Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Dr Eric Hill is the chair of equality diversity and inclusion committee. Eric is the programme director for the Biosciences MSc at Aston University. His research interests include the development of tissue engineering strategies to model stem cell behaviour in the development of neuronal networks and also during neurodegeneration. Eric is currently engaged in developing stem cell derived models of the CNS in an attempt to study complex cellular interactions that occur in development and disease.

Dr Mihai Lomora is a lecturer in Physical Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, NUI Galway. Mihai is also the CDT CÚRAM Programme Manager. His current research interests include the fabrication of i) protein-polymer synthetic assemblies (micro-/nanocapsules, micro-/nanoparticles), and ii) phytoplankton-based scaffolds together with their combination with extracellular matrix (ECM)/cellular components for tissue engineering applications.

Dr Eirini Theodosiou is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Aston University. Her research interests include the design of tailored materials and manufacturing processes for high value biotherapeutics, advanced therapy medicinal products and animal stem cells. These new bioprocessing tools aim to accelerate the transition ‘from bench to bedside’, and ‘from bench to fork’, reaching the end user faster and at reduced costs.

Mrs Michelle Carmichael is the Doctoral Training Hub Coordinator for the lifETIME CDT. Michelle works to create an inclusive environment and ensures that there is equality and fairness in all CDT activities and processes.

Dr Lisa Hill is an Assistant Professor/lecturer in Ocular Disease and Therapeutics. Lisa is conducting pioneering research in the fields of extracellular matrix biology, ocular disease and therapeutics. Over the last decade, she has focussed on understanding how inflammation and dysfunctions in extracellular matrix can lead to blinding diseases including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and uveitis. This has led to her identifying and developing new immuno- and anti-scarring therapies to treat blinding diseases and she has developed and patented technologies used for delivering drugs into the eye.

Emma Lardner is the secretary of equality diversity and inclusion committee. Emma is the Operations Manager for the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the University of Birmingham and supports the LifETIME CDT with Birmingham administration.

Paige Walczak is the 2019 CDT student representative from Aston University. Paige's is researching the development of a 3D model of the cortex for the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases.

Hannah Williamson is the 2020 CDT student representative from the University of Birmingham. Hannah is researching on-demand sensors for cell therapy bioprocessing.

Omolola Ajayi is the 2021 CDT student representative from University of Glasgow. Omolola is researching engineered microenvironments for multiscale mechanobiology of breast cancer.