Expertise in biomedical engineering brought together in a new research programme
From left: Professor Cecilia Persson and Professor Maria Tenje in the cleanroom at the Ångström Laboratory, Myfab, which is used in fields such as materials science, life sciences, and micronanosystems. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
A new research programme in biomedical engineering started on 1 January at the Faculty of Science and Technology. The programme is led by Cecilia Persson, Professor of Materials Science and professor responsible for the programme, and Maria Tenje, Professor of Microsystems Technology and head of division, respectively. Cecilia Persson, what is the aim of the programme?
“The aim is to find synergies in research in biomedical engineering, and advance the field by joining forces. We’ve identified four different challenges, or themes, in biomedical engineering that we are specialising in initially: Precision Health, Sustainability, Antibiotic Resistance and AI for Life Science. In these, our research leaders have different approaches, from materials science and engineering to microsystems technology and biophysics. The programme has been developed from a previous initiative with the Department’s strategic funding, and now there is also direct government funding, which has made it a longer-term initiative.”
You and Maria Tenje have been working together formally since 2021 and are now continuing to do so in the new programme. In what areas do you have a common focus?
“We have identified several areas that we can collaborate on, such as the development of new materials, joint technologies and equipment. For example, both Maria and I use additive manufacturing or 3D-printing. My research group uses this to develop new materials, but also to adapt materials to this technology and to design patient-specific implants.
"Maria also uses 3D-printing for certain devices as an interface between the microfluidic systems they manufacture in the cleanroom and various measuring instruments, or even to enable smaller structures to be printed inside the microchannels with high-resolution 3D-printing.
“A joint project we’re running is focused on developing microfluidic platforms called biomaterial-on-chip to be able to look at how new biomaterials function in contact with cells or bacteria. In this way Maria’s tools can help my group evaluate our new materials for their biological relevance. So there are many types of synergies.”
To test new materials, they are integrated into microfluidic systems where cells are cultured in contact with the materials - here is a microfluidic chip for cell culture, connected to tubing and placed on a microscope inside an incubator. Photo: Johan Wahlgren.
Research in biomedical engineering at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering where you work has a broad spectrum, from microfluidics research tools and organ-on-chip to biomaterials for products such as implants and drug delivery systems. Will you be expanding the new research programme with any new content or focus?
“Our focus up to now has been on creating a stable environment where researchers in biomedical engineering can feel at home and have the opportunity to develop. We both have quite large groups. New directions include a quite recently recruited associate senior lecturer who is developing advanced multicellular model systems that mimic the micro-environment of diseases in order to study cell signalling and the immune response in cancer, for example. We are also recruiting an associate senior lecturer in powder metallurgy for additive manufacturing with a sustainability focus. Partly to develop sustainable processes, but also sustainable materials, such as printable alloys that don’t contain rare earth elements.
“Research programmes change over time, and we may include more new specialisations over time.”
What is the main strength of the programme?
“Besides its specific research specialisations, which are of course our core strength, we have established a well-functioning programme and division in organisational terms, where we have already worked a lot on the work environment. We have clear processes and transparent rules of procedure . We also have more than one person at the top, which gives a completely different kind of feeling that you are working together towards the future. That also means that you can work faster and more efficiently, and be stronger.”
Anneli Björkman