Conference to be held on the 20-21st November at the Dorothy Hodgkin Building, University of Bristol. There is no registration fee but there are limited places available – please use this form to register your attendance at this event. The information that you provide will not be shared and will be used solely for the purposes of event organization.
Science Creates has recently launched a brand new Engineering Biology Accelerator Programme, in partnership with the UKRI. The accelerator will provide Engineering Biology scientists with the expert support needed to transform their research into startup businesses. The programme comes with financial support and is open to anyone with an existing Engineering Biology startup in its very early stages, or anyone wishing to launch an Engineering Biology startup. Applications are open now, with the expression of interest closing on 27th July 2023.
Throughout July, the programme team will be travelling to cities across the UK for our Accelerator Roadshow. The event series will provide further information on the programme, showcase regional research enterprise services and grow a nationwide network to support innovation in Engineering Biology. We will also be giving advice on how to apply to the accelerator. The Roadshow will be visiting Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Bristol. All events are free to attend and you can register by clicking here.
This opportunity will be of great interest and benefit to entrepreneurial researchers working in the field of Engineering Biology.
If you would like to find out more about the accelerator, please register for one of our roadshows or contact the accelerator team.
Please like and share this opportunity via the LinkedIn post here and a Twitter post here.
‘The United Kingdom Society for Biomaterials Early Career Forum and the European Society for Biomaterials Young Scientist forum are happy to announce our first webinar event on ‘Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD’ with Dr Zoë Ayres’ August 3rd 12-1pm British summer time. Use the QR code or the google form link below to register’.
https://forms.gle/ULYBxzkWXjgZrycd6
Are you an academic with proven abilities to carry out high quality research in dentally-relevant science in a research-intensive Russell Group University? Are you passionate about delivering an exceptional student experience in dental materials science? Do you want to be a key member of an internationally renowned team working in a stimulating and supportive environment?
Closing Date – 26 July 2023
We are looking for an outstanding early career academic of high potential who is able to demonstrate a growing track record in research, student education and academic leadership. You will join us as a lecturer and have an emerging track record in development and/or characterisation of dentally-relevant materials which are aligned with the research priorities of the School of Dentistry.
You will deliver world class research, inspirational teaching and post-graduate research student supervision. As a Lecturer, you will have the ability to develop strategies for interdisciplinary research and innovation, to secure research funding and have a clear view of how your research will be translated to achieve societal/ healthcare and/ or economic impact. You will be expected to have established collaborations with academic and/or industrial partners.
You will provide an excellent student education experience for undergraduate and taught postgraduates in the School of Dentistry. The undergraduate teaching focus will be centred on the delivery of dental materials science to students on our MChD Dental Surgery (MChD) and Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSc) programs. The postgraduate focus will be centred on providing module leadership and delivery of content for our MSc in Dental Materials.
Dental Materials is part of the School of Dentistry’s Division of Oral Biology, currently based on level 7 of the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building at the University’s St James’ Hospital Campus. Additional laboratories and the School’s teaching are based on the University’s main campus in the Worsley Building. You will be based across both sites as and when required in the delivery of your duties. A free staff shuttle bus running every 20 minutes provides easy access between the two sites.
The Henry Royce Institute (Royce) is the UK’s home of advanced materials research and innovation. The £235m Institute will allow the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced materials science, an area which is fundamental to all industrial sectors and the national economy. Royce brings together world-leading academics from across the UK, and works closely with industry to ensure commercialisation of fundamental research. Strategic investment in the Biomedical Materials research area has enabled us to develop comprehensive suites of equipment to ‘make, characterise and test’ biomedical materials which will help accelerate the development of advanced materials in the healthcare sector.
The Technical Specialist will be primarily responsible for experimental techniques associated with cell culture and analysis of cell/tissue behaviour on surfaces, and the imaging of cell and materials in biologically relevant environments. You will grow and oversee an internal and external user community of researchers, students and industry collaborators and customers. You will provide training, advice and support to facility users on the use of a wide range of scientific equipment and the interpretation of acquired data.
You will be an experienced experimentalist, with an ability to acquire high quality data using advanced and highly specialised cell culture techniques to assess biological interactions with materials and surfaces. A proactive and energetic approach is important, as is an ability to establish a good rapport with research students, staff, external customers and visitors. A degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant science or engineering discipline is required, as well as experience of working in a research facility environment associated with cell culture practices, safety protocols relating to the operation of a Class 2 Biosafety lab and the imaging and characterisation of cells and materials using light based fluorescent techniques. A postgraduate degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology or related field is desirable.
FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE.
Researchers have taken a major step towards 3D laser-printed materials that could be used in surgical procedures to implant or repair medical devices.
A team of scientists, led by researchers at Lancaster University, have developed a method to 3D print flexible electronics using the conducting polymer polypyrrole, and they have shown that it is possible to directly print these electrical structures on or in living organisms (roundworms).
Although at a proof of concept stage, researchers believe this type of process, when fully developed, has the potential to print patient-specific implants for a variety of applications, including real-time health monitoring and medical interventions, such as treating epilepsy or pain.
Dr John Hardy, Senior Lecturer in Materials Chemistry at Lancaster University and one of the lead authors of the study, said: “This approach potentially transforms the manufacture of complex 3D electronics for technical and medical applications – including structures for communication, displays, and sensors, for example. Such approaches could revolutionize the way we implant but also repair medical devices. For example, one day technologies like this could be used to fix broken implanted electronics through a process similar to laser dental/eye surgery. Once fully mature, such technology could transform a currently major operation into a much simpler, faster, safer and cheaper procedure.”
In a two-stage study, the researchers used a Nanoscribe (a high-resolution laser 3D printer) to 3D print an electrical circuit directly within a silicone matrix (using an additive process). They demonstrated that these electronics can stimulate mouse neurones in vitro (similar to how neural electrodes are used for deep brain stimulation in vivo).
Dr Damian Cummings, Lecturer in Neuroscience at University College London, a co-author of the study who lead the brain stimulation work, said: “We took 3D printed electrodes and placed them on a slice of mouse brain tissue that we kept alive in vitro. Using this approach, we could evoke neuronal responses that were similar to those seen in vivo. Readily customised implants for a wide range of tissues offers both therapeutic potential and can be utilised in many research fields.”
In the second stage of the study, the researchers 3D printed conducting structures directly in nematode worms demonstrating that the full process (ink formulations, laser exposure and printing) is compatible with living organisms.
Dr Alexandre Benedetto, Senior Lecturer in Biomedicine at Lancaster University, and another lead author of the study, said: “We essentially tattooed conductive patches on tiny worms using smart ink and lasers instead of needles. It showed us that such technology can achieve the resolution, safety and comfort levels required for medical applications. Although improvement in infrared laser technology, smart ink formulation and delivery will be critical to translating such approaches to the clinic, it paves the way for very exciting biomedical innovations.”
The researchers believe these results are an important step highlighting the potential for additive manufacturing approaches to produce next-generation advanced material technologies – in particular, integrated electronics for technical and bespoke medical applications.
The next steps in the development in research are already underway exploring the materials in which it is possible to print, the types of structures it is possible to print and developing prototypes to showcase to potential end users who may be interested in co-development of the technology. The researchers believe the technology is around 10 to 15 years from being fully developed.
Their findings are reported in the paper ‘Creating 3D objects with integrated electronics via multiphoton fabrication in vitro and in vivo’ which is published in the academic journal Advanced Material Technologies.
The research was supported with funding from a variety of sources including: the Engineering Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Royal Society, the Wellcome Trust, and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201274
Please see flyer for more info on an upcoming pre-TERMIS meeting for all those interested in biomaterials, biomechanics and cell engineering.
This year our annual conference will be hosted by Ulster University in Belfast. This is set to be an amazing event, with great science, an lively conference dinner at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, and lots of fun with a traditional Irish band! Please ensure to save the date!
20-21st June 2023 Ulster University Belfast City Centre Campus, York Road
Abstracts are invited and registration is open – please see here for more details.