Research

Organ-on-a-Chip, Mechanobiology, Biomechanics, Inflammation, Arthritis, Cancer

As a bioengineer, my research is focussed on the development of organ-on-a-chip technology and other complex in vitro models. These in vitro models can transform pre-clinical testing of new drugs and therapeutics, accelerating the delivery of safer, more effective medicines. The models are also helping us to better understand human health and disease. As a professor of 'mechanobiology' I am interested in how living cells and tissues respond to biomechanical forces and how this should be incorporated into organ-chip design. Related to this, my research team examine the role of the cellular structures known as primary cilia. We are investigating structure-function relationships in this poorly understood organelle and whether manipulation of cilia can be used as a therapeutic strategy.