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The lifETIME CDT Management Team is composed of academic members from the partner universities.
Prof Matt Dalby (He/Him)
Director
Prof Matt Dalby FRSE (University of Glasgow) is director of the CDT. His research focusses on using materials to understand mesenchymal stem cell function in relation to bone, cartilage and the bone marrow niche.Prof Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Executive Director
Prof Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez (University of Glasgow) is executive director of the CDT. His research focusses on synthetic polymers and hydrogels that contain biological components to make the cell-materials of tomorrow.Prof Liam Grover (He/Him)
Deputy Director
Prof Liam Grover (University of Birmingham) is deputy director fo the CDT. His group focuses on the application of materials science and chemical engineering to the design of novel technologies for the regeneration of tissues. He is also interested in the fundamental science behind the mechanical performance of both ceramics and soft solids and how they may be influenced by physiological conditions.Prof Abhay Pandit
Deputy Director
Prof Abhay Pandit FBSE, FTERM (CÚRAM) research focuses on deciphering the host response in the diseased condition and using this information to engineer better biomaterials systems.Prof James Wolffsohn
Deputy Director
James S Wolffsohn, a Professor of Optometry at Aston University. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, and the tear film. He is a National Teaching Fellow, has published more than 280 full peer-reviewed papers and presented at numerous international conferences.Prof Ivan Wall (He/Him)
Innovation Director
Professor Ivan Wall is an interdisciplinary scientist who works at the interface of cell biology, bioprocess engineering and digital technology. His research group works on stem cells and extracellular vesicles, with emphasis on industrial translation and scale up production.Prof Paula Mendes (She/Her)
Mentor Champion
Prof Paula Mendes FIChemE (University of Birmingham) research focuses on the development of biointerfaces with enhanced dynamic and functional complexity for on-demand sensing, and construction of synthetic antibody mimics on surfaces for glycan recognition. The antibody technology is being harnessed to build more accurate tests for early cancer. Prof Mendes is the CDT mentor champion.Prof Jon Cooper
Impact Lead
Prof Jon Cooper FRSE, FREng (University of Glasgow) is then impact lead for the lifETIME CDT. His major research interested are in biomedical imaging, biosensors and medical diagnostics. He has a track record of spin-out and translation of devices into industry and clinical practice.Prof Huabing Yin
Organ-on-a-chip Champion
Prof Huabing Yin (University of Glasgow) is the organ-on-a-chip champion for the CDT. Her work focusses on microfluidic and bioengineering approaches to developing sensing, diagnostic and tissue engineering technologies.Dr Mathis Riehle
Outreach Lead
Dr Mathis Riehle (University of Glasgow)) is the outreach lead for the CDT. Dr Riehle research investigates the molecular mechanisms how cells interact with surfaces using devices made by micro- and nanofabrication with a specific chemical, topographic or mechanical surface design.Prof Alicia El Haj (She/Her)
Conference and Societies Champion
Alicia El Haj is the Interdisciplinary Professor of Cell Engineering at the Healthcare Technologies Institute and Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham.Dr Manus Biggs
Device Tech Lead
Dr Manus Biggs (CÚRAM) is device technology lead for the lifETIME CDT. His research integrates material science, electronic engineering, top-down nanofabrication techniques and biological functionalization strategies in developing biomaterial platforms, with a focus on elucidating specific mechanisms of cell-material interactions to enable the development of next-generation medical devices.Dr Anita Ghag (She/Her)
Dr Anita Ghag is a Lecturer of Biomaterials in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on the development of novel, functional materials which have the potential to be used in various applications including bone, cartilage and the cornea. She has a particular interest in how additive manufacturing can be used to produce 3D structures to replicate tissue, thereby restoring functionality following trauma or disease.Dr Emily Draper
Early Career Researcher Champion
Dr Emily Draper (University of Glasgow) is a lecturer in chemistry and her main research interests are in self-assembled organic materials in wearable electronics for bio-sensing and ophthalmic viscosurgical devices.Michelle Carmichael
Deputy Doctoral Training Hub Manager
Mrs Michelle Carmichael is the Deputy Doctoral Training Hub Manager for the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Part of Michelle's role is to manage the lifETIME CDT.Najmeh Abtahi Ph.D.
CÚRAM Project Manager
Najmeh Abtahi is the CÚRAM project manager for the lifETIME CDT.Aimee Soare (She/Her)
lifETIME Senior Administrator
Aimee Soare is the Senior Doctoral Training Hub Administrator for the lifETIME CDT (University of Glasgow).Monika Maitles (She/Her)
lifETIME Events Coordinator
Monika Maitles is the Graduate School and Doctoral Training Hub Events Coordinator for the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Part of Monika's role is to coordinate events within the lifETIME CDT.Saskia Sieprath (She/Her)
lifETIME Administrator
Saskia Sieprath is one of the Doctoral Training Hub Administrators for the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Part of Saskia's role is to support the lifETIME CDT.Emma Lardner (She/Her)
Healthcare Technologies Institute Operations Manager
Emma Lardner is the Healthcare Technologies Institute Operations Manager Operations at the University of Birmingham. Part of Emma's role is to support the lifETIME CDT.Carissa Pausanos (She/Her)
Operations and Research Support Administrator
Carissa Pausanos is the Operations and Research Support Administrator for the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the University of Birmingham. Part of Carissa's role is to support the lifETIME CDT.Amaziah Alipio
University of Birmingham (CDT Student Representative)
Amaziah is the 2021 CDT student representative from University of Birmingham. Amaziah's research is dedicated to cell-based therapies for liver regeneration.Eleanor Barton
Aston University (CDT Student Representative)
Eleanor is the 2022 CDT student representative from Aston University. Eleanor's research is dedicated to a novel in vitro vascular model for analysis of blood flow through medical devices.Shaima Riha
University of Glasgow (CDT Student Representative)
Shaima is the 2023 CDT student representative from Aston University. Shaima's research is dedicated to engineered living biomaterials in humanised multiphasic in vitro models – optogenetics to control the dialogue between the immune system and stem cells.