Rate My Professor Maree Gould

Dr. Maree Gould serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Otago, primarily affiliated with the Sir John Walsh Research Institute within the Faculty of Dentistry and the Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine. She earned her PhD from the University of Otago. Throughout her career, Gould has progressed from roles as a Research Associate in the Department of Anatomy to her current position, contributing to interdisciplinary research in cell biology, anatomy, and biomaterials engineering.

Early in her research trajectory, Gould investigated reproductive endocrinology and oncology, employing techniques such as primary cell culture, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Notable works include 'Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and the oxytocin receptor in the human prostate' (Whittington et al., 2004), 'The effects of oestrogen receptors α and β on testicular cell number and steroidogenesis in mice' (Gould et al., 2007), and 'Changes in caveolae, caveolin, and polymerase 1 and transcript release factor (PTRF) expression in prostate cancer progression' (Gould et al., 2010). These studies explored cell signaling pathways, caveolae dynamics, and hormone receptor distributions in prostate and testicular tissues.

Transitioning to biomaterials, Gould has co-authored influential reviews and original research on regenerative applications. Her highly cited publication, 'A review of current advancements for wound healing: Biomaterial applications and medical devices' (Deng, Gould, Ali, 2022), has garnered 345 citations. Other key contributions encompass 'Development and characterization of hydroxyapatite/β-TCP/chitosan composites for tissue engineering applications' (Shavandi et al., 2015; 81 citations), 'Fabrication and characterisation of melt-extruded chitosan/keratin/PCL/PEG drug-eluting sutures designed for wound healing' (Deng, Gould, Ali, 2021; 78 citations), and 'A novel squid pen chitosan/hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate composite for bone tissue engineering' (Shavandi et al., 2015; 71 citations). Recent efforts focus on sustainable biomaterials, including keratin 3D printing for regenerative medicine (Rajabi et al., 2025), chitosan bioceramic composites for bone regeneration (Huang et al., 2025), porous fluoride-substituted bovine-derived hydroxyapatite scaffolds (Ratnayake et al., 2024), and bioceramics in endodontics (Kumara et al., 2025). Her projects address antimicrobial polymers for dental implants, biocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, and drug delivery for wound care, demonstrating impact in advancing biocompatible materials for clinical use.