QMUL Centre for Bioengineering News

QMUL Recognised for Industry-Led Innovation at The Engineer Collaborate to Innovate Award

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) has been recognised at The Engineer Collaborate to Innovate Awards, which celebrate projects where close collaboration between universities, industry and the NHS delivers real-world impact. Three QMUL-involved projects were in the finalist, with Prostate-AI receiving a Highly Commended award. This recognition highlights Queen Mary's strength in translating research into deployable solutions through strong partnerships beyond academia. Prostate-AI: High-Throughput, AI-Enabled Prostate Cancer Screening for the NHS is led at QMUL by Rory Bennett, Dhruv Basude and Prof Zion Tse and brings together Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and JEB Technologies. The collaboration combines academic expertise in AI with industrial imaging systems and clinical insight to support faster and scalable prostate cancer screening aligned with NHS workflows. The Highly Commended award reflects the project's readiness for NHS adoption and its potential to improve diagnostic capacity. QMUL was also shortlisted for Transforming Whole Blood into Accessible and Personalised Regenerative Implants, by Prof Thomas Iskratsch's team in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. The project brings together bioengineering research and translational expertise to explore new routes for creating personalised regenerative implants, with the aim of improving accessibility and clinical relevance. A third finalist project extends QMUL's collaborative engineering work beyond healthcare. The farming future project, Integrated Human-Augmented Robotics and Intelligent Sensing for Precision Viticulture, is led by Dr Ketao Zhang and Prof Lei Su in collaboration with industry partners Extend Robotics and Saffron Grange Vineyard. By working closely with robotics integrator and end users, the team has developed robotic and sensing technologies for advanced manufacturing at the high-value products in the agriculture sector. Across all three projects, a common theme is the importance of collaboration with industry and the NHS. By co-developing solutions with partners from the outset, Queen Mary researchers are ensuring that engineering innovation moves efficiently from research to real-world impact.

Meet one of our academics: Stefaan Verbruggen

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

I am a lecturer in Medical Technology and a member of the Centre for Bioengineering at Queen Mary University of London. My research focuses on biomechanics and organ-on-a-chip technologies, particularly how mechanical forces influence musculoskeletal health and disease. My work sits at the intersection of biomechanics, mechanobiology and advanced in vitro modelling. I develop microphysiological systems and organ-on-a-chip platforms that allow us to model human joints, tendons and cartilage in the laboratory. I am especially interested in how cells sense and respond to mechanical loading, and whether we can model joint ageing in a controlled, predictive way. A key question in my research is whether ageing and degeneration are predetermined or whether they can be influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. Ultimately, I want to build better, more human-relevant models that reduce reliance on animal experiments and accelerate the development of new therapies for musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis. I have always been fascinated by how physical forces shape biology. The musculoskeletal system is a perfect example of this: our bones, cartilage and tendons are constantly adapting to the loads we place on them. Bioengineering allows me to combine engineering principles with biology to answer fundamental questions about health and disease, and to translate those answers into technologies that can have real clinical impact. For me, scientific excellence and inclusive culture are inseparable. Diverse perspectives make research stronger, more creative and more impactful. I lead Pride@ORS within the Orthopaedic Research Society (the world's largest orthopaedic research society) where I work to increase visibility and foster community for LGBTQ+ researchers in orthopaedics. I also serve on the EDI panels of the UK Biomedical Engineering Society and the European Society of Biomechanics, and I am an academic representative on the SEMS EDI Committee at Queen Mary. Through these roles, I advocate for equitable practices, inclusive leadership and meaningful structural change. Creating environments where everyone feels they belong is not separate from research, it is fundamental to doing research well. I enjoy the interdisciplinary nature of our community and the opportunity to mentor students and early-career researchers from diverse backgrounds. Watching students grow in confidence, scientifically and personally, is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. At Queen Mary, I feel part of a community that values both research excellence and social responsibility, and that balance is very important to me.

Meet one of our academics: Nadine Lavan

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

I am a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Centre for Brain and Behaviour, where I study how humans perceive voices. Human voices don't just tell us what someone is saying, voices also convey a lot of information about a speaker's intentions, feelings, and attitudes. Crucially, voices also help us make sense of who we are talking to. My research tackles questions such as: - How do we form first impressions from a voice within a fraction of a second and what shapes these impressions? - How do we become familiar with a voice, and what changes in our perception as we get more familiar? - How do we recognise someone purely from the sound of their voice? This work has become especially exciting in the era of rapidly advancing voice technology and AI voice synthesis. Alongside studying human voices, I now also get to investigate how people perceive increasingly realistic AI‑generated voices, and what it means for our interactions (be they human-to-human or human-computer interactions), when AI-generated voices and content become part of our everyday lives. One of my recent papers can be found here. Beyond my research, I am an EDI co‑lead for the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. With LGBTQ+ History Month approaching and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I am always impressed with the university's a busy programme of events for both LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride Month. The kinds of events and QMUL's commitment to push forward important policies, including QMUL's trans‑inclusion statement, help make the university a supportive place for all

Queen Mary launches world's first masters degree in organ-on-a-chip technology

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Queen Mary is proud to launch a new specialist bioengineering programme, MSc Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies, now open for September 2026 applications. Delivered within the renowned Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, the course provides advanced training in next-generation organ-on-a-chip, tissue engineering and in vitro technologies. Following the Government's recently announced strategy to reduce the use of animals in science, non-animal research methods are gaining increased attention, and organ-on-a-chip technology has been named as a priority area for future investment. Organ-chip technologies enable the creation of realistic, human-centred models that advance understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses, with the potential for more accurate results than animal models. The MSc course will be industry-led, preparing students to shape the future of healthcare. As well as learning from globally-leading academics in the field, students will benefit from a network of 150+ industry affiliates across pharma, biotech, and regulatory agencies, including GSK, AstraZeneca, Baxter and the RSPCA. As well as detailed knowledge in these technologies, students will also develop transferable skills in project management, entrepreneurship, ethics, and regulatory affairs, alongside expertise in biomedical engineering techniques. Graduates can expect career opportunities in research, regulation, consultancy, and more industries. This course follows the launch of a Centre for Doctoral Training in organ-on-a-chip technology at Queen Mary's CPM in 2025 – utilising £7 million in funding to train a new generation of experts in this future-facing technology. The Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models is one of the largest and most pioneering centres of its kind in the world, bringing together experts in 2D and 3D cell culture models, organoids, microphysiological systems, organ-on-a-chip technology and other non-animal methods.

Queen Mary team qualify an organ-chip model of breast cancer metastasis using a multi-omics approach

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed and rigorously qualified a new organ-on-a-chip model that replicates the early stages of breast cancer bone metastasis, offering a promising alternative to animal studies. The microfluidic system brings together osteocytes, osteoclasts and breast cancer cells in a dynamic tri-culture, but its real advance lies in the comprehensive multi-omics validation undertaken by the team. By integrating RNA sequencing, cytokine profiling and high-content imaging, the researchers demonstrated that the chip faithfully reproduces key molecular and cellular signatures seen in established in vivo animal models. This robust, data-driven qualification provides a new benchmark for evidence-based confidence in organ-chip technologies, positioning the platform as a scalable tool for mechanistic studies and future drug screening. The study underscores the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models' commitment to developing human-relevant, well-validated alternatives to animal research. This work was funded by an EPSRC-CRUK multidisciplinary award and was a collaboration between bioengineers at the Centre for Bioengineering and the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, and biologists at Barts Cancer Institute.

Musician Will Young visits Queen Mary to explore alternatives to Animal Testing

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A group of high-profile guests visited Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models on Tuesday 11th November, to explore the university's cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip facilities. The delegation included musician and animal advocate Will Young, a Director and Toxicologist from Lush cosmetics, and representatives from the charity Animal Aid. The group took part in presentations and workshops showcasing how organ-on-a-chip technology has the potential to revolutionise personalised medicine, speed up drug discovery, and significantly reduce the need for animals in scientific research. Professor Martin Knight led hands-on demonstrations of the technology in action, assisted by post-doctoral researchers, who showed the group commercial organ-chip platforms from Emulate, CN Bio and Mimetas, which are used for different applications. The visitors enjoyed pipetting into the chips and learning about how the different models work to mimic the environment of the human body. Organ-on-a-chip innovations have the potential to revolutionise treatments for cancers, heart, liver and kidney diseases, and much more. The visit took place on the day the Government announced a new strategy to reduce the use of animals in science, which names organ-on-a-chip technology as a priority area for future investment. Professor Hazel Screen, Head of the School of Engineering and Materials Science, said: "It was incredibly exciting to host the visit on the day the new strategy was announced, and we're equally excited to continue sharing our understanding of this technology with a wide range of stakeholders." Speaking at the visit, Karl Bygrave, Director at Lush, said: "Given that the Government announced its strategy for phasing out animal testing today, it was an amazing time to be here to see new models being developed, and the future of non-animal labs." "This technology is very exciting for Lush, what we're seeing is the future. As a cosmetics manufacturer, this technology will filter down to us, and in a number of years we will be using this for our own purposes, to check the safety of our products." Will Young said: "I feel very excited about the future. The aim is to have better science, better medicine and no abuse to animals – and today has shown me that that's possible." Queen Mary has recently launched the world's first taught master's degree in organ-on-a-chip technology, along with a Centre for Doctoral Training that will equip the next generation of specialists in the field. The university's organ-on-a-chip research is carried out in close collaboration with more than 150 affiliate organisations across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and regulatory sectors, ensuring that the technologies developed directly address industry needs.

Queen Mary Bioengineers provides expert comment on new Government strategy

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Bioengineers at Queen Mary University of London, have provided expert comment to the BBC about the new alternatives strategy launched today (11 November) by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Watch Queen Mary experts speak to the BBC about the Government's new alternatives strategy on 11 November from 6.10am. This new strategy outlines the Government's vision of eliminating the use of animals in research and development in all but exceptional circumstances, and sets out a plan to achieve this by replacing animals with alternative methods wherever possible. To explain more about this strategy, what these alternatives are and how they work, BBC's Pallab Ghosh spoke to Queen Mary academics Professor Hazel Screen, who co-directs the Queen Mary's Centre for Preventative in vitro Models (CPM) with her colleague Professor Martin Knight, and Professor Fran Balkwill, Deputy Lead at the University's Centre for Tumour Microenvironment. Listen to Professor Hazel Screen and Professor Fran Balkwill speak about the strategy on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on 11 November at 7.30am-7.40am. Professor Screen spoke to Pallab about the world-leading research work she and her colleagues are carrying out at Queen Mary. Researchers use state-of-the-art organ-on-a-chip technology to develop the next generation of predictive in vitro models that can be used to reduce the use of animals in research. Researchers are developing a wide range of approaches to study conditions such as arthritis, inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular disease. By working with pharmaceutical companies and other end users, researchers aim to maximise the adoption of these alternative methods in order to drive human-relevant science and accelerate the development of better medicines. Professor Balkwill spoke to Pallab about her research into complex multi-cellular models of ovarian cancer, which include the tumour microenvironment. These models, often referred to as organoids, provide a 3D multi-cellular model of ovarian cancer which allows Professor Balkwill and her team to understand things like cell-to-cell communication in the tumour microenvironment, test new biological therapies and study sensitivity and resistance to T cell killing. As well as delivering world leading research developing and using these alternative methods, Queen Mary is also pioneering in the UK and globally when it comes to educating and training the researchers in this field. They are doing this via their EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in next generation organ-on-a-chip technologies, which has welcomed its first cohort of PhD students, and the world's first Master's Degree Programme for organ-on-a-chip technology, which has recently opened to applications. Through these education programmes, world leading research and industry engagement, Queen Mary is ideally placed to help achieve the Government's aim of reducing the use of animals in science.

PhD student Yu Hu passes her PhD on organ-chip models of cardiovascular disease

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Many congratulations to Yu Hu who passed her PhD viva. During her PhD, Yu developed an organ-on-a-chip model of the human coronary artery incorporating endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and circulating immune cells. The organ-chips were subjected to pulsatile dilation and fluid shear stress causing cellular reorganisation as seen in vivo. Introduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced a robust inflammatory response which was upregulated in areas with lower levels of either tensile strain or shear stress. This again replicated the increased inflammation observed in vivo around bifurcations and areas of reduced flow. Yu's thesis also explored the mechanism through which low shear stress primes endothelial cells to be more susceptible to inflammation. She showed that this was associated with changes in YAP and primary expression. Increased cilia and associated intraflagellar transport protein, IFT88, were observed in response to lower levels of shear stress. Knock down of IFT88 replicated the anti-inflammatory effect of high shear stress. Yu was supervised by Prof Martin Knight and has already published one paper with a second in revision: Pulsatile low shear stress increases susceptibility to endothelial inflammation via upregulation of IFT and activation of YAP. Hou Y Screen HRC Knight MM. (2025) Apl Bioengineering, vol. 9 (2)

Digital Twins Take Centre Stage: Inspiring Ideas and Collaboration at QMUL's IEEE Panel

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Old Library at Queen Mary University of London was alive with conversation and ideas as more than 60 researchers, professionals, and students gathered for the IEEE UK and Ireland Section panel, "Twinned Realities: Shaping Our World with Digital Models." on 30th October 2025! Led by Dr. Mona Jaber, Reader in Internet of Things at QMUL, the event brought together leading voices in digital innovation to explore how digital twin technologies are reshaping the way we model, manage, and understand complex systems. The panel featured Prof. Akram Alomainy, Paul M. Cunningham, Dr. Caroline Roney, Prof. Christopher Pain, Dr. Jason Shepherd, and Prof. Berk Canberk, who shared insights spanning medicine, infrastructure, AI, and systems engineering. Discussions covered everything from cardiac digital twins used in in-silico clinical trials to sustainable city modelling and intelligent service platforms that bridge the physical and digital worlds. Reflecting on the discussion, Prof. Akram Alomainy highlighted the transformative power of collaboration in this fast-moving field: "Digital twins sit at the intersection of science, engineering, and creativity. What makes them truly exciting is how they bring together expertise from so many disciplines to solve real-world problems in smarter, faster, and more human-centred ways." Dr. Jaber described the event as "a wonderful exchange of ideas that showcased the creativity and collaboration driving this field forward." With more than sixty participants engaging during the session and many staying afterward to continue conversations, the enthusiasm in the room reflected growing momentum behind digital twin research and its cross-sector potential. As one attendee put it, "Digital twins are no longer just simulations; they're becoming living digital entities. Their connection with Agentic AI could redefine how we build and interact with complex systems." The event closed with a strong sense of optimism and plans for future collaboration between academia and industry. Dr. Jaber thanked all speakers and attendees for making the panel a success: "The level of engagement and discussion was inspiring; I look forward to seeing how these conversations grow into new ideas and partnerships."

Queen Mary hosts the UK Organ-on-a-chip Symposium

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models hosted a fastic afternoon of science and bioengineering at the UK organ-on-a-chip Annual Symposium. The event was attended by nearly 300 people, including 100 online, with representatives from academia, industry, Government, charities and other stakeholders. There were flash talks from four talented Early Career Researchers at the Centre, and then four inspiring keynote presentations from: Professor Ignacio Ochoa (University of Zaragoza) Professor Rocky Tuan (Chinese University of Hong Kong / University of Pittsburgh) Professor Roisin Owens (University of Cambridge) Professor Cathy Merry (University of Nottingham) Dr Anthony Holmes from NC3Rs gave an excellent presentation. His talk entitled "Innovate, Integrate, Regulate: MPS technologies in the global life sciences arena" explored initiatives across the World which are building momentum in the drive to deliver more human relevant science and replace the use of animals. Prof Martin Knight and Prof Hazel Screen, presented the journey from running the UK Organ-on-a-chip network, to co-directing the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, which now has over 70 academics, the most extensive organ-chip facilities in the UK, industrial affiliates from over 100 organisation, and a new Centre for Doctoral Training. The Centre hosts the Annual Symposium and will soon be running a eSymposia series enabling researchers from across the Globe to join monthly online seminars sharing exciting research associated with organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids, and other forms of predictive in vitro models. Finally, Dr Emily Richardson from CN Bio presented some of their lovely work on the development, qualification and validation of microphysiological systems for translating safety risks to the clinic. The Symposium also celebrated the launch of Queen Mary's new EPSRC Centre for doctoral training in next generation Organ-on-a-chip Technology (COaCT). We have a fantastic group of 15 new PhD students, all with industry sponsors, tackling a wide range of projects associated with the development of innovative organ-chip models and underpinning technology. The PhD students, joined with supervisors, and industry partners for a launch party after the symposium, and are now beginning an intensive few weeks of events including an organ-chip training course in our in vitro models facilities.

Dr Elis Newham appears on BBC's Secrets of the Brain

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Dr Elis Newham, Post-doctoral Research Assistant in Prof Himadri Gupta's research group, appeared on BBC2's 'Secrets of the Brain' on Monday 29th September to explain brain evolution in the earliest mammals. He visited Cwm Colhuw Beach in South Wales, where the earliest mammals known as 'Morganucodon' were discovered, to talk to Professor Jim Al'Khalili about what makes their brains so special. Dr Newham's research into these ancient mammals looked at what their teeth can tell us about how they lived; "although they had bigger brains and more advanced behaviour, they didn't live fast and die young but led a slower-paced, longer life akin to those of small reptiles, like lizards," Dr Newham said when this research was first published in 2020. He told Prof Al'Khalili about morganucodon's neo-cortex - a part of their brain not found in other animals at the time. "It's the bump that makes our brains unique" said Prof Al'Khalili goes on to explain. The full episode is available to watch back on BBC iPlayer for 11 months. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002k781/secrets-of-the-brain-series-1-episode-1

Queen Mary staff and students present at the BioMedEng Conference

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

It was fantastic to see so many Queen Mary staff and PhD students at the BioMedEng conference in Glasgow following the sucess of last year's conference at Queen Mary. This annual meeting of the BioMedEng Association brings together Biomedical Engineers from industry, academia and the NHS. The conference is the UK home for a broad field of multidisciplinary activity that uses engineering tools and techniques to solve problems arising in biology and medicine. Colleagues from Queen Mary's Centre for Bioengineering were presenting their latest research in a variety of areas including, robotics, AI, computational modelling, biomaterials, organ-on-a-chip and biomechanics. Prof Knight is the chair of the Council for BioMedEng Association, and presented at the AGM

Prof Liz Tanner awarded the European Society for Biomaterials Klaus de Groot Award

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

At this month's European Society for Biomaterials conference in Turin, Prof Liz Tanner from Queen Mary's Centre for Bioengineering, was given the Klaus de Groot Award. This award is for "scientists who have shown a distinct ability to provide excellent mentorship and guidance to young researchers, helping them to establish their own independent career." The panel recognised Prof Tanner's considerable contribution supporting students and early career academics at Queen Mary and during her time at University of Glasgow. Prof Tanner gave a Prize Lecture entitled "New Bones for Old" which covered her career from undergraduate to professor including running European Society for Biomaterials and World Biomaterials Conferences. She also described the development of biomaterials and biomedical engineering education within the UK and Sweden.

Animals in Science Committee visit to Queen Mary

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to host a visit from the UK Government's Animals in Science Committee and the associated policy unit at the Home Office. The group visited the Queen Mary in vitro models facilities, part of the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, where we were able to demonstrate some of the organ-on-a-chip platforms in use within the Centre. These platforms enable researchers to build complex in vitro models which provide an valuable alternative to the use of animals in science, and help to deliver highest quality human-relevant science, and to accelerate the delivery of new therapeutics. Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models and Centre for Bioengineering are at the forefront of this field, leading exciting research, training and translation. We host the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in next generation organ-on-a-chip technology providing world leading PhD training, delivering over 60 highly skilled PhD graduates through 4 successive cohorts. And we work closely with industry and other stakeholders through our affiliates club which has representatives from over 100 companies and organisations in this rapidly developing field.

New research into the function of cardiac mechanosensing published in Science Advances

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Recent discoveries have shown that cells in the heart are guided by the stiffness of their environment in a process, called mechanosensing. This influences the way they behave and function. Importantly, the stiffness of the heart changes in disease, however, it is still unclear how this contributes to the development of heart failure. The group of Prof Thomas Iskratsch previously found that talin, a protein at interaction sites of the cells with the extracellular environment, is differentially stretched depending on the stiffness of their surrounding. This new research, with Dr Emilie Marhuenda and Dr Ioannis Xanthis as first authors, and funded by the British Heart Foundation, shows this is leading to changes in the interaction partners of talin. Importantly, the group found that this mechanism can be used by cells as a tool to remember the mechanical properties of the environment they have been sitting in. Such mechanical memory can fix cells in a state, which is useful for maintaining a healthy heart but if imprinted incorrectly can over time lead to heart cells being poorly adapted to their environment. This can lead to an aggravation of the disease. Using different state-of-the art techniques, they characterised the interactions in vitro and in vivo (e.g. co-immunoprecipitation experiments, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), or in situ proximity ligation assays), and manipulated the interactions usingoptogenetic LOVTRAP assays. The team found that the molecules DLC1, RIAM and Paxillin all bind to talin at different stiffness and that this interaction is preserved even in absence of tension. This shows that there is mechanical memory which is regulated through phosphorylation pathways. The research highlights DCL1 as a critical molecule in the heart cells which regulates RhoA activity at the cardiomyocyte adhesions. It's loss of function leads to functional defects in the cardiomyocytes. "We didn't expect that the interactions would be persevered in absence of tension, hence we followed up on the finding to characterise the mechanical memory." said Prof Iskratsch. "Treatment of extracellular matrix stiffness has shown partial improvements of heart function but could not reverse the effects on the cardiomyocyte phenotype. Our results show that extracellular matrix stiffness and mechanical memory need to be targeted in parallel."

Prof Althoefer publishes new research on using fuzzy reinforcement learning in endovascular robotics

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Jointly with roboticists, Tianliang Yao, Yueqi Xu, Haoyu Wang, Xihe Qiu and Peng Qi, Professor Kaspar Althoefer has published a paper on 'Multi-Agent Fuzzy Reinforcement Learning with Large Language Models for Cooperative Navigation of Endovascular Robotics' in IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems. The paper summarises recent work on context-aware, autonomous navigation of guidewires and catheters in complex vascular systems. Leveraging fuzzy reinforcement learning (a more human-like logic allowing for vagueness or nuance), the group's approach ensures efficiency and precision, surpassing traditional methods in 3D simulators. Endovascular interventions require precise, cooperative control of multiple instruments, such as guidewires and catheters, to navigate complex vascular anatomies. Current robotic systems, reliant on leader-follower control, depend heavily on operator expertise and lack intelligence. Learning-based methods, often limited to single-instrument control, fall short in complex clinical scenarios requiring multi-instrument coordination. This study proposes a Multi-Agent Fuzzy Reinforcement Learning (MAFRL) framework, guided by large language models (LLMs), for task-level autonomous, cooperative navigation in endovascular robotics. LLMs provide procedural priors and context-aware policy guidance, enabling adaptive decision-making for collaborative guidewire and catheter agents. Central to the framework, fuzzy reinforcement learning mitigates LLM-induced uncertainties by adaptively embedding clinical constraints into reward functions, ensuring strict adherence to procedural safety and precise alignment with the complexities of real-world endovascular interventions. Validated in a 3D vascular simulation, this approach achieves superior navigation performance and procedural efficiency compared to conventional methods, underscoring the transformative potential of fuzzy reinforcement learning in advancing LLM-guided MARL for endovascular robotics.

Breakthrough in Wireless Capsule Endoscopy: QMUL Team Develops Unique Dual-Camera MIMO Antenna ...

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have achieved a major milestone in medical technology with the development of a novel dual-camera-integrated MIMO antenna system designed for high-data-rate wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE). The paper, published in the IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF, and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology (September 2025), introduces an ultra-compact antenna array that enables capsule endoscopes to transmit high-quality video data from deep inside the human body with unprecedented reliability and speed. The interdisciplinary research team; Dr Muhammad Qamar, Dr Kamil Yavuz Kapusuz, Dr Lawrence Carslake, Dr Tian-Hong Loh, Dr Mohamed A. Thaha, and Professor Akram Alomainy, designed a two-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna that operates within the 401–406 MHz MedRadio band. The design integrates two cameras and achieves a data rate of 78 Mbps through 1.6 metres of biological tissue, maintaining excellent isolation and safety standards. Unlike traditional single-camera capsule endoscopes, this dual-camera design captures simultaneous front and rear views of the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for repeat procedures. The innovative antenna structure is built using standard multilayer PCB technology, making it small, manufacturable, and ready for real-world integration. Professor Akram Alomainy, co-author of the paper and project lead, said: "This work brings us closer to the next generation of intelligent, high-speed medical capsules that can provide doctors with clearer, more comprehensive views of the human body while improving patient comfort and safety." The research combines cutting-edge electromagnetics, biomedical engineering, and clinical collaboration, supported by the European Partnership on Metrology (21NRM03 MEWS Project) and Horizon Europe funding. This achievement places Queen Mary at the forefront of wireless biomedical innovation, paving the way for smarter, faster, and more reliable implantable medical devices. Full paper at https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10777505

Global minds converge as Queen Mary hosts EnFI2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

On 7th and 8th July, the School of Engineering and Materials Science hosted the 16th International Workshop on Engineering of Functional Interfaces (EnFI2025), which was attended by 86 scientists and engineers from 19 universities, institutes and companies from seven different countries in Europe and the Far East. We are proud to be the first university to host this workshop in the UK. The meeting attracted a crowd of highly talented young researchers from a diverse range of subject areas and offered excellent opportunities for PhD students and postdocs to network and exchange ideas. Professor Marloes Peeters from Manchester University said, "It was such a pleasure to be attending EnFI – my students have been very positive about the conference, especially because for the most of them this is their first conference, and it is good that they get to present their research in a positive environment". Professor Steffi Krause, the chair of the organising committee, kicked off the meeting with a brief introduction to the history of Queen Mary, its structure and current research in the School of Engineering and Materials Science. Each of the four sessions was started with an inspiring tutorial lecture by an internationally renowned scientist. We were very pleased to welcome Professor Petra Agota Szilagyi from Oslo University (awarded Top50 women in Engineering in 2020) who was introducing her research on MOF-guest interfaces and their relevance in catalytic reactions. Professor Julien Gautrot, one of the most outstanding academics at Queen Mary, introduced his unique research on the engineering of liquid-liquid interfaces for stem cell technology to the audience. The afternoon session on Monday was started by Professor Tom McDonald from Manchester University with a fascinating talk about Long-acting Therapeutics Enabled by Nanomedicines showing how medicines with slow release can be formed in-situ inside the body using smart polymers. Professor Pedro Estrela's (Bath University) lecture on Electrochemical Biosensors and Biodevices for Medical Diagnosis and Water Monitoring was a master class in how to lead an audience from the very fundamentals of a subject to exciting research outputs demonstrating how to design sensors that can function in real life applications in both medicine and water quality monitoring. In each session, early career researchers gave flash talks to introduce the work presented in the subsequent poster sessions that covered a wide range of topics related to interfaces in advanced materials and characterisation methods, biological interfaces, molecularly imprinted polymers and electrochemical methods and sensors. The most fun part of the conference were the poster sessions. The diverse multidisciplinary background of the researchers present sparked a lot of interesting conversations and initiated many novel ideas and new collaborations. The conference dinner that was attended by all participants took place on Monday night in Queen Mary's most iconic venue, the Octagon. Many participants commented on the smooth running of the workshop, which was helped by the excellent work by our events managers and caterers, but a special thanks also goes to our team of student volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a complete success.

Queen Mary researchers awarded MRC funding to develop human tendon-on-a-chip technology

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Queen Mary University of London has secured funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to launch a pioneering research project aiming to transform the understanding and treatment of tendinopathy—a painful and often chronic tendon condition affecting millions worldwide. The three-year project, Human Tendon-CHIP, will combine cutting-edge bioengineering, materials science and cellular biology to develop novel human-relevant, vascularised organ-on-a-chip models of tendon disease. The interdisciplinary team is led by Professor Hazel Screen alongside Dr Nidal Khatib at the School of Engineering and Materials Science, as well as collaborators Professors John Connelly and Dr Liisa Blowes at The Blizard Institute, and clinical liaison Professor Xavier Griffin at Queen Mary and Barts Health. Dr Nidal Khatib, Postdoctoral Research Associate and researcher co-lead on the grant, said: "Our goal is to develop tendon models which capture how tendons function and get injured using cells extracted directly from human tendon placed in microengineered environments. These 'tendon-chips' will allow us to recreate the physical, cellular, and immune landscape of tendon tissue, giving us an unprecedented window into human disease progression and ways to explore possible new treatments." The project will be delivered at Queen Mary's new state-of-the-art in vitro models facilities, which provides access to a range organ-on-a-chip platform technologies as well as the CREATE Lab for advanced tissue engineering. The project will create two advanced organ-on-a-chip systems. One will use an existing commercial platform to model how tendon cells interact with blood vessels. The other will be a custom-made, three-channel chip developed in-house. This will allow researchers to study different tendon cell types and how they interact with blood and immune cells, which is important due to new findings in tendon biology. By recreating key physical and inflammatory stimuli that drive tendon disease, the team hopes future research will be able to leverage these novel platforms to identify new disease pathways and potential drug targets. These platforms could offer a breakthrough in drug discovery for tendon disorders, accelerating progress towards effective regenerative treatments while reducing reliance on animal models. Professor Hazel Screen, lead investigator, commented: "This project marks a major step forward in tendon research. Our tendon-chips are designed not just to simulate disease but to actively drive it, enabling us to probe its causes and test potential treatments in a controlled, human-relevant system. The initiative also supports Queen Mary's broader commitment to replacing animal models with more predictive, ethically responsible alternatives for biomedical research." The research builds on Queen Mary's world-leading expertise in organ-on-a-chip technologies, facilitated through its Centre for Predictive in vitro Models. The outcomes have the potential to benefit patients, clinicians, and the wider healthcare system by improving diagnostic precision and supporting the development of targeted, effective therapies.

Queen Mary Professor secures £1.2 million British Heart Foundation programme grant

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Professor Thomas Iskratsch, Professor in Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering, has been awarded a highly coveted Programme Grant of £1.2 million from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). This significant funding will support groundbreaking research into how mechanical forces contribute to cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Professor Iskratsch's research aims to understand why our blood vessels sometimes change the stiffness and contribute to heart disease. Imagine your arteries as flexible pipes that carry blood. When blood flows through them, it creates pressure and stretches the pipe walls. This research focuses on special cells in these walls, called vascular smooth muscle cells. "We're trying to figure out how these everyday mechanical forces like the pressure from blood flow or the stiffness of the artery wall itself cause these cells to change," explains Professor Iskratsch. "Normally, these cells help the artery contract and relax, but in disease, they lose this ability and start to remodel the artery wall, making the problem worse. Our new data suggests that increased blood pressure alone can trigger a change, and we believe it's linked to alterations in the fats (lipids) within the cells, which then affect how genes are controlled. This grant will allow us to investigate this crucial connection between increased pressure and these lipid changes." Understanding this fundamental process is vital. By uncovering the precise molecular pathways involved, the team hopes to identify new targets for drugs and therapies that could prevent or reverse the progression of cardiovascular diseases, ultimately improving heart health for millions globally. This ambitious project is a truly collaborative endeavour, bringing together leading experts from various institutions. Key collaborators include Professor Qingzhong Xiao from Queen Mary's William Harvey Research Institute, Professor Duncan Graham and Dr Nicholas Rattray from Strathclyde, and Professor Cathy Shanahan from King's College London. Crucially, the project also benefits from an industry partnership with AstraZeneca, who are providing specialised analysis methods, including high-resolution mass-spectrometry imaging. This collaboration enhances the project's capabilities, allowing for deeper insights into the complex cellular changes. The research programme is poised to make significant discoveries. The team anticipates uncovering the molecular pathways that link hypertensive pressure to the formation of lipid droplets within cells. They will also investigate how these lipid droplets might fuel the detrimental changes in cell behaviour, their effect on cell and nuclear mechanics, and ultimately, how these processes lead to altered gene regulation. These findings are expected to pave the way for innovative new therapeutic strategies. "I'm really excited about the news that this project will be funded," Professor Iskratsch concluded. "The role of vascular smooth muscle cell mechanosensing in cardiovascular disease onset and progression has been a key area of research interest in my group that previously received funding from the BHF and industry partners. Receiving longer-term funding in form of a highly prestigious programme grant marks a key step in my career as researcher in cardiovascular mechanobiology and bioengineering."

Professor Giulia De Falco appointed to WHO Committee on tumour classification

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Professor Giulia De Falco, Professor in Pathology and Molecular Clinical Microbiology in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, has been appointed to a prestigious international subcommittee of the World Health Organization (WHO). This committee plays a crucial role in updating the WHO's classification of tumours, ensuring that diagnostic guidelines remain current and accessible worldwide. Professor De Falco joins a distinguished panel of 20 experts from across the globe and is the sole representative from the UK. Her work will contribute to the development of the 6th edition of the WHO's 'blue books' – the internationally recognised guidelines used in the diagnosis and treatment of human tumours. The WHO updates its tumour classification regularly to keep up with medical research. However, some diagnostic methods need specialised skills and costly equipment, making them hard to use in low-income areas. This committee will advise the WHO/WCT Editorial Board on the practicality of current guidelines and suggest alternative diagnostic approaches that work in resource-limited regions, helping to improve global healthcare access. Professor De Falco's appointment reflects her longstanding commitment to bridging educational and operational gaps in underprivileged countries. She has been one of the founder members of the European Society of Pathology working group 'Pathology in Favour of Developing Countries', which she chairs since 2021. Through this role, she has organised major international pathology congresses, workshops, and training opportunities, fostering global collaboration in the field.