Life Technologies.Improving patient benefit through interdisciplinary research

Investment in Life Technologies

At the University of Southampton, our vision is to translate research excellence in engineering, computer science, physical sciences and health sciences into solutions that deliver patient benefit and improve lives. From synthetic biology and regenerative medicine, novel sensors, microfluidic devices, innovative biomaterials, computational design, enhanced prosthetics and assistive technology to pioneering mathematical tools, we aim to dissolve the boundaries that exist between technological solutions and clinical problems. Within a highly collaborative culture, we help our researchers translate discoveries into practice, often in close partnership with industry. Regional engagement has revealed that our Life Technologies strengths are mirrored by clusters of local SMEs working in closely related areas:

− opthalmology

− orthopaedics, prosthetics & assistive technology

− sensors, devices & diagnostics

− e-health, information & communications technology and data

We are leading initiatives to develop these clusters to help bring health and wealth to the Central South region.

Underpinning our activities are advanced facilities that have received significant investment:

− £55M Life Sciences Building

− £120M Zepler Institute Cleanroom Complex housing the Southampton Nanofabrication Centre and advanced photonics fabrication including 4 fibre draw towers

− Wolfson Laboratory in the Centre for Hybrid Biodevices

− £50M Translational medical research facilities including the NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility

− Clinical Academic Research Facility dedicated to patient safety and essential care

− Assistive technology and robotic therapies

− Biomechanics Laboratory

− Institute of Sound and Vibrational Research

− University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service

− Hearing and Balance Centre

− Human Factors Research Unit

− £9.7M National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS)

− Advanced tissue and cell engineering

− Advanced imaging capabilities

− £3M -VIS high resolution computed tomography

− High performance computing clusters, including Iridis4, one of the most powerful super computers in the UK and Europe.

Multimodal−label-free−image−of−lung−tissue−showing−intra-−and−extra-cellular−lipid−droplets−(red),−collagen−(blue)−lining−the−alveoli−and−lipofuscin-like−material−(green)−recorded−using−advanced−imaging−techniques.−Image−credit:−T.−Monfort,−A.−Postle−&−S.−Mahajan.

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Transforming people’s lives through bone stem cell therapy

Over−50,000−primary−hip−replacements−are−performed−each−year−in−the−UK,−costing−£250M.−Work−pioneered−by−our−researchers−demonstrated−the−practicability−of−using−patients’−own−bone−stem−cells−together−with−a−biocompatible−scaffold−to−create−a−‘living−bone−composite’,−essentially−regrowing−a−patient’s−own−bone.We−have−moved−the−application−of−bone−stem−cells−from−bench−to−clinic−addressing−areas−of−unmet−need,−such−as−the−4,000−people−diagnosed−with−avascular−necrosis−−each−year.

Lab-on-a-Chip to detect resistance to antibiotics

Treating−bacterial−infections−is−becoming−increasingly−difficult−due−to−the−growing−threat−of−antibiotic−resistance.−Bacterial−mutations−can−mean−that−the−antimicrobial−drugs−once−successfully−prescribed−to−treat−an−infection−may−no−longer−be−effective.−Researchers−have−developed−a−lab-on-a-chip−that−can−detect−whether−the−bacteria−causing−the−infection−are−resistant−to−certain−antibiotics−in−a−10−minute−test−that−can−be−administered−in−a−GP−surgery.−The−miniaturised−diagnostic−system−integrates−multiple−analytical−methods−with−micro-fluidic−technologies−and−data−analysis.−Using−fabrication−processes−in−the−Zepler−Institute−Nanofabrication−facility,−researchers−are−exploring−methods−for−manufacturing−the−device−that−will−enable−its−mass−production.

Advancing recovery from stroke

Through−close−collaboration−between−engineers,−rehabilitation−researchers,−clinicians,−patients−and−carers−we−have−transformed−simple−Functional−Electrical−Stimulation−devices−into−intelligent,−responsive−therapeutic−interventions.−We−have−done−this−through−the−development−and−clinical−testing−of−novel−Iterative−Learning−Control−Algorithms.−The−engineering−challenge−now−is−to−design−wearable−electrode−arrays−and−to−interpret−complex−data.−Through−EPSRC−funded−research−we−have−moved−from−simple−movement−in−a−planar−robot−to−controlling−stimulation−to−enable−patients−to−practice−everyday−tasks.−Our−goal−is−a−platform−that−can−be−used−by−therapists,−and−patients−in−their−own−home.

Case studies

Fabricating−surfaces−for−skeletal−stem−cells

Microfluidic−device

Clinical−testing−of−Iterative−Learning−Control−Algorithms

−200− m

Intelligent prosthetic liners could ease pain for lower limb amputees

Mechanical−forces−at−the−interface−between−stump−and−prosthetic−socket−could−lead−to−discomfort,−pain−and−stump−tissue−breakdowns,−especially−for−ill−fitted−sockets.−In−collaboration−with−Chas−A−Blatchford−&−Sons−Ltd,−Southampton−researchers−are−developing−the−world’s−first−prosthetic−‘intelligent’−liner−with−integrated−tri-axial−pressure−and−shear−(TRIPS)−sensors−to−monitor−the−load−at−this−critical−interface−to−aid−socket−fit−and−amputee−care.−This−platform−technology−could−be−expanded−to−many−other−healthcare−sectors−and−also−enable−active−physical−intervention−for−effective−rehabilitation.−

Dr.−Liudi−Jiang−tests−device−in−Blatchford−clinic.

1−−This−coronary−stent−has−been−deployed−to−revascularise−the−left−main−and−anterior−descending−branches−with−a−single−stent−strategy.−The−angiogram−depicts−a−challenging−case−due−to−the−significant−size−mismatch−between−the−branches.

2−−Computational−modelling−of−the−interaction−between−residual−limb−and−prosthetic−socket−can−capture−the−considerable−inter-patient−variability−in−residual−limb−size−and−shape,−and−their−changes−over−time.

3−−Topological−data−analysis−reveals−the−structure−of−a−discussion−forum−of−the−Galaxy−Zoo−Citizen−Science−project,−showing−how−more−active−users−(red)−connect−with−the−less−active−ones−(blue).−Created−by−Ayasdi−Core−software;−picture−by−Brodzki,−Smyth,−Spakulova.

4−−Cochlear−implants−have−helped−over−800−people−with−severe−to−profound−deafness−to−regain−their−hearing.

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A selection of our Life Technologies projects

Developing Future Therapies

−− Engineering−a−semi-biotic−immune−system

−− Tissue-engineered−construct−to−monitor−mucosal−immunity−in−asthma

−− Application−of−ultrasound−standing−wave−fields−for−augmentation−of−cartilage−bioengineering−strategies.

−− Targeting−stem−cells−with−nanoparticles

−− How−does−the−stiffness−of−a−wound−affect−how−it−heals?

−− Designing−biomaterials−for−tissue−engineering−and−tissue−regeneration

−− Advanced−imaging−diagnostics−and−real-time−intraoperative−surgical−aids−for−tumour−margin−delineation

Frontiers of Physical Intervention

−− Enabling−technologies−for−motor−control−and−sensory−feedback−in−next-generation−assistive−devices

−− EnDuRE:−Hip−Resurfacing−Implants−for−Durability−and−Biocompatibility

−− Unicompartmental−Knee−Arthroplasty:−Statistical−modelling−for−the−assessment−of−surgical−technique,−implant−performance−and−patient−selection

−− Southampton−Artificial−Hand

−− Hand−and−Wrist−Kinematic−(HAWK)−measurement

−− Wear−Assessment−and−Forensic−Analysis−of−Failed−Hip−Replacements

−− European−Network−on−Robotics−for−NeuroRehabilitation

Optimising Treatment

−− Mapping−human−disease−to−device−design

−− Heart−valve−design

−− Lab-on-a-Chip−handheld−diagnostic−tool

−− Paper-based−point-of-care−diagnostics

−− Lab-on-an-Organ:−A−droplet−based−portable−continuous−chemical−sensor

−− NAMRA−-−Network−for−Antimicrobial−Resistance−Action

−− Newborn−hearing−screening

−− The−effects−of−substrate−mechanics−on−keratinocytes−and−epidermal−stem−cell−behaviour−at−wound−sites

−− Handheld−microindentation−-−a−direct−assessment−of−bone−fracture−risk

−− Medical−devices−and−vulnerable−skin:−optimising−safety−in−design

−− Topology−of−breast−cancer−genomes

−− Coarse−geometry−and−cohomology−of−large−data−sets

−− Early−detection−of−diseases−by−ultra-sensitive−spectroscopy

Transforming Community Health & Care

−− SPHERE:−a−Sensor−Platform−for−HEalthcare−in−a−Residential−Environment

−− LifeLab:−science−education−intervention−designed−to−change−young−people’s−attitudes−and−behaviour−towards−their−own−health,−and−the−health−of−their−future−children

−− UBhave:−mobile−phones−and−social−networking−for−Digital−Behaviour−Change−Interventions

−− Obesity−and−health−over−social−networks

−− COntinuous,−Mobile−Patient−Assessment−of−Rheumatoid−Arthritis−(COMPARA)

To−find−out−more−about−Life−Technologies−at−the−−University−of−Southampton,−please−email−us−or−visit−our−website.

IfLSAdmin@soton.ac.uk−www.southampton.ac.uk/ifls/lifetechnologies

www.southampton.ac.uk/ifls/lifetechnologies IfLSAdmin@southampton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 5374