Oveis Pourmehran

Dr Oveis Pourmehran

Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Oveis Pourmehran began his research journey in targeted drug delivery during his Master's program (2013-2015), where he developed several computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to simulate magnetic drug targeting, thereby enhancing drug delivery efficiency in the human lungs.

In 2017, Oveis joined the University of Adelaide (Australia) as a Ph.D. candidate and completed his thesis titled "Understanding the flow behaviour in human maxillary sinuses for drug delivery applications" at the School of Mechanical Engineering in 2021. His Ph.D. research contributed to the advancement of a tailored acoustic wave technique for drug delivery to human sinuses. In this groundbreaking work, he developed a high-fidelity direct computational aero-acoustic model to investigate the effect of acoustic waves on drug delivery to human maxillary sinuses, providing new insights into the acoustic drug delivery technique. His experiments demonstrated the potential of this technique to increase drug delivery efficiency by more than 45 times compared to conventional nebulized drug delivery methods.

Since June 2021, Oveis has been a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, where he established a Biomechanics Research Node (ENT-BioMech) to develop innovative drug delivery methods and devices for enhancing treatment efficiency in human upper airway diseases. Collaborating with leading researchers and scientists from the ENT research group at the medical school and researchers at the School of Mechanical Engineering, he has been awarded several research grants totaling over $2 million as a chief investigator to develop cutting-edge techniques and devices for drug delivery to the upper airways and sinuses for CF and CRS treatment.

Media appearances:
SCONA Webinar series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHQo9ABcBRA
https://set.adelaide.edu.au/news/list/2022/02/18/mechanical-engineering-phd-concept-developed-for-use-in-medical-clinical
https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/AU/Adelaide/321219921227571/Basil-Hetzel-Institute-for-Translational-Health-Research

As a multidisciplinary research team, the ENT surgery group, led by Prof. Peter-John Wormald, has recently established a Biomedical Engineering research node under the supervision of Oveis Pourmehran. The research node aims to develop innovative drug delivery methods and devices to improve treatment efficiency for upper airway diseases.

The following research topics are available for Ph.D. applicants, HDR, Honours, and 3rd-year students in 2024:

1. The power of music in sinonasal drug delivery

2. Acoustic drug delivery to paranasal sinuses

3. Development of a mesh nebulizer for improved sinus drug delivery 

4. Virtual endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) followed by airflow analysis and particle tracking in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses 

5. Magnetic and electric-charged particle (drug) delivery to human lung and paranasal sinuses 

Other Projects :


1.  Evaluating Nasal Irrigation Flow Dynamics and Eustachian Tube Involvement: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach

2.  Designing Focused Magnetic Field Systems for Targeted Nasal Cavity Drug Delivery: A Strategy for Frontal and Maxillary Sinuses

3.  Sinus Drug Delivery Assessment: 3D Models, FITC, and SPECT Imaging

4.  Optimising Microfluidic Methods for Realistic In-vitro Assessment of Sinus Drug Delivery Efficiency

These research projects employ various techniques and skills, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle tracking using DPM-CFD, finite element analysis (FEA), signal processing (acoustics), computer-aided design (CAD) modeling, CT-scan reconstruction (using 3D Slicer and other potential software), and cutting-edge 3D printing technology (such as FUSETEC).

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  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2021 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2021 PhD candidate The University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2017 Lecturer Golestan Institute of Higher Education
    2015 - 2017 Lecturer Islamic Azad University of Gorgan
    2015 - 2017 Researcher Young Researchers and Elites Club

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award Adelaide Medical School Research Travel Awards The University of Adelaide Australia $1,500
    2023 Scholarship 2023 THRFG BHI Conference and Travel Grant The Hospital Research Foundation Group Australia $750
    2021 Award Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2020 Award ECMS High-Impact publication in the sector of "Health Solutions" The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2020 Award Frank Perry Travelling Scholarship in Engineering The University of Adelaide Australia $1,500
    2017 Scholarship Beacon of Enlightenment PhD Scholarship The University of Adelaide Australia $90,000
    2015 Award Distinguished Graduated Student National Elite Foundation Iran, Islamic Republic of -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2017 - 2021 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2013 - 2015 Babol Noshirvani University of Technology Iran M.Sc

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2019 ANSYS Fluids Academic Training at University of Adelaide LEAP Australia Pty Ltd Leading Engineering Application Providers Australia
    2018 2 Day FEA and CFD ANSYS Academic Training at the University of Adelaide LEAP Australia Pty Ltd Leading Engineering Application Providers Australia

  • Research Interests
    Acoustics Biomechanics Biomedical Engineering Computational Fluid Dynamics Computational Heat Transfer Fluidisation and Fluid Mechanics Heat and Mass Transfer Operations Respiratory System Translational Health Outcomes

 

Grant Title Scheme and Year Chief Investigators Amount Awarded
The AIRSPACE Trial: AntI-MRSA PhAge Cocktail treatment via Acoustic Enhanced Nebulisers

NHMRC Medical Research Future Fund #2014977

(2022-2026)

 Wormald, Vreudge, Psaltis, Morales, Pourmehran, Cazzolato, Arjomandi, Louise, Schubert $1,712,000
Acoustic Drug Delivery for CRS Treatment

Passe & Williams Foundation - Conjoint Grant

(2022-2025)

 Wormald, Pourmehran $375,000
Adelaide Medical School Research Equipment Grants

Equipment Grants

(2024)

 Pourmehran $5,000
DVCR Research Small Equipment Grant

Research Small Equipment Support

(2024)

 Pourmehran $8,590
Total  $2,100,590

 

 

2025, CFD for Engineering Applications_MECH ENG 4111 & 7045 Combined, Guest Lecturer, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide


2025, CFD for Engineering Applications_MECH ENG 4111 & 7045 Combined, Tutorial, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

2025, Finite Element Analysis of Structures_MECH ENG 4118 & 7059 combined, Tutorial and co-coordination, assessment, veting, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

2025, Honours Project Part B_MECH ENG 4143B, Co-supervisor, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

2024, Honours Project Part A_MECH ENG 4143A, Co-supervisor, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

2024, Honours Dental Research Project Part 2_DENT 4400B, Co-supervisor, Dental School, The University of Adelaide

2023, Honours Dental Research Project Part 1_DENT 4400A, Co-supervisor, Dental School, The University of Adelaide

2023-25, CFD Applications in Respiratory Biomechanics (HDR training), Lecturer, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide 

2023-25, Virtual Surgery Skills for CFD Simulation (HDR training), Lecturer, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide 

2019-2020, CFD for Engineering Applications_MECH ENG 4111 & 7045 Combined, Teacher Assistant, School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

2019, Applied Aerodynamics_MECH ENG 3101, Teacher Assistant, School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Principal Supervisor Engineering a Biocompatible Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) For Nasal Drug Delivery: Insights from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Models Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nikzad Abbariki
    2025 Principal Supervisor Core-Silica Coated Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drug Delivery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Treatment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Sara Aghili
    2024 Principal Supervisor A comprehensive Study of magnetic drug targeting in human maxillary sinuses for drug delivery applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kavan Zarei
    2024 Principal Supervisor A comprehensive numerical and experimental study of transport phenomena in nebulizer drug delivery targeting paranasal sinuses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alireza Meymivand
    2024 Principal Supervisor Applying Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to understand the flow behavior in patients with Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jun Xiao

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Evaluating Nasal Irrigation Flow Dynamics and Eustachian Tube Involvement: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Honours Part Time Syed Ahmed Luqman, Daniel Jungyun Kim, Danielle Zafiropoulos,
    2023 - 2024 Co-Supervisor High-resolution image assessment of the mandibular canal morphology in CT images. The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Dental Surgery Honours Full Time Aaditya Mangla
    2023 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Development of nebuliser device for clinical trial The University of Adelaide Research Assistance, and Internship Other Part Time Uri Hauben

  • Mentoring
    Date Topic Location Name
    2023 - ongoing The effect of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on nasal obstruction using computational fluid dynamics The University of Adelaide Isabella Amy Burdon
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
  • Phone: 0881334003
  • Email: oveis.pourmehran@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: TQEH- Basil Hetzel Institute
  • Org Unit: Surgical Specialities
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