At this event we welcomed the speakers Prof Andrej Trampuz, Udhaya Nedunchezhiyan, and Amine Lagzouli.
Prof Andrej Trampuz presented “Biofilm & Device-Related Infections: From bench to bedside – The Exciting Journey from Medical Student to ID Consultant.” Prof Trampuz is an Infectious Diseases Specialist at RBWH and QUT, internationally recognised for his work on implant infections and biofilm diagnostics.
Udhaya Nedunchezhiyan, PhD candidate in the Cartilage Regeneration Laboratory at QUT, talked about “From Outside In: The Journey of different EVs into Chondrocytes in real time.” Her research focuses on extracellular vesicle–based therapies for cartilage repair.
Amine Lagzouli, joint PhD candidate at QUT and Université Paris-Est Créteil, shared his work “A deep learning-based framework for standardised and consistent analysis of trabecular bone compartments from micro-CT imaging data in the mouse tibia.” His research applies AI for preclinical bone imaging and disease modelling.
Amine was also awarded the HDR of the Month
See photo above. He was nominated by Prof Peter Pivonka with the motivation:
Amine is a driven and highly productive HDR student, working across multiple ongoing projects in skeletal research. He undertakes a joint-PhD program between the University of Paris-Est Creteil (Paris, France) and QUT. His PhD thesis deals with development of AI based imaging tools for assessment and analysis of bone morphology in pre-clinical animal models. He has published two journal papers, co-authored another two papers and has currently three papers in development. Amine has presented his work at multiple national and international conferences. Amine plays a pivotal role in several high-level research initiatives and has established and reinforced collaborations with global leaders in skeletal imaging and biomechanics. As the ARC ITTC-JB HDR representative, he advocates for students and promotes research engagement. His scientific depth, productivity, and engagement make him an exemplary candidate.
More information about the speakers:
Prof Andrej Trampuz
Dr. Andrej Trampuz is a Specialist for Infectious Diseases and Chair of Device-Related Infection Management at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He is internationally recognised for his expertise in bone, joint and implant infections, pioneering the sonication method for diagnosing device-related infections during his fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. He has held senior clinical and academic positions in Switzerland, Germany, and now Australia, where he has trained and mentored more than 100 clinicians and scientists. Dr. Trampuz has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, with research focused on biofilms, bacteriophages, and implant-associated infections. He is the founder of the PRO-IMPLANT Foundation and recipient of the prestigious Charnley Medal from the British Orthopaedic Association.
Udhaya Nedunchezhiyan
Udhaya Nedunchezhiyan is a PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), working in the Cartilage Regeneration Laboratory. Her doctoral research focuses on developing extracellular vesicle–based therapies for cartilage repair, particularly in chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis. By integrating molecular biology techniques with regenerative medicine, her work aims to establish therapeutic strategies that are not only personalized but also cost- and time-efficient, enabling rapid patient recovery without the need for long-term follow-up care or adverse side effects. Her wider research interests lie in live-cell imaging and the innovative use of simple molecular tools to tackle complex biological questions. In addition to her research, Udhaya contributes to teaching as a demonstrator across several undergraduate and final-year molecular biology courses, fostering both technical and critical thinking skills in the next generation of scientists.
Amine Lagzouli
Amine Lagzouli is a joint PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). His research develops AI methods for preclinical bone imaging, with a thesis focused on an end-to-end, automated pipeline for analysing cortical and trabecular bone from high-resolution micro-CT of rodent long bones. This work aims to accelerate preclinical drug discovery and improve understanding of degenerative bone diseases. Amine has authored several journal and conference papers, presented internationally, and established multiple international, high-level collaborations with leading groups in skeletal imaging and biomechanics. As the ARC ITTC-JB HDR representative, he advocates for students and fosters research engagement across the centre.