Table 1.
Summary of biofabrication research being investigated by groups in Ireland and the UK as of March 2024
| Research group | Research summary | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Pandit Laboratory, CÚRAM | Using glycosylation to improve scaffold biocompatibility, targeting specificity, and immunocompatibility | Enhancing efficacy and safety for scaffold-based drug delivery systems |
| Kelly Group | Bioprinting microtissues with a precise distribution of phenotypically distinct cell populations | Providing functional engineered grafts for damaged or diseased tissues |
| Chen Group | Synthesising and processing smart sustainable polymers and polymer nanocomposites for next-generation medical devices | Soft tissue engineering, drug delivery, wearables, soft robotics, wound healing |
| Mata Group | Leveraging biological organisation principles to create physiological structures and properties in vitro | Improving in vitro models of biological tissues |
| Williams Group | Fabricating biosynthetic corneal grafts using tuneable peptide hydrogels | Overcoming the donor shortage in cadaveric corneal grafts |
| Hooper Group | Mimicking the neurovascular unit with human pluripotent stem cells and collagen-based hydrogels | Investigating neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease |
| Gautrot Group | Design and patterning of polymer- and protein-based hydrogels and coatings for regenerative medicine | Stem cell delivery for soft tissue repair and nanotherapeutic design for RNA delivery |
| Li Group | Increasing the complexity, maturity, size of engineered intestinal tissues using 3D biofabrication techniques | Treating intestinal failure and modelling the gastro-intestinal tract |
| Phillips Group | Developing low-cost, high-throughput biomanufacturing techniques to produce living engineered neural tissues | Providing engineered neural tissue for nervous system repair |
| Biointerface Group | Developing 3D biofabrication techniques with a focus on sustainability and healthcare translatability | Sustainable modelling and monitoring of various living systems and system engineering biology |
| Stevens Group | Engineering nanotopographies for efficient cargo delivery and improving the versatility of bioprinting (perfusable channels, custom properties) | Improving drug delivery efficiency, enhancing the complexity of 3D bioprinted models |
| Cui and Ye Group | Harnessing tissue engineering and stem cell biology for regenerative medicine | Improving in vitro culture platforms and increasing efficacy of stem cell therapies |
| Dawson Group | Functionalising nanoclays to immobilise biomolecules and support cell growth, bone formation, and vascularisation | Improving drug delivery precision and efficacy |
| Armstrong Group | Developing biofabrication technologies that can be used to assemble complex tissues and organoids | Recreating structural complexity for in vitro modelling |
| Shu Group | Bioprinting human pluripotent stem cells, other cell types, and biomaterials without the need for complex machinery to produce functional, vascularised engineered tissues | Providing transplantable organs and realistic organ models, reducing animal testing |