SETsquared UK - US Partnership |
UK Visitors:
Julian Chaudhuri | Philip Costen | Alan Dalton | Gary Hawley | Peter Hooper | David Lovell | Graham Reed | David Smith | Stephen Sweeney | David Wynick
Deputy Director of Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Bath

Julian Chaudhuri is Professor of Biochemical & Biomedical Engineering, a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He has 15 years experience of interdisciplinary research in biochemical engineering, most recently in bioreactor and scaffold design for tissue engineering [1]. He holds degrees from University College London, and the University of Reading, and is the Deputy Director of the University of Bath Centre for Regenerative Medicine. Julian has extensive collaborations within the Departments of Biology & Biochemistry and Pharmacy & Pharmacology and a good overview of all the University’s activities in bioengineering and regenerative medicine. Julian Chaudhuri currently leads a group of 3 post-doctoral researchers and 4 PhD students. His work is currently supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and charity grants and has previously been funded by industry (Smith & Nephew plc and Tissue Science Laboratories plc). The aim of the Chaudhuri laboratory is to understand how to construct three dimensional, physiologically accurate tissue constructs with clinically relevant dimensions. The approach is based on the hypothesis that 3D tissue functionality is limited by the poor mass transfer of nutrients to and waste exchange from cells within tissue constructs [2]. This is a key challenge in tissue engineering where recent products have been 2D tissues that are relatively simple, i.e. single cell type, avascular and aneural tissues such as skin. This interdisciplinary research comprises the manipulation of biomaterials to form cell scaffolds and the design of bioreactors to enable 3D cell growth and hence tissue formation. We work with both natural (collagen, alginate [3]), dextran (patent filed, manuscript in preparation), silk fibroin and synthetic (poly[lactic-co-glycolic acid] [4] poly[caprolactone]) scaffold materials. Currently, we are engineering several tissue types, including small diameter blood vessels, bone, cartilage and ligament. More details on current work is described below:
Scaffold design
Much work of our work has used type I and type IV collagens as scaffolds for skin and vascular replacements respectively [5, 6]. For example, we have used decellularised porcine carotid arteries as a natural collagen-elastin scaffold for small diameter vascular tissue replacements. In this work we found that chemically crosslinking collagen, using a photocatalytic dye, prevented smooth muscle cells from penetrating the fibrous matrix and remodelling the collagen (manuscript submitted). Our current work investigates the variables of crosslinking type IV collagen on smooth muscle cell migration in a collagen gel model for use as a small diameter vascular graft. A major recent contribution is the development and use of tubular, porous, hollow fibre biodegradable scaffolds. This is the first demonstration of the use of membrane spinning techniques to produce such fibres from poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) [2, 7]. These structures are ideal for use as a support in a bioreactor and will allow us to mimic vascular networks and perfuse the growing tissue in order to reduce nutrient limitations. We are applying this scaffold to the synthesis of bone and ligament tissue. Use of such fibres is a key component in a current project (in collaboration with Dr. Semali Perera at Bath, and Prof Richard Oreffo at Southampton) to expand and differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells in a hollow-fibre bioreactor.
Bioreactor development
We are developing bioreactor systems to cultivate bone, vascular, cartilage, and ligament tissue from single or multiple cell types, and from mesenchymal stem cells, primary cells and cell lines. In most cases, the bioreactor systems have been purpose-designed by us for the specific tissue cultivation requirements and endpoints, e.g. cell seeding [8], co-culture systems, hollow fibre reactors, perfusion chambers, packed bed reactors. The development of a novel reactor for the assembly of 3D tissue (with Smith & Nephew plc) has just finished. A collaborative project with Prof Richard Oreffo (Univ Southampton) and Prof Dek Woolfson (Univ Bristol) is underway, which combines mesenchymal stem cells with novel peptide/protein fibres and a novel bioreactor to differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells to cartilage tissue. A key feature of our work is the co-culture of two or more cell types that comprise the tissue. There is a lack of detailed understanding of the dynamic co-culture of cell types, however, we have already developed and initially characterised two bioreactors for achieving this for dermal [9] and vascular tissues [8].
University of Bath Centre for Regenerative Medicine
The University of Bath has identified regenerative medicine as an area of strategic importance, underpinned by the establishment of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM, www.bath.ac.uk/crm). This is an interdisciplinary, collaborative research network, founded in 2003, that embraces three University departments (Biology/Biochemistry; Pharmacy/Pharmacology; Chemical Engineering) with 10 group leaders. Prof Jonathan Slack is the Centre Director and Prof Chaudhuri the Deputy Director. The CRM’s mission is to focus on research to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning regeneration of tissues in order to facilitate the development of new clinical technologies and therapies, and is unique in the world in the range of expertise and technology that it brings together. Its philosophy is to combine the life sciences and bioengineering to give an approach to science-driven and therapy-focused research. Expertise in a variety of fields, using the most appropriate model systems, is utilised to achieve these goals. In the first instance this is being achieved by stimulating the interactions between researchers in the fields of developmental biology, stem cell biology, and tissue engineering. The CRM enjoys an excellent clinical-laboratory interface at both the Royal United Hospital, Bath and Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
References
http://www.bath.ac.uk/chem-eng/staff/profiles/julian-chaudhuri.shtml
Business Development Manager for Engineering, University of Surrey
Born and educated in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Phil completed a degree in Applied Science in Physics and Electronics at the Ballarat School of Mines in 1974. He completed a Master’s degree in Radiation and Environmental Protection in the Physics Department at the University of Surrey in 1976, followed by a year as a research engineer in the steel reheating industry in Sheffield. He returned to Surrey in 1977 to commence doctorate studies in the Fuel and Energy Group in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering on the aerodynamics of cement pre-calciners. In 1980 he was appointed to the position of Rugby Cement Research Fellow and was awarded his doctorate in 1983.
Following three years as a motor mechanic in a vintage racing car garage, Phil was appointed as research assistant in the Combustion Group of the Thermofluids Section of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, now Imperial College, London. Under the supervision of Professor Fred Lockwood he was responsible for the management of the research group and the operation of the large-scale combustion facility that provided experimental combustion and emissions data for the validation of computational fluid dynamics models developed by the research team. He was promoted to the position of Research Fellow in 1991 and Senior Research Fellow in 1998. He is the author of some 60 publications in combustion and emissions associated with fossil and waste fuels, being the co-author of papers that won the Caleb Brett and Sugden awards from the Institute of Energy for research work on the effect of heavy fuel oil atomisation on combustion efficiency and emissions.
He joined the UniSdirect at the University of Surrey in 2002 as a Business Development Manager for Engineering, Communications and ICT-a role that well matches his broad scientific background. His role is to establish and maintain long term relationships between the University and business and actively promote its research and knowledge transfer capabilities to a wide audience.
Phil’s other interests include car restoration and is the University of Surrey Boat Cub rowing coach.
http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=787,546739&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Soft Condensed Matter Physics Group, University of Surrey
Alan Dalton received his B.A. in Materials Science from Trinity College Dublin (T.C.D.) in 1996. His PhD work was completed in 1999 under the supervision of Prof. Werner Blau at T.C.D. Proceeding this; Alan spent a year at Dublin Institute of Technology as an Arnold Graves Fellow. In the beginning of 2000, he spent a short period as a visiting scientist at Honeywell Technologies in the nanostructures group before joining the Nanotech Institute at University of Texas at Dallas. Alan joined the department of Physics in the summer of 2004.
Research interests primarily focus on the electrical and optical properties of pseudo one-dimensional conjugated systems including carbon nanotubes and electro active conjugated polymers, the structure property relationships in nano-structured organic composites (mechanical, electrical and thermal), the directed and self-assembly of nanostructures into functional macrostructures and more recently interfacing biological materials with synthetic inorganic and organic materials. Alan has expertise in a range of steady state and transient spectroscopes, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy.
Recent Selected Publications
http://www.ph.surrey.ac.uk/profiles?s_name=Alan_Dalton
Professor in Thermodynamics and IC Engine Technology, University of Bath

Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Bath
Bath BA2 7AY
United Kingdom
Tel. No +44 (0) 1225 386855 Fax. No. +44 (0) 1225 386928
(email j.g.hawley@bath.ac.uk)
Overview of Current Responsibilities
Current responsibilities cover three areas of Leadership, Management and Research, these are:
Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Design
As Associate Dean I am responsible to the Dean for special projects as they arise and which require the development and implementation of sustainable strategies in teaching, academic programmes, research and in enterprise. This involves having a large ‘roving’ role within the Faculty and interfacing as required with various University and external bodies.
Faculty Research Strengths
The following list comprises the main research themes within the Faculty of Engineering Design. Although the themes have been classified under Departmental headings for the sake of access via web sites much of the work is interdisciplinary and involves researchers from different departments, faculties and Universities.
1. Department of Chemical Engineering
(http://www.bath.ac.uk/chem-eng/research/)
Advanced Materials and Porous Solids
Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering
Catalysts and Reaction Engineering
Most of the research projects carried out within these groups address complex problems underpinning Sustainable Development, Clean Technologies, Green Chemistry and developments in Health and Medicine.
2. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
(http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/)
Research in the Department in carried out within the following research centres:
The research work in CSAE is summerised below with the usual links.
Conservation and Rehabilitation of Buildings
Conservation of historic buildings
Innovative repair of concrete structures
Computational Design
Earthquake and structural dynamics
Geotechnical and pavement engineering
Energy Efficient Buildings
3. Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering
(http://www.bath.ac.uk/elec-eng/)
Research in the Department is carried out in the following groups and centres:
Micro-Electronics and Opto-Electronics (Prof. Taylor)Telecommunications, Space and Radio (Prof. Mitchell)
Electromagnetics Machines and Drives (Prof. Rodger)
Electrical Power and Energy Systems (Prof. Aggarwal)
The Centre for Space, Atmospheric & Oceanic Science (Prof. Mitchell)
4. Department of Mechanical Engineering
(http://www.bath.ac.uk/mech-eng/)
Research is carried out in the following Centres and Units |
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Director, Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (www.pvrc.co.uk)
As the Director of the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) I am responsible for directing and co-ordinating all aspects of our research activities. The Centre currently consists of 3 members of academic staff (including myself) as well as affiliations from others in the University, 3 Professors (2 visiting, 1 Emeritus), 1 EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow, 2 Research Officers, 6 postgraduates and 2 contract support staff.
Powertrain and vehicle research experience has been built-up over many years in the Centre and provides a balanced mix of experimental ‘know-how’ backed up by predictive and simulation capabilities.
With established expertise in design, analysis, performance assessment and systems integration of automotive powertrains, in particular clean diesel technology, the PVRC has a strong industry focus with a broad client base providing research, development and consultancy services.
Over the past 7 years the total grant income has been in excess of £7M from industrial companies such as the Ford Motor Company, Cosworth Technology, Intersyn (USA) and British Petroleum as well as Government funding bodies such as the Department for Trade and Industry (dti), the EPSRC and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
The research facilities operated by the PVRC are acknowledged as the most technically advanced of any University in the UK and we are the leading UK University group on systems based research on multi-cylinder light-duty automotive engines. These high quality state-of-the-art engine/powertrain facilities comprise three transient dynamometers supported by a full suite of emissions benches including fast response analysers and industry standard test cell automation. Other facilities include the only UK University climatic controlled vehicle dynamometer. Currently a state of the art transmissions research facility is under development sponsored by industry and scheduled to open in April 2006.
My work is a mixture of applied and fundamental research utilising highly functional vehicle and powertrain experimental facilities. My expertise continues to develop in the areas of diesel powertrain systems (evaluation, measurement, control, and modeling techniques in both transient and steady state environments), vehicle emission measurement, boosted engine systems, engine cooling heat transfer and quantifying different approaches to powertrain thermal management.
Please visit our web site (www.pvrc.co.uk) to get a better feel for who we are and what we do.
Examples of recent publications:
Wijentunge RS, Hawley JG, Vaughan ND, “An exhaust pressure control strategy for a diesel engine”, Journal of Automobile Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ISSN 0954-4070) Proceedings Part D. Vol. 218, No. D4, pp. 449-464, UK, (May 2004). Awarded the IMechE Automobile Division Crompton-Lanchester Medal for the best paper on automobile engineering published during 2005.
Hawley JG, Wilson M, Campbell NAF, Hammond GP Leathard MJ "Predicting boiling heat transfer using CFD", Journal of Automobile Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ISSN 0954-4070) Proceedings Part D, Vol. 218, No D5, pp.509-520, UK, (May 2004)
Hawley JG, Bannister CD, Brace CJ, Cox A, Ketcher D, Stark R, “Vehicle Modal Emissions Measurement – Techniques and Issues”, Journal of Automobile Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (ISSN 0954-4070) Proceedings Part D, Vol. 218, No D8, pp. 859-873, UK, (August 2004)
Wallace FJ, Hawley JG, “Analysis of the effect of variations in fuel line pressure in high-speed direct injection diesel engines, with high-pressure common rail fuel injection systems on heat release, cylinder pressure, performance, and NOx emissions”, Journal of Automobile Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ISSN 0954-4070) Proceedings Part D, Vol 219 pp. 413-422, UK (March 2005).
Brace CJ, Hawley JG, Veganus A, Joyce S, "Cylinder head metal temperature control – a proof of concept study”, Journal of Automobile Engineering , Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ISSN 0954-4070), Proceedings Part D, Vol. 219, pp. 355-369, UK (May 2005)
http://www.bath.ac.uk/mech-eng/auto/team_jghawley.html
Research Support Office , University of Southhampton
Peter has been director of the University of Southampton’s Research Support Office since its establishment in 2003. In that time the office has developed from a two man operation to the current office of twelve, with an evolving remit covering advice on research funding, research contract review and negotiation, support for postgraduate research collaborations and input to research policy matters. Recent policy initiatives have included Conflicts of Interest, Research Governance, and Ethics. Before establishing RSO Peter held a number of senior posts at the University of Southampton including in marketing and industrial liaison (Southampton Oceanography Centre) and in technology transfer (Southampton Innovations Limited). He started his career, after completing a PhD in palaeoceanography, in marketing and commercial roles in the IT and publishing sector, before moving into business development, latterly as deputy managing director of UCL initiatives prior his move to Southampton. He has acted as a non-executive director or board member for a range of bodies, including an environmental technology spin-out and a regional marketing organisation. Outside work, his interests include nature conservation, mountain-running challenges and road-racing.
http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/guidetoexpertise/peter_hooper.html
Professor Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey
Tel: +44 (0)1483 688609
E-mail: d.lovell@surrey.ac.uk
Current work is aimed at developing statistical, bioinformatic and mathematical modelling methodology at Postgraduate Medical School at the University of Surrey. His research interests have been centred around the use of statistical methodology and genetic tools to explore biological problems.
Current Research
Development of approaches for the incorporation of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics into drug discovery and development particularly with respect to the design studies and analysis of quantitative bioinformatic data. Quantitative Risk Assessment and Mathematical Modelling. Development of a capability for Bioinformatics and multivariate statistical analysis of -omic-type data.
Areas of Interest
http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=756,545025&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Professor of Optoelectronics, University of Surrey

Short biography
Graham Reed obtained his first degree and PhD in 1983 and 1987 respectively. After working for 2 years at ERA Technology Ltd, in 1989 he joined the University of Surrey with the aim of establishing a research activity in guided wave optoelectronics, and now leads an internationally recognised group. He is responsible for initiating a new research field in the UK on Silicon Integrated Optical Circuits, and his group have produced a series of leading technical advances in the field worldwide, notably in optical modulators, grating couplers, and optical sensing applications. A testament to the originality and potential of the silicon work, is that Bookham Technology Plc adopted it as their core business. Graham was appointed as a Professor of Optoelectronics in April 2001.
Research Interests
Graham's research interests include all aspects of silicon photonics, including optical modulators, couplers, AWGs, ring resonators, and Bragg gratings. He also has an active interest in optical fibre sensing, particularly for strain sensing and crack detection in composite materials.
Research Collaborations
Professor Reed has established collaboration with over 30 companies and universities in the UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Italy. We are grateful to current collaborators and funding agencies:
Intel, Santa Clara, USA
Agilent, Singapore
Anritsu, UK
BAE Systems, Bristol, UK
Southampton University, UK
Smart Fibres, Bracknell, UK
Politecnico di Bari, Italy
EPSRC,
IRST, ITC, Trento, Italy
Teaching
Analogue Electronics (level 1)
Laboratories (level 2)
Optoelectronics (level 3)
Projects (level 3 and level M)
Tutorials (level 1 and level 2)
Departmental Duties
Chairman Undergraduate Board of Studies (Electronic Engineering)
Chairman School Curriculum Development Committee
Academic Staff Development Liaison Officer
Member School Board of Studies
Member School Academic Board
Selected publications / conference presentations
PhD Projects currently available
A number of PhD projects are available. For further information email Graham Reed on G.Reed@surrey.ac.uk. The projects include the following:
http://www.ati.surrey.ac.uk/profiles?s_name=Graham_Reed
Professor of Engineering Materials, University of Bristol
I am currently Professor of Engineering Materials and the Research Director of the Faculty of Engineering, which encompasses significant Centres of Excellence in three of the US/UK Collaboration themes – Communications, Nanotechnology and Materials, and Environment. (http://www.fen.bris.ac.uk/faculty/departments.htm).
My own academic interests lie in fracture of materials and locked-in stresses in engineering components. Prior to my academic career, I trained first in the Merchant Navy, followed by a stint with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. After gaining my doctorate degree at Imperial College, I became a Research Engineer at The Welding Institute in Cambridge and then joined the University of Bristol (UoB) in 1988. In 1996 I was awarded the Professorship in Engineering Materials at UoB. For two years (October 1997 - September 1999) I worked for ~30% of this time as a DERA Senior Fellow in the Structural Materials Centre in Farnborough.
I am part of the Solid Mechanics Research Group (www.men.bris.ac.uk/research/solids.html) in UoB’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and lead a group of researchers primarily funded by Industry, EU and the Uks Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council with awards totalling about £6M. Recently I was involved in co-ordinating a team for the development the £15M BLADE project (http://www.blade.bris.ac.uk/about.html).
I am also a non-Executive Director of VEQTER Ltd, (http://www.veqter.co.uk) a company, spun out from UoB, and managed by Ed Kingston that provides a residual stress measurement service for industry. Veqter together with Frazer-Nash Consultancy and UoB have recently formed as a Partnership a “Centre of Excellence for the Evaluation and Management of Residual Stress” (http://www.fnc.co.uk/news_stress%20centre.shtml).
http://www.men.bris.ac.uk/contact/acstaff/djs.html
Senior Lecturer, University of Surrey

Short biography
Stephen was born in Luton (Bedfordshire) in 1973. He received the BSc. (Hons) degree in Applied Physics and the Certificate in Education from the University of Bath (Departments of Physics and Education). In the same year he received Qualified Teacher Status. Following his studies at Bath he moved to the University of Surrey (Physics department) where he obtained a PhD in experimental semiconductor laser physics. Following two post-doctoral research positions he joined Marconi Optical Components (now Bookham) as a semiconductor laser scientist and in 2002 became a lecturer (Assistant Professor) in optoelectronic device physics at the University of Surrey. In 2005 he was promoted to senior lecturer (Associate Professor).
Research Interests
Stephen's primary research interests lie in the area of semiconductor laser physics with a particular onus on optimising laser performance. He has produced >150 journal papers and conference proceedings in this area including several invited papers. Stephen has recently expanded his interests into photonic sensors based on both III-V and Si technologies. Recent topics include:
Research Collaborations
Current and previous collaborators include:
Commercial:
JDS
Bookham
Infineon
Fujitsu
Agilent
CIP
Academic:
Arizona State University
Philips Universität Marburg
Universität Würzburg
Okayama University
Stanford University
Tampere University of Technology
Imperial College London
Sheffield University
Tyndall Institute, Cork
Further details can be found on my personal web page.
Teaching
Level 0 Foundation Year Tutorials
Level 1 Principles of Physics (1PP)
Level 1 Laboratories (1LAB)
Level 3 Photonics and Nanotechnology (3PNT)
Level 3 Physics in Education (3PIE) [assessor]
Departmental Duties
Physics with Foundation Year Co-ordinator
Physics schools liaison officer
ATI Postgraduate Admissions Tutor
SEPS PG Research committee ATI representative
Selected recent publications:
Books
“Optoelectronic Devices and Materials”, S. J. Sweeney and A. R. Adams, Chapter in Handbook of Electronic Materials, Springer-Verlag, 2006.
“Band-structure and high pressure measurements”, B. N. Murdin, A. R. Adams and S. J. Sweeney, in Mid-IR Materials and Devices, Springer, 2006.
Research Grants
Stephen has over £700k of research funding from sources including EPSRC, The Nuffield Foundation, the DTI and other commercial contracts.
http://www.ph.surrey.ac.uk/profiles?s_name=Stephen_Sweeney
Research Director, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Bristol, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer – Neurotargets Ltd.
Professor David Wynick is Honorary Consultant Physician at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Professor of Molecular Medicine at Bristol University. He is also a founder and Chief Scientific Officer of NeuroTargets. His group's research has focused on the role played by galanin in the adaptive response of the nervous system to injury and disease, for the past 11 years.
This has led to the development of a cutting-edge drug discovery tool that has validated several novel drug targets, with multiple potential therapeutic applications in the neuroscience field and a further 16 in development. Professor Wynick has a BSc, MBBS and MD from London University and previously worked at the National Institute for Medical Research and The Hammersmith Hospital. He has published extensively on the role of galanin and other neuropeptides in the nervous and endocrine systems over the past 13 years.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/URCN/labs/wynick.html
This page last updated 3/20/06.