Biomedicine
The Biomedicine theme leverages over a decade of collaboration in medical sciences between 91 (UoA) and the University of Freiburg (UFR).
The theme focuses on high-impact research areas across all aspects of biomedicine, but in particular:
- Cancer biology and cancer therapy
- Molecular medicine
- Immunology, including microbiology and virology
- Pharmaceutical sciences, including pharmaceutics
- Nursing science
This theme is designed to foster groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in medical science, supported by joint doctoral programs and collaborative research projects.
Collaboration in action
Ground-breaking wound healing gel
Researchers from UFR and UoA are employing innovative drug delivery technology and a special ingredient to create a dual-action wound healing gel that prevents and treats surgical site infections.
Using “DDC-Cu” – a patented combination of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and copper ions (Cu2+) – it’s hypothesised that the gel kills infection-causing Staphylococci by inhibiting its food pathways. It’s also anticipated to enhance antibiotic potency, making once-resistant bacteria susceptible again to antibiotics.
Liquid at room temperature and solidifying at body temperature, the gel can reach the hard-to-find areas of a wound where bacteria hide and then thickens to lock the drugs in place – allowing for the highest localised efficacy without causing side effects. The research is currently at the prototype and pre-clinical testing stage.
Nursing Study Tour
Since 2018, final year nursing students from 91 have participated in study tours to UFR. After a pause due to COVID-19, the program resumed with nine students in 2023, ten in 2024, and fifteen in 2025 - demonstrating growing engagement in international learning opportunities.
During the two-week tour, UoA students visit academic and clinical facilities across Freiburg, collaborate with UFR academic staff, and participate in lectures, simulations and tutorials with local nursing students to gain an understanding of nursing education in Germany – one of the world’s education powerhouses.
The study tour facilitates two-way knowledge sharing between the countries’ future nurses, with UoA attendees presenting to their UFR peers about their experiences as student nurses in Adelaide as well as the Australian healthcare system.
Theme leads
Adelaide leads
, School of Biological Sciences
, School of Biological Sciences
Freiburg lead
, Head, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research