Profile

Reader in Biomaterials and Biointerfaces

I am a Reader in Biomaterials and Biointerfaces at QMUL in the School of Engineering and Materials Science. I obtained a PhD from the University of Manchester (Chemistry Department) and focused on biomaterials science as a PDRA, first at Universite de Montreal, Canada, then at the University of Cambridge, UK. I am co-author on > 60 articles in peer reviewed journals including Nat. Mater., Nat. Cell Biol., Nano Lett., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., ACS Nano, Biomaterials and Chem. Rev. Since 2012, I have attracted grants totaling £4M, including an ERC consolidator grant (ProLiCell) and a number of other grants from research councils, charities and industry (EPSRC, BBSRC, Leverhulme Trust, EU H2020, Innovate UK, Royal Society and industry).

My group focuses on the understanding of the cell-biomaterials interfaces, in particular the mechanisms controlling cell adhesion to biomaterials and how cells sense the nanotopography, geometry and mechanical properties of biomaterials. To do so, we develop biomaterials (polymer brushes, protein nanosheets) and engineer extracellular matrices (peptide-based hydrogels) that display controlled physical properties and bioactivity.

Interests: music, cooking, swimming, running after my three very active children