Professor Megan Lord
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Hons I), University of New South Wales
Master of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales
Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
Megan Lord is a Professor and Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow in the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering and Academic Director of the Australian Graduate School of Engineering Industry PhD Program, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney.
Megan attained a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, Master of Biomedical Engineering, and a First class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering from UNSW Sydney.
Megan is recognised as a leader in the field of biomaterials (includingnanomedicines and nanoparticles)and specifically the engineering of cell-biomaterial interactions for applications in drug delivery and tissue repair. Her research in underpinned by expertise in the analysis of cell-biomaterial interactions, matrix biology, and the biophysics of molecular interactions. She collaborates internationally across academia and industry.
Megan's research has been published in over 95 peer-reviewed publications and has been supported by multiple national grants including an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2012) and an ARC Future Fellowship (2022-2026). Megan has mentored emerging academic and engineering leaders having supervised 22 PhD/MPhil and 140 Engineering Honours candidates to completion.
Megan's research leadership has been recognised by numerous awards including the Barry Preston Award from the Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand (2022) and a NSW Young Tall Poppy Award (2014). Her leadership is also evidenced by being elected to executive positions including President of the Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand (2019-2021; Past-President since 2022), Council Member for the International Society for Matrix Biology (since 2020) and Associate Editor of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Conference Proceedings (since 2016). Megan also serves on the Standards Australia Committee HE-030 Biological and Clinical Evaluation of Medical Devices, which reviews and ratifies ISO 10993 and TC194, the international standard that evaluates the biocompatibility of medical devices and manages biological risk.
Megan is the founding Academic Director of the Australian Graduate School of Engineering Industry PhD Program within the Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney where she has established a program with a focus on both academic and industry expertise supported by a mentoring and networking program to equip graduates with job-ready skills for their next career stage.
Megan is also the founding Academic Director of the Molecular Surface Interaction Laboratory within the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW Sydney. Her leadership has established a resource of world-class infrastructure for the measurement of dynamic interactions between molecules, cells, and materials with a user base across UNSW and other universities, and industry.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
ARC Future Fellowship (2022-2026) Engineering nanomaterial interactions with the cell surface.
ARC Linkage Project with Synedgen Inc (2020-2023) Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix.
Diabetes Australia General Grant (2019) Bioengineered growth factor binding scaffolds.
ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (2019) Advanced mechanical property testing suite.
ARC Discovery Project (2015-2019) Novel biomimetic vascular biomaterials using extracellular matrix molecules.
ARC Linkage Project with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (2014-2019) Biomimetic blood bag materials for prolonged platelet storage.
ARC Linkage Project with Cochlear Ltd (2014-2018) Biological determinants of the safety and stability of neuroprosthetic stimulation electrodes.
National Heart Foundation (2011-2012) The roles of perlecan heparan sulphate in modulating vascular intimal hyperplasia.
ARC Linkage Project with Synedgen Inc (including Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship)(2010-2014) Targeted growth factor delivery using natural polysaccharide materials for bone regeneration.
ARC Discovery Project (2010-2013) Advanced nanoparticles as biocompatible antioxidant agents with targeting functionality.
ARC Linkage Project with HemCon Medical Technologies (2007-2010) Blood component interactions with polysaccharide biomaterials for vascular applications.
In addition, Professor Lord has been awarded grant funding from UNSW through the Research Infrastructure Scheme, Career Advancement Fund, Faculty of Engineering Carers Award, Faculty of Engineering Early Career Researcher fundand School project support.
Selected:
Australian Council of Graduate Research Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadershiprecognised contribution to establishing the Industry PhD program within UNSW Engineering (2024).
UNSW Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Leadership recognised leadership creating a new initiative for higher degree research candidates (2023)
Barry Preston Award from the Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand recognised leadership in the field of matrix biology distinguished by a sustained record of achievement, commitment to mentoring junior researchers and exceptional communication skills (2022)
UNSW Faculty of Engineering Excellence in Leadership award (2020)
Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand Paper of the Month and Year Award (2020) - Mid-career category
NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award in recognition of the achievements of Australia’s outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators. (2014)
UNSW Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos Young Professional Award for Outstanding Achievement Award for female alumni from UNSW Engineering in recognition of a significant achievement in their field. (2013)
New Investigator Award from the Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand recognised the research achievements of early career researchers in the field of matrix biology with less than 10 years post-doctoral experience. (2008)
Designing next-generation nanomaterials. I develop models to study biomaterial interactions with cells replicating the cell surface in vivo. This research is enabling the design of biomaterials for controlled interactions with cells including efficient intracellular delivery, overcoming the current and critical challenges to widespread use in therapies, drug delivery, diagnostics and cell technologies.
Engineering biomaterials for tissue regeneration.I develop biomaterial scaffolds that encourage the formation of new blood vessels overcoming challenges in current approaches associated with high manufacturing cost and off-target effects.
University leadership
- Academic Director, Australian Graduate School of Engineering Industry PhD Program, Faculty of Engineering
- Academic Director, Molecular Surface Interaction Laboratory, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre
Professional leadership
- Past President, Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand (2022-2023) President (2019-2021)
- Member, Standards Australia Committee HE-030 Biological and Clinical Evaluation of Medical Deviceswhich reviews and ratifies ISO109993 and TC194, the international standard that evaluates the biocompatibility of medical devices and manages biological risk (since 2018)
- Council Member, International Society for Matrix Biology (2019-2024)
- Member, Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (since 2006)
Editorial positions
- Editorial Board,Cellular Signalling
- Associate Editor, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Conference Proceedings
My Research Supervision
Lecturers
Post-doctoral Research Fellows
- Dr Miriam Jackson
- Dr Nadia Chandra Sekar
Research Assistants
- Nicole Chiwei Hao Bou
Current PhD/MPhil Candidates
- Claire Bridges,Exploring glycopolymer interactions with blood vessels in diabetic conditions
- Sarra Mourad, Lipid nanoparticle interactions with the endothelial glycocalyx: Toward improved sepsis treatments
- James Paoloni, Design of RNA drug delivery systems targeting the endothelium
- Dan Wang,The interplay between cell morphology and glycocalyx structure and function
PhD/MPhil alumni (selected)
- , Klick
- ,Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
- ,University of New South Wales
- , Vow
, University of Sydney - ,University of New South Wales
- , Nanyang Technical University
- , University of New South Wales
- , ALS
- , Grand Pacific CRO
- , University of Washington
- , University of New South Wales
- , University of New South Wales
My Teaching
Cellular and Tissue Engineering (BIOM9333)
Research Thesis (BIOM4951/4952/4953)
Research Thesis Biomedical Engineering (BIOM9020/9021)
Medical Biotechnology (BABS3061)