammatory signalling and barrier dysfunction in human keratinocyte models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 1638. doi: 10.3390/ijms242216383 Journal - Research Article

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