Rate My Professor Hema Bharatham

Dr. Hema Bharatham serves as a Lecturer in the Curtin School of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Located in Building 306 (Pharmacy), Room 102, she can be contacted at telephone 08 9266 5817. Her teaching responsibilities encompass foundational and advanced courses in human anatomy and related biomedical sciences, including HUMB1000 Human Structure and Function, HUMB1004 Medical Anatomy, and MEDS3005 Human Reproductive Science. These units focus on human structure, medical anatomy, and reproductive biology, contributing to the education of students in health sciences programs.

Dr. Bharatham's academic interests center on biomaterials and tissue engineering, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative bone scaffolds using natural sources such as cockle shell (Anadara granosa)-derived nano powders rich in aragonite calcium carbonate, combined with alginate. Her research evaluates the physicochemical properties, injectability, anti-washout ability, biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity of these materials, demonstrating their potential as cost-effective bone grafting alternatives that support osteoblast adherence, proliferation, mineralization, and stem cell differentiation. Key publications include: 'Mineral and physiochemical evaluation of Cockle shell (Anadara granosa) and other selected Molluscan shell as potential biomaterials' (2014, Sains Malaysiana, 57 citations); 'Development and characterization of novel porous 3D alginate-cockle shell powder nanobiocomposite bone scaffold' (2014, BioMed Research International, 45 citations); 'Pre-mineralisation effect of nanobiocomposite bone scaffold towards bone marrow-derived stem cells growth and differentiation' (2019, Jurnal Teknologi, co-authored with Curtin researchers); 'Vancomycin loaded alginate/cockle shell powder nanobiocomposite bone scaffold for antibacterial and drug release evaluation' (2021, Sains Malaysiana); and 'Nano-cockle shell powder and alginate as novel injectable bone filler: A preliminary formulation and characterization study' (2024, Life Sciences, Medicine and Biomedicine), where she acted as corresponding author from Curtin Medical School. She has also investigated neuropathic pain mechanisms and anti-inflammatory agents like zerumbone in in vitro models. Dr. Bharatham serves as Section Editor for Anatomy and Biomedical Sciences in the journal Life Sciences, Medicine and Biomedicine, reflecting her expertise in the field. Previously associated with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Faculty of Health Sciences as a Lecturer in Biomedical Science.