Professor of Bioengineering
Head of School of Engineering and Materials Science; Co-Director Centre for Predictive in vitro Models
organ-chips, musculoskeletal, tendon, tissue mechanics, mechanobiology, in vitro models
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering
Human coronary artery organ‐chip with circulating immune cells recapitulates anti‐inflammatory effect of pulsatile wall strainPrognostic Factors for Recovery from Patellar Tendinopathy in Jumping Athletes: An International Prospective Cohort StudyCommunity challenge towards consensus on characterization of biological tissue: C4Bio’s first findingsPulsatile low shear stress increases susceptibility to endothelial inflammation via upregulation of IFT and activation of YAPEngineering growth factor gradients to drive spatiotemporal tissue patterning in organ-on-a-chip systemsChapter 2 Tendon physiology and mechanical behavior: Structure-function relationshipsThe Interfascicular Matrix of Energy Storing Tendons Houses Heterogenous Cell Populations Disproportionately Affected by AgingHuman vascularised synovium-on-a-chip: a mechanically stimulated, microfluidic model to investigate synovial inflammation and monocyte recruitmentGuidelines for ex vivo mechanical testing of tendonUltrasound Measurement of Local Deformation in the Human Free Achilles Tendon Produced by Dynamic Muscle-Induced Loading: A Systematic ReviewMild hypercholesterolemia impacts achilles sub-tendon mechanical properties in young ratsThe impact of mild hypercholesterolemia on injury repair in the rat patellar tendonDevelopment and application of a novel in vivo overload model of the Achilles tendon in ratSelf-reported bio-psycho-social factors partially distinguish patellar tendinopathy from other knee problems and explain patellar tendinopathy severity in jumping athletes: A case-control studyOrgan-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UKOrgan-on-a-chip: current gaps and future directionsSelf-reported bio-psycho-social factors partially distinguish patellar tendinopathy from other knee problems and explain severity in jumping athletes: A case–control study36 Outcome predictors for recovery of patellar tendinopathy in jumping athletes: an international prospective cohort studyTENDON STRUCTURE FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS: INJURY AND THE INTERFASCICULAR MATRIXAre Landing Patterns in Jumping Athletes Associated with Patellar Tendinopathy? A Systematic Review with Evidence Gap Map and Meta-analysisThe effects of cholesterol accumulation on Achilles tendon biomechanics: A cross-sectional studyCan Achilles tendon xanthoma be distinguished from Achilles tendinopathy using Dixon method MRI? A cross-sectional exploratory studyStructure-function specialisation of the interfascicular matrix in the human achilles tendonThe Impact of Hypercholesterolemia on Tendon Injury RepairElastase treatment of tendon specifically impacts the mechanical properties of the interfascicular matrix8 Computational modelling of muscle, tendon, and ligaments biomechanicsPostnatal mechanical loading drives adaptation of tissues primarily through modulation of the non-collagenous matrixForce Transmission Between the Gastrocnemius and Soleus Sub-Tendons of the Achilles Tendon in RatPatellar tendinopathy outcome predictors in jumping athletes: feasibility of measures for a cohort studyA Recruitment Model of Tendon Viscoelasticity That Incorporates Fibril Creep and Explains Strain-Dependent Relaxation.An in vitro investigation into the effects of 10 Hz cyclic loading on tenocyte metabolismInsights into the micromechanics of stress-relaxation and creep behaviours in the aortic valveNovel glycopolymer-based biomaterials for tissue engineeringGuided Cell Attachment via Aligned Electrospinning of GlycopolymersMagnetic resonance elastography in nonlinear viscoelastic materials under loadMechanical loading induces primary cilia disassembly in tendon cells via TGFβ and HDAC6Tendon pathology: Have we missed the first step in the development of pathology?Postnatal Development of the Functional Specialization of the Equine Superficial Digital Flexor TendonEffects of cell adhesion motif, fiber stiffness, and cyclic strain on tenocyte gene expression in a tendon mimetic fiber composite hydrogelStructure and collagen crimp patterns of functionally distinct equine tendons, revealed by quantitative polarised light microscopy (qPLM)Pre- and post-natal development of the tendon inter-fascicular matrix and fascicles in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon and common digital extensor tendonElastin is Localised to the Interfascicular Matrix of Energy Storing Tendons and Becomes Increasingly Disorganised With AgeingThe relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be due to the helical fibril arrangement of their fasciclesA2B‑Miktoarm Glycopolymer Fibers and Their Interactions with TenocytesFascicles and the interfascicular matrix show decreased fatigue life with ageing in energy storing tendonsNovel models of late onset, progressive osteoarthritis caused by point mutations in the two alpha chains of collagen type IRecapitulating the Micromechanical Behavior of Tension and Shear in a Biomimetic Hydrogel for Controlling Tenocyte ResponseA transverse isotropic viscoelastic constitutive model for aortic valve tissueCyclic loading leads to primary cilia disassembly in human tenocytesDo the sub-bundles within the Achilles tendon originating from distinct muscle bellies differ in structural and mechanical properties?Structural Building Blocks of Soft Tissues: Tendons and Heart ValvesFascicles and the interfascicular matrix show adaptation for fatigue resistance in energy storing tendonsNomenclature of the tendon hierarchy: An overview of inconsistent terminology and a proposed size-based naming scheme with terminology for multi-muscle tendonsThe Effect of Gradations in Mineral Content, Matrix Alignment, and Applied Strain on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Morphology within Collagen BiomaterialsDistribution of proteins within different compartments of tendon varies according to tendon typeZonal variation in primary cilia elongation correlates with localized biomechanical degradation in stress deprived tendonThe use of medical infrared thermography in the detection of tendinopathy: a systematic reviewAnatomical heterogeneity of tendon: Fascicular and interfascicular tendon compartments have distinct proteomic compositionTendon Structure and CompositionEnergy storing and positional human tendons: mechanics and changes with ageingElastin is more abundant in energy storing tendons and is localised to the tendon interfascicular matrixIn vivo biological response to extracorporeal shockwave therapy in human tendinopathyTendon extracellular matrix damage, degradation and inflammation in response to in vitro overload exerciseTendon Functional Extracellular MatrixThe interfascicular matrix enables fascicle sliding and recovery in tendon, and behaves more elastically in energy storing tendonsEccentric and concentric exercise of the triceps surae: an in vivo study of dynamic muscle and tendon biomechanical parameters.Eccentric and Concentric Exercise of the Triceps Surae: An in Vivo Study of Dynamic Muscle and Tendon Biomechanical Parameters.The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in lower limb tendinopathy: a systematic review.Science in brief: Recent advances into understanding tendon function and injury riskTendon Physiology and Mechanical Behavior: Structure-Function RelationshipsChapter 1 Tendon Physiology and Mechanical Behavior Structure–Function RelationshipsTendon overload results in alterations in cell shape and increased markers of inflammation and matrix degradationEccentric and concentric loading of the triceps surae: an in vivo study of dynamic muscle and tendon biomechanical parameters.Early stage fatigue damage occurs in bovine tendon fascicles in the absence of changes in mechanics at either the gross or micro-structural level.Proteomic analysis reveals age-related changes in tendon matrix composition, with age- and injury-specific matrix fragmentation.78 Human Tenocyte Metabolism Under Pathological And Physiological Loading Conditions98 Early Inflammatory Response Of Tenocytes To Overload104 Characterisation Of The Proteome Of The Tendon Interfascicular Matrix89 Primary Cilia In Tenocytes From The Inter-fascicular Matrix And The Fascicular MatrixAchillessehnentendinopathieEffect of fatigue loading on structure and functional behaviour of fascicles from energy-storing tendons.The effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on matrix metalloprotease activity in tendinopathy (1046.8)Fascicles from energy-storing tendons show an age-specific response to cyclic fatigue loadingFunctionally distinct tendon fascicles exhibit different creep and stress relaxation behaviour.Advances in the understanding of tendinopathies: A report on the Second Havemeyer Workshop on equine tendon diseaseFatigue loading causes a reduction in the ability of tendon fascicles to recoilMatrix damage as a result of cyclic creep loading occurs in the absence of changes in tendon mechanics at either the gross or micro-structural levelHelical sub-structures in energy-storing tendons provide a possible mechanism for efficient energy storage and return.The role of the non-collagenous matrix in tendon function.Fatigue loading of tendon.Effect of Fatigue Loading on Tendon Fascicle Extension MechanismsEnergy Storing and Positional Tendon Fascicles Exhibit Different Fatigue BehaviourGAG depletion increases the stress-relaxation response of tendon fascicles, but does not influence recovery.Response to letter to the editor: End effects in mechanical testing of biomaterialsCyclic loading of tendon fascicles using a novel fatigue loading system increases interleukin-6 expression by tenocytesCapacity for sliding between tendon fascicles decreases with ageing in injury prone equine tendons: a possible mechanism for age-related tendinopathy?Microstructural stress relaxation mechanics in functionally different tendons.Microstructural stress relaxation mechanics in functionally different tendonsResponse to letter to the editor: End effects in mechanical testing of biomaterialsThe effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on type I collagen synthesis in the Achilles tendon: an intervention study on healthy participantsHelical fascicles in energy storing tendons: a mechanism for efficient recoil?The fatigue behaviour of functionally distinct bovine tendonsThe role of Interleukin-6 in the response of human hamstrings tendon to unloading, loading and overloadingHelical sub-structures in energy-storing tendons provide a possible mechanism for efficient energy storage and returnSpecialization of tendon mechanical properties results from interfascicular differencesOn the specimen length dependency of tensile mechanical properties in soft tissues: gripping effects and the characteristic decay length.Structure and Biomechanics of Biological CompositesStrain transfer through the aortic valveCoronal plane hip muscle activation in football code athletes with chronic adductor groin strain injury during standing hip flexionTHE MICRO-STRUCTURAL RESPONSE OF TENDON FASCICLES TO APPLIED MAIN IS ALTERED WITH AGEINGIncreased expression of IL-6 family members in tendon pathologyExtrafibrillar diffusion and intrafibrillar swelling at the nanoscale are associated with stress relaxation in the soft collagenous matrix tissue of tendonsNonlinearities in soft tissue strain.Anisotropic time-dependant behaviour of the aortic valveAnisotropic strain transfer through the aortic valve and its relevance to the cellular mechanical environment.Cyclic loading of tendon fascicles using a novel fatigue loading system increases interleukin-6 expressionThe effect of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffnessA combined experimental and modelling approach to aortic valve viscoelasticity in tensile deformationThe effect of eccentric and concentric loading speed on the normal achilles tendon: an in vivo biomechanical studyThe effect of loading speed on the force frequency spectrum during eccentric & concentric calf exerciseAnisotropic strain transfer through the aortic valve and its relevance to the cellular mechanical environmentTendon material properties cannot be predicted by the material properties of the tendon fasciclesFiber composite scaffolds uniquely regulate fibroblast response to cyclic tensile strainSpecimen dimensions influence the measurement of material properties in tendon fasciclesCharacterization of a novel fiber composite material for mechanotransduction research of fibrous connective tissuesIn situ multi-level analysis of viscoelastic deformation mechanisms in tendon collagenDynamic Tracking of Tendon Elongation In Ultrasound ImagingMeasuring strain distributions in the tendon using confocal microscopy and finite elementsHierarchical approaches to understanding tendon mechanicsCharacterizing structure-function relationships in tendonInvestigating load relaxation mechanics in tendonThe micro-structural strain response of tendonThe relationship between tendon composition, structure, and mechanical characteristicsStrain mechanisms in tendon fasciclesThe influence of swelling and matrix degradation on the microstructural integrity of tendon.Cyclic mechanical conditioning of isolated tendon fascicles results in an upregulation of collagen productionCyclic tensile strain upregulates collagen synthesis in isolated tendon fascicles.The influence of noncollagenous matrix components on the micromechanical environment of tendon fascicles.The effect of substrate and medium composition on the response of human dermal fibroblasts to cyclic tensile strain in vitroBritish Society for Matrix Biology Autumn Meeting Joint with the UK Tissue & Cell Engineering Society, University of Bristol, UKLocal Strain Measurement within TendonAn investigation into the effects of the hierarchical structure of tendon fascicles on micromechanical properties.Development of a technique to determine strains in tendons using the cell nuclei.The effects on non-collagenous matrix components on tendon fascicle micromechanics.The strain behaviour of tendon under tensile load, using cell nuclei as strain markers.Development of a technique to determine strains in tendons using the cell nuclei.Non-collagenous matrix components influence the micromechanical environment of tenocytes within tendon fascicles subjected to tensile strain.Non-collagenous matrix components influence the micro-mechanical environment of tenocytes within tendon fasciles subjected to tensile strain.Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for BioengineeringCOaCT - Development of a vascularised muscle-tendon inflammation-on-a-chip model
Human Tendon-CHIP: Novel In Vitro Predictive Models To Explore TendinopathyMicro-manufacturing of tissue patterned organ-chips for accelerated deployment of new medicinesEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT)Epithelial Exchange Surfaces – From organizing principles to novel culture models of the gatekeepers of the bodyIncorporating physical cues in organ-chip modelsOrgan-on-a-chip Centre of ExcellenceOrgan-chip Facility: A world-class in vitro models facility for the UK community, reducing the barriers to adoption to drive animal replacementProduction of a Human Growth Plate Organ-Chip Model of Skeletal DevelopmentConsultancy Hazel Screen, Frontier Space Technology Ltd Space Chips.Emulate Organs-on-Chips Centre TechnicianMICA: Organ-on-a-chip models for safety testing of regenerative medicine productsDevelopment of a synovium-chondrocyte organ-on-a-chip model with integrated biomechanicalIdentifying the causes of age-related tendon injuryOrgan-on-a-chip technologiesInvestigating Tendon mechanics and models of tendon pathologyTHaCH - The effects of hypercholesterolemia on tendon health (Tendon Health and CHolesterol)Effective Injury Management & Prevention
Emulate Inc
NC3Rs
React4life
UCB Pharma
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 ... [more]
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 ... [more]
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 ... [more]
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 ... [more]
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 ... [more]
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 ... [more]
Queen Mary University of London has officially opened one of Europe's largest and most advanced organ-on-a-chip facilities, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to replace animal testing in scientific research. The state-of-the-art facility, supported by major funding from the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals ... [more]
Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with a consortium of leading pharmaceutical companies, organ-chip technology providers, and regulatory bodies, has secured a £1.7 million research grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop a groundbreaking approach to drug discovery. Read more
A team of bioengineers led by Professor Hazel Screen have been awarded a £7 million grant to establish an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies. Queen Mary University of London is one of sixty-five universities chosen to receive funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research ... [more]
To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, 2024, Queen Mary University of London is delighted to showcase Prof Hazel Screen, the head of the School of Engineering and Materials Science and a fantastic research leader and educator.
