Research Challenge 2: Modelling Spinal Biomechanics

Research challenge 2 (RC2) is centred around the need for the development of an advanced spinal rigid-body modelling technique. This is required to determine the expected vertebral loads and motion across a range of daily activities. Additionally, the model should be able to judge the impact of tumour progression and pain on the spinal biomechanics. … Read more

Research Challenges: Development and Assessment of MII Build Technology

3D printing revolutionises medical device technology by allowing personalised devices to be created within a short period of time, and at lower costs than traditional manufacturing methods. OncoEng aims to utilise 3D printing to create minimally invasive implants (MII) out of metamaterials. These are materials created from an array of lattices, that change the nature … Read more

MetUp UK: Darker Side of Pink Exhibition

Today I visited the #DarkerPink exhibition at the Danum Gallery and Museum in Doncaster. The presence of dark pink figures, listening to their stories as I stood in front of them, really brought home the impact of metastatic breast cancer. I thank the women involved in this project for sharing their reality and was delighted … Read more

OncoEng Kickoff Meeting

The 10th of June marked the beginning of OncoEng, in which academics, early-stage researchers, patient advocates, and representatives from invested companies met in Weetwood Hall, Leeds for the kick-off meeting. The day began with a welcome and overview of the £7 million project, by Prof. Richard Hall, before Prof. David Sebag-Montefiore, the director of Leeds … Read more

OncoEng PhD Studentship at UCL: Biomechanical Modelling of Metastasis Growth in the Spine

OncoEng is looking for its first PhD candidate, based at UCL! The student will join the research groups of both Rebecca Shipley (computational modelling in medicine and biology; UCL Mechanical Engineering) and Simon Walker-Samuel (biophysics and imaging; UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging), collaborating closely with colleagues in UCL Mathematics (Nick Ovenden). The project will … Read more

Mechanical Logic using Multi-Plane Mechanical Metamaterials

Metamaterials are architected materials designed to exhibit properties superior to their constituent material. Metamaterial structures are well established in optics, acoustics, and thermodynamics. Additive Manufacturing has enabled the expansion of metamaterial application space into mechanical mechanisms. These architected materials exploit structural deformations and mechanical energies to exhibit unique phenomena that are used to build functional … Read more

Mass customisation of patient implants

Customized patient implants have been shown to improve patient outcomes but they typically require increased preoperative assessment, involve longer lead times, and are burdened with higher costs all of which have prevented widespread adoption. To attain the benefits of patient-specific implants, whilst avoiding the limitations of currently available solutions, fully automated design and manufacture product … Read more

In Silico Framework for Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair Construct Design

A recently published paper by Simão Laranjeira and Rebecca Shipley from UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering developed a new in silico framework to help design peripheral nerve injury repair constructs. The work was developed within the remit of the UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering of creating novel strategies to treat peripheral nerve injury. The framework … Read more