Teaching staff

Research within the School bridges the interface between new advances in science and technology with medicine and clinical practice, bringing together biological scientists, physicists, chemists, engineers, mathematicians and clinicians. Our exceptional track record in bench and bedside regenerative medicine research builds on the reputation and success of the former Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine (ISTM) which has now integrated within the School.

Our staff have been at the forefront of many innovative developments, working closely with healthcare partners including the Royal Stoke University Hospital (RSUH), one of the larger trauma hospitals in the country. For example, the Hartshill Horseshoe is an implant now in widespread use for spinal surgery across the world.

They have helped transform the treatment of leg fractures by two devices in particular. The Staffordshire Orthopaedic Reduction Machine (STORM), which realigns leg fractures prior to surgery, bringing them back to near perfect alignment, and IOS, a titanium alloy external fixator which promotes healing growth. Both inventions are now widely sold throughout Europe and the United States.

Teaching team includes:

• Professor Peter Ogrodnik, Senior Lecturer and Head of Orthopaedics and Biomechanics Research Group – a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Peter has conducted research into optimising the treatment of tibial fractures for over 20 years. Having founded two medical device companies himself, he has enhanced the application of engineering design principles to the solution of medical devices and his book Medical Devices Design is a core text in core research and development departments. In 2021, he received the Inspire, Support, Achieve Award from the Institution of Engineering Designers for his work to establish the charity ENG4, providing engineering solutions relating to healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Dr Nicholas Wragg, Lecturer in Bioengineering – His research is focused on complementary areas of regenerative medicine: Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine Biomanufacturing and Process Development.
  
  
• Dr Charlotte Hulme, Lecturer in Regenerative Medicine- Focused on patient stratification and cell-based therapy development in orthopaedics, including the use of bioreactors.

• Dr Jan-Herman Kuiper, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics – Jan has extensive experience in the use of Finite Element-based computer models for design optimisation, modelling of hydrated tissues and bone, and biological processes such as adaptive bone remodelling and fracture repair. One of his long standing interests is the control of biological processes through mechanical conditions, in particular, mechanical guidance of skeletal tissue formation, and the development and pre-clinical testing of joint replacement implants, bioresorbable orthopaedic devices and bone substitution products.
• Dr Vinoj George, Lecturer – His research interest is in understanding and modulating mechanisms associated with cardiovascular cell biology and cardiovascular diseases, with the aid of genome engineering in human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs).
  
  
• Professor Ying Yang, Professor in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering – Ying's current research has been focused on the application of engineering strategies in translational medicine. This includes smart nanofiber design and applications, detection of variation of cell adhesion capacities, developing immune modulating materials, exploring unique techniques to detect heterogeneous cellular populations and correlating the structures of collagen based matrices to diseases.

• Professor Neil Telling, Professor of Biomedical Nanophysics – Neil’s current research focuses on two main themes: the fabrication, functionalisation, reactivity and application of magnetic nanostructures in the biomedical sciences; and investigations of biomineralised nanoscale minerals related to neurodegenerative disorders.

• Dr Gianpiero Di Leva, Senior Lecturer in Regenerative Medicine – His research focuses on his long-standing interest in exploring the molecular roles of non-coding RNAs (ribonucleic acid) in determining cell fate changes and gene regulation. He aims to identify vulnerabilities in cancer cells and define innovative way to target them.
  
  
• Dr David Cabrera, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Bioengineering - He moved to Keele University as a Postdoctoral Research Associate joining Dr Alan Harper´s group for the aim of developing a magnetic nanoparticle-based therapy to improve current stroke treatments. In 2020, Dr Cabrera was awarded a prestigious Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship and continues his research in cardiovascular nanomedicine at Keele University.
  
  
• Dr Tina Dale, Lecturer in Applied Biomedical Science.

• Dr Wen-Wu Li, Lecturer in Analytical Biochemistry – Having previously worked on anticancer drug discovery and development in Chengdu Diao Pharmaceutical Group, China, Wen-Wu’s research explores drug discovery and development, as well as bioengineering of peptides and antibodies for biomedical application in cancer and infectious diseases.

• Dr Abigail Rutter, Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering – Abigail’s research interests are multidisciplinary; utilising bioengineering, spectrometry and spectroscopy to advance healthcare technologies and understanding. Primary focuses are to move analytical technology and practices to the non-invasive or non-destructive routes.

• Professor Karina Wright, Professor in Orthopaedics and Tissue Engineering – Focused on developing biological therapies for orthopaedic and spinal cord injury patients.