The group has extensive
experience, stretching back more than two decades, in the design and development
of biomaterials and the advancement of the interdisciplinary scientific areas
that underpin this. In that time it has produced over 300 publications. The
group has been generously funded by: UK Research Councils (EPSRC and BBSRC), EU
grants and both UK-based and international companies, including Johnson &
Johnson, Ciba-Novartis and Procter & Gamble.
The core expertise of
the group lies in the application of a fundamental molecular understanding to
rapidly developing areas such as biomimetic systems, assay development and
high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry and biology, de novo
molecular design, biological chemistry and biomaterials.
The groups aims are the:
- advancement of
understanding of the synthesis and behavior of biocompatible and biomimetic
polymers
- design and
fabrication of new soft tissue analogues for biomedical applications especially
those related to the cornea, intervertebral disc, articular cartilage and
stratum corneum (skin)
- synthesis and
characterisation of analogues of biological fluids such as tears, lung
surfactant and synovial fluid
- design of new
materials for applications in biotechnology, such as those related to
high-throughput synthesis, screening and purification of novel biologically
relevant molecules
- design of new
methods for detecting complex interactions between important biological
molecules, such as those between proteins and nucleic acids, and those between
proteins and toxins such as arsenic
An important feature
of the work of the group is its interdisciplinary nature and the close
interaction with academic, clinical and industrial collaborators in the UK, EU,
Asia, Australia and the US.
Funding
sources
Our ongoing funding from a range of
sources including EPSRC, BBSRC, the EU, TCD and a range of national and
international companies means that research opportunities for well-qualified
students are usually available.
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