Our Research

Through this EPSRC research we will seek to challenge the mind-set of pancreatic cancer being a prognosis of extremely limited options (mortality 95% <2yrs) and to enable revolutionary future treatments that will save lives and allow patients to live without major side-effects.

This research will centre around novel manufacturing processes for the creation and engineering of new minimally-invasive technologies based on microscale, magnetically-driven, soft continuum robotic devices. These will newly enable non-destructive access to the intricate sensitive internal anatomy of the pancreas and allow targeted treatments to be delivered.

These new technologies will tackle current clinical challenges in pancreatic cancer, while also providing the treatment methods that will be required as possibilities for earlier diagnosis emerge in the future.

Funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)

The growth and momentum of our pioneering research activity, along with our pipeline of future research and innovation, has been recognised through the award of a supporting platform from the EPSRC. This grant will enable us to strengthen our strategic approach to leading research, allows us to continue to shape and capitalise on emerging opportunities, and further develop the next generation of truly interdisciplinary research leaders; securing and maintaining our world-leading position.

Funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)

In this project we are creating a new enabling technology to facilitate a next generation of cell models. This is being conducted by the formulation and engineering of a bespoke manufacturing system that permits the automated selective deposition of attractant materials at small scales and high resolution. Significantly, compared to current methods for cell model creation, this is a digitally controlled process thereby allowing scientists to rapidly create an almost infinite range of patterns and scenarios to be explored.

Funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).

Photobioform II aims to develop bio-inspired, industrially relevant manufacturing processes that can selectively pattern metals onto non-conductive substrates using light-harvesting complexes to accelerate the reduction of metal ions embedded into these substrates. The key challenges addressed in this project cover the fields of material science and manufacturing.

Funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).

This is part of a larger project concerning the exploration of wearable soft robotic devices to address rehabilitation and healthcare needs. Our research within this concerns the investigation of an automated digitally-driven process for creating soft robotic actuators.

Funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).

In this project we will be investigating how new manufacturing processes can act as an enabler, not for the production of implants, but by informing their development by providing synthetic phantoms and embedded intelligence through incorporating sensory devices.

Funded by the EC Framework Programme.

This large research study between a European consortium explored the efficient automated computer-aided manufacturing of tissue engineering components. The manufacturing concerned a multi-process approach including inkjet printing, stereolithography, and electrospinning.

Funded by the EC Framework Programme.

This project between a European consortium engineered and developed a self-contained multi-cell production line of hybrid manufacturing with associated system elements of inspection and post-processing.