The application of engineering methods to create environments and or materials that promote cell or tissue growth and function, in vitro and in vivo.
This research area focuses on the application of engineering methods to create environments and materials that promote cell or tissue growth and function, in vitro and in vivo.
A significant body of research focuses on biomedical materials with novel chemical, physical or mechanical properties, as well as the use of materials in a wide range of medical applications and interventions. This area has a key role in underpinning the regenerative medicine agenda.
Researchers should focus on emerging challenges associated with biomaterials and tissue engineering, including:
- generation of curative and customised biomaterials
- personalised therapy and stratified medicine
- biocompatibility in medical devices and bioelectronics
- antimicrobial resistance
- manufacturing and scale-up of cell therapies.
This research area is highly multidisciplinary, requiring specialised training and leadership development to create and sustain capability. We are working with the community to develop a research culture where:
- investigators work with relevant industrial stakeholders to accelerate industrial uptake and maximise commercialisation of their research
- closer links with the manufacturing sector help tackle research challenges in scale-up and reproducibility
- a clear, collaborative approach with other funders ensures that training and leadership are preserved for academic, clinical and industrial needs.
There is also a focus on co-creation of research projects between researchers, clinicians and other users. By ensuring this relationship, EPSRC investment enables novel research that addresses clinical need, as well as adding to the engineering and physical sciences knowledge base.
We encourage researchers to develop strategic relationships with stakeholders who have the clinical or regulatory expertise necessary for translation of innovative research. To assist this, we encourage use of the Healthcare technologies impact and translation toolkit.
The formation of the Henry Royce Institute has a potential impact on facilities needs. Alignment and integration across the landscape is therefore important – particularly with regard to other advanced materials portfolios.
This research area is also of potential relevance to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s Official Development Assistance funding streams.