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Insigneo Institute for
Healthcare Technology October Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter with news and events from the Insigneo Institute for Healthcare Technology.
New name for the Insigneo Institute
We're excited to announce that the Insigneo Institute has changed its name to the Insigneo Institute for Healthcare Technology! Moving to the new name ensures our title fully reflects the scope of our research and represents an important milestone in our growth, establishing our identity as the driving force for medtech research and innovation in South Yorkshire. The institute continues to go from strength to strength, with a membership network of over 500 academics, researchers and healthcare professionals, and ambitious plans to translate healthcare technologies into real-world solutions for major health challenges. We are building the collaborations and partnerships that can deliver innovative, translational
research. We’ve also been working closely with our colleagues in the university’s Campaigns and Alumni Relations team to engage with their fundraising activities. We were honoured to have our research chosen as the focus for the 2026 Big Walk and we have recently appointed a new research fellow thanks to philanthropic support (see below to hear about our Hitchon Family Research Fellow in Biomedical Sensing Engineering, Dr Enrico Ravagli).
Next-gen ankle implants to help young arthritis sufferers regain mobility
The next generation of ankle replacements that could restore mobility in young people suffering from a debilitating but overlooked condition, are being developed by a global team of researchers. Led by Professor Claire Brockett from University of Sheffield’s Insigneo Institute, the research is set to revolutionise treatment for ankle osteoarthritis - a degenerative joint disease that can leave young people facing decades of agonising, progressive mobility loss during their most active years of life.
New research fellow to lead a programme of research into novel biomedical sensing technologies
We are pleased to welcome Dr Enrico Ravagli to the Insigneo Institute for Healthcare Technology. Dr Ravagli has been appointed as the Hitchon Family Research Fellow in Biomedical Sensing Engineering and will be taking forward a programme of transformative research in the engineering and applications of novel biomedical sensing technologies.
Sheffield brings clinicians, scientists and industry together to explore AI's potential in cancer research
Clinicians, researchers and industry partners came together for a joint workshop exploring how artificial intelligence can transform cancer research and care.
The Digital Twin Theory podcast: Computer vision and trustworthy AI (with Chen Chen)
How can we ensure clinicians and patients can trust AI in healthcare? In this episode of The VPH Institute's The Digital Twin Theory podcast, Insigneo member Dr Chen Chen, Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield, talks about computer vision, multimodal AI, and the importance of building transparent, reliable, and trustworthy AI for clinical practice.
Festival of the Mind returns to Sheffield with mind-blowing free events across the city
A mind-blowing celebration of the University of Sheffield’s world-leading research is heading to the city centre this autumn, as Festival of the Mind returns with a variety of free live performances, exhibitions, films and interactive events. The nine-day family-friendly festival, which has brought more than 200,000 visitors into Sheffield city centre since 2012, returns to venues across the city centre from 6 - 15 November. Festival of the Mind 2026 brings Sheffield’s creative talent and cultural sector together with its brightest academic minds. Through collaborations in art, film, performance and more, local artists and academics will transform university research into engaging, entertaining and immersive
experiences for the public to enjoy. There's a fantastic programme of events and exhibitions lined up. The following exhibitions are based on our members' research:
Multimodal Data Analysis Session: Cancer & Cardiac Research
The AI Research Engineering (AIRE) team at the Centre for Machine Intelligence (CMI), with support from the EPSRC-funded UK Open Multimodal AI Network (UKOMAIN), is running a Multimodal Data Analysis Session (MDAS) for Sheffield researchers working with cancer or cardiac data.
Work with the AIRE team to apply multimodal AI to your own research data using our Python tools. Some Python experience is expected; example datasets will also be available.
Data analysis session: Wednesday 18 November 2026, 13:00–17:00, Regent Court, in person.
Virtual introduction: Wednesday 11 November 2026, 12:00–13:00. Participants are expected to attend this introduction to prepare for the data analysis session.
Please apply by 17:00 on Friday 6 November: https://forms.gle/eaxS9MCpKzsZ3YEQ7
We will review all applications after the deadline, considering your analysis needs and the support we can provide. We will notify applicants by Tuesday, 10 November.
BORS–BJR Travelling Fellowship 2027: Applications Now Open
The British Orthopaedic Research Society (BORS), in partnership with Bone & Joint Research (BJR), is delighted to invite applications for the 2027 BORS–BJR Travelling Fellowship. The Travelling Fellowship is BORS’s most prestigious award, supporting the professional development of early- and mid-career researchers through international research exchange, collaboration and networking. The 2027 Fellowship will support a multidisciplinary cohort of 3–4 researchers to undertake a programme of visits to leading orthopaedic and musculoskeletal research centres across Europe in September 2027, culminating at the European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) 2027 Annual
Meeting.
Living with diabetes? Help shape the future of non-invasive glucose monitoring - volunteers needed
Living with diabetes? Your experience could help shape the future of glucose monitoring.
Imagine checking your glucose levels without a single finger-prick. Researchers at Insigneo and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering are exploring whether simple sensors that pick up your heart, pulse and voice signals could one day make this possible, and we need your help to find out.
We're looking for University of Sheffield staff and students aged 18 or over who live with diabetes. - One or a few short sessions lasting between 5 - 15 minutes.
- Completely non-invasive: no needles and no blood tests
- No changes to your usual diabetes routine
- Times and locations to suit you
Registering your interest doesn't commit you to anything. Find out more here: [https://forms.gle/f4TF7urodGG8hn5R9]
Ethically approved by the University of Sheffield (ref. 072458).
Insigneo Early Career Researcher community
Our Early Career Researcher ECR group is open to all Insigneo Members who are PhD students, postdocs, fellows, lecturers and those who self-define as an ECR. Find out more and join If you are not already a member of the Insigneo Institute and would like to join you can read more about the benefits and apply here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/insigneo/membership. Insigneo Early Career Researcher (ECR) fellowship eventOur Insigneo Early Career Researcher (ECR) Community are invited to take part in the Insigneo Fellowship Workshop on Wednesday, 25 November. The workshop will provide information and insight into various fellowship schemes for ECRs in the fields of health and engineering. The workshop will also feature a panel discussion on non-fellowship career paths in academia and beyond. The event will take place in the morning and will close with lunch and networking. Our ECR Community members will receive an invitation by email ECR fellowship/grant writing WorkshopWe run regular ECR fellowship/grant writing workshops (every ~2 months). The aim is to allow ECRs to discuss with their peers any fellowship/ grant applications they might be preparing and to receive feedback in an informal setting. During each session we have one to two members presenting their work, followed by a round table discussion. This
group is reserved for Insigneo ECR members who are seriously considering or are in the process of writing their first grant or applying for a fellowship. Please contact Damien Lacroix (d.lacroix@sheffield.ac.uk) or Neil Stewart (neil.stewart@sheffield.ac.uk) to express your interest in participating. Opportunity for an ECR to join our
committee as the lead for social events!In this role, you will play a key part in fostering community connections by organizing engaging social and networking events.
If you’re passionate about building a vibrant community and have creative ideas for bringing people together, we’d love to have you on board. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by emailing Sarah Black (sarah.black@sheffield.ac.uk).
If you have any queries, please contact m.matella@sheffield.ac.uk or sarah.black@sheffield.ac.uk The Insigneo ECR Committee
(Malwina Matella, Neil Stewart, Juntong Lai, Hazem Toutounji, Sarah Needleman, Silvia Dirstaru, Sarah Black, Sarah Hollely, chaired by: Damien Lacroix)
Hudhaifa Al-Obaidi
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
PhD Student I am a PhD researcher in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sheffield, supervised by Dr Dana D. Damian.
My research focuses on AI for soft robot design. I hold a master's degree in Computer Engineering Techniques and a bachelor's degree in Computer Techniques Engineering from Middle Technical University in Iraq. My background includes university teaching and professional engineering experience.
Martin Appleby
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Research Associate in Biophysics - Ultrafast Spectroscopy
I am a PDRA in the Department of Chemistry investigating biological and bio-inspired systems via optical spectroscopy.
My current projects focus on understanding light-activated proteins and the dynamics of ATP-synthase. Before coming to Sheffield, I worked as a researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland using the SwissFEL and Swiss Light Source for dynamic macromolecular crystallography, where I studied vitamin B12 and human cone opsins. I completed my PhD focusing on inorganic photodynamic therapeutic agents designed for antibacterial water purification.
Jiabang Chen
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
PhD Student Hello, I am Jiabang Chen, a 3rd-year PhD student in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Automatic Control at the University of Sheffield and East China University of Science and Technology, and a Master degree in Control Theory at the Imperial College London, I embarked on a career at HUAWEI and BOSCH as an engineer and a project manager, before returning to academia. Although my previous major was related to Automatic Control, my individual research project mainly focused on Machine Learning and Cancer Diagnostics, which determined my current research interests. My current research focuses on AI, Machine Learning, Explainable AI, Computer Vision, and using these technologies on cancer diagnosis and drug development. I look forward to collaborating with experts in relevant fields. Thanks!
Dua Dar
School of Chemical, Materials, and Biological Engineering
MEng Material Science and Engineering As a Material Science and Engineering student, I’ve been able to start my 3rd year with a more nuanced understanding of the field of vascular computational modelling thanks to the Insigneo internship I’ve completed this summer.
This experience has deepened my appreciation of the essential role that biomechanical and biomaterials research plays within vascular aging models, with a focus on the systemic impact that vascular wall integrity has on the human body. Through critical evaluation of literature and adaptation of code scripts for deeper analysis of compiled data, this internship has strengthened my knowledge of biological systems and given me hands-on experience of detailed analytical tools such as ANSYS Fluent and Dr Alberto Marzo’s 1D vascular tree model, OpenBF. I also had the opportunity to discuss fascinating research with exceptional academics, and I’m keen to contribute further to this field throughout my degree. Additionally, in my role as
Volunteering and Charities Secretary of Women in Engineering Society, I’ve had the chance to explore potential collaboration events with Insigneo’s Early Career Researchers. The experience I’ve had during my short time within this institution has been invaluable, reinforcing my aspirations in medical and biological materials research. Following this, I intend to develop my understanding of tissue biomechanics through my involvement in the student microfluidics research group, Microverse, as well as any other future opportunities I’m fortunate to pursue. I’m honoured to have worked within such a supportive, inspirational, and professional research environment.
Shivani Joshi
School of Clinical Dentistry
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Hi, I'm Shivani, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Dental School.
My current research focuses on developing a novel, zinc-containing nano-hydroxyapatite paste and nano-biomaterials for the treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ). My journey in Sheffield began in 2017 when I started my Chemistry degree at Sheffield Hallam University. After graduating with an MChem, I joined Cheryl Miller's group at the Dental School for my PhD, where my research focused on developing antibiotic-loaded biomaterials for osteomyelitis treatments. Following my PhD, I spent a year in South Wales working as a researcher at a tech start-up and as a PDRA at Cardiff Dental School, and Swansea University. I then returned to Sheffield for a short-term postdoc in the Miller group before stepping
into my current three-year post. Driven by an interdisciplinary approach, my scientific interests are biomaterial development, infection control, targeted drug delivery, and translational tissue engineering.
Dr Donards Tanedo
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Research Charge Nurse Originally from the Philippines, my journey in healthcare has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of nursing, research, education, and compassionate leadership to transform lives.
I am a nurse, clinical researcher, educator, and emerging leader, with a career that has taken me across diverse areas of healthcare and research, including HIV, sexual health, infectious diseases, audiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, neonatology, assisted conception, and motor neuron diseases. I hold a Master of Science in Nursing and a PhD in Development Education, and I currently serve as a Senior Research Charge Nurse and Team Leader for Jessop Wing Research at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For me, research is more than generating evidence. It is about giving patients better possibilities, giving clinicians better answers, and helping shape a healthcare system that is more compassionate, equitable, and responsive to the people it serves. My journey has also led me to explore the intersection of healthcare, technology, leadership, and law. As an alumnus of the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Aspiring Digital Health Leadership Programme and a current Law student, I continue to challenge myself to look beyond traditional boundaries and understand how innovation, policy, ethics, and leadership can come together to create meaningful change. I remain driven by curiosity, purpose, and a genuine desire to make a difference. I am passionate about bringing together my experiences in nursing, research, education, digital health, and law to advocate for better care, empower others, and contribute to a future where evidence, compassion, and innovation work hand in hand.
Harriet Owen
School of Clinical Dentistry
PhD student
I am a second-year PhD student at the School of Clinical Dentistry working under Professor Cheryl Miller.
My project focuses on the development of anti-infective, peptide-enhanced calcium phosphate granules for use in the prevention of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ). Further, I am working with Dr Vanessa Hearden to develop a 3D in vitro infected MRONJ mucosal model. Prior to my PhD, I completed a MEng in Biomaterials Science and Engineering in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering. My final year project focused on the development of conductive polyHIPEs for use as nerve guide conduits, and I completed a Year in Industry at Medtrade Products LTD (AKA Celox Medical), where I carried out stability testing on the company’s trauma and advanced wound-care products.
Amber Wilkinson
School of Psychology
BSc Psychology with an Industrial Placement Year I am a third-year psychology student, currently on a year-long placement with the Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
My project focuses on how CognoSpeak, an AI tool, can be used to identify memory defects in people with Parkinson's disease. My role includes recruiting participants, helping shape the study design, and analysing the results. I'm also gaining experience in analysing brain imaging data with specialist software, and exploring how speech could serve as a measurable marker of Parkinson's disease. My interests include neurodegeneration, speech as a phenotypic symptom and working memory. My plan is to complete a master's in cognitive psychology/ neuroscience and to pursue a career as a researcher.
Do you have news to share with us? If you would like us to include information and/or events to this newsletter please email: insigneo@sheffield.ac.uk (the newsletter will be issued during the 2nd week of the month, excluding January and August). Insigneo members - please let us know when your students are graduating so that we can celebrate their success! Please ensure that you submit items for inclusion with a minimum of one week's notice.
Guest Lectures, Conferences & Seminars
Please see our useful resource detailing Training and Development Opportunities relevant to Insigneo research themes, including events, conferences and seminars from the University and across a huge range of institutions and organisations. Please note that some are internal to the University of Sheffield.
A generalisation study in deep learning-based segmentation of lower-limb muscles across different populations (Scientific Reports) Z. Lin, W. Koller, L. Xiong, H. Tian, H. Kainz, E. Dall’Ara, L. Guo Pluripotency, differentiation, and reprogramming: 20 years of induced pluripotent stem cells (BMC Biology) S. J. Hainer, S. E. Strawbridge, S.
Choi, G. Guo, M. Kinoshita, C. Zhao, F. Zhou 3D parametric finite element models to assess the mechanical role of the bone-lesion interface in human metastatic vertebrae (Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials) J. Muñoz-Allué, M. Palanca, E. Dall'Ara, J. M. García-Aznar, M. Á. Pérez Versatile twin layer
macromolecular fibers for advanced tissue engineering applications (iScience) C. S. Taylor, H. Majd, D. A. Gregory, A. Fricker, S. M. Daniel Syed Mohamed, J. Hinchcliffe, E. Asare, N. T. Farr, H. Alenezi, G. I. Welsh, M. Edirisinghe, I. Roy 1976–2026: 50 years of European society of biomechanics (Journal of Biomechanics) M. Viceconti, E. Dall'Ara High-Performance and Cost-Effective Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Microalgae Biocomposites: Synergistic Chemical and Mechanical Modification Transforming Microalgae from a Weakening Filler to a Reinforcement (ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering) W. H. Lee, C. I. Heng, S. Boswood, M. P. Raut, N. T. H. Farr, C. Rodenburg, J. Pandhal, E.Elghazy, C. Wan Structure and function imaging in primary ciliary dyskinesia: cross-sectional study with 129Xe ventilation/1H anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (ERJ Open Research) L. Schofield, L. Smith H.
Marshall, D. Hughes, A. Biancardi, J. Bray, D. Capener, G. Collier, S. Fazal, E. Moya, R. Munro, G. Norquay, E. Robson, O. Rodgers, S. Shanks, A. Shawcross, S. J. Singh, N. Stewart, N. West, A. Zalewska, D. Hind, J. M. Wild Mobgap: A State-of-the-Art Python Framework for Reproducible Estimation and Algorithm Validation of Digital Mobility Outcomes from a Single Wearable Device (Sensors) C. Kirk, A. Kuederle, P. Tasca, M. Bicer, D.Megaritis, E. Gazit, T. Bonci, A. Ionescu, C. Hinchliffe, A. Stihi, A. Muecke, Z.
Babar, I. Vogiatzis, B. Eskofier, C. Mazzà, A. Cereatti, A. Mueller, D. Rooks, B. Caulfield, L. Rochester, S. Del Din Independent Head-to-Head Comparison of Commercial Artificial Intelligence Devices for Lung Cancer Detection on Chest Radiographs (Radiology) A. Maiter, J. Taylor, P. Metherall, G. Hyde, E. Anderson, E. Hesketh, E. Burton, S. Matthews, K. Hocking, S. Burns, N. D. Weatherley, S. Holt, M. A. Kamil, O. Evans, K. Dwivedi, S. Alabed, M. J. Sharkey, W. Tindale, S. Wood, N. Hoggard, A. J. Swift, C. S. Johns A Lightweight, Magnetically-driven Miniature Capsule with A Gripping Mechanism (Proceedings of MARSS 2026 - 9th International Conference on Manipulation, Automation, and Robotics at Small Scales) Z. Zhao, J. W. Schmidt, J. Liu, D. D. Damian, S. Miyashita Strong correlation between phantomless and inline phantom-based densitometric calibration of vertebral properties from CT scans of healthy volunteers
(Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology) F. G. Gibson, Z. Ding, M. A. Paggiosi, C. Handforth, J. E. Brown, X. Li, E. Dall’Ara, S. W. Verbruggen PyPeCT2S: Pythonic paediatric computed tomography to strength with automatic landmarking for the automation of bone strength analysis in children (PLOS One) G. Allison, S. Almutairi, A. C. Offiah, X. Li Olfactory Function in Cystic Fibrosis: Outcome Measures, Olfactory Dysfunction Prevalence and the Impact of Management—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology) L. Cox, K. Cox, K. Whitcroft, S. Weise, S. Kansra, E. Bhargava Phenotyping asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using 129Xe MRI and comprehensive physiologic testing (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine) H. Marshall, L. J. Smith, A. M.
Biancardi, G. J. Collier, H.-F. Chan, P. J. C. Hughes, M. L. Brook, J. R. Astley, R. Munro, S. Rajaram, A. J. Swift, D. Capener, J. Bray, J. E. Ball, O. Rodgers, D.-J. Jakymelen, B. A. Tahir, M. Rao, G. Norquay, N. D. Weatherley, L. Armstrong, L. Hardaker, A. Papi, H. K. Reddel, H. Müllerová, R. Hughes, J. M. Wild, NOVELTY Scientific Community, NOVELTY Study Investigators Multi-ethnic evaluation and calibration of 3D-DXA femoral shape, density and FEA strength (Scientific Reports) V. S. Cheong, D. Jha, A. Baker, L. Grassi, S. Wouk Cho, K. A. Greene, H. Pálsson, A. A. Weaver, N. Hong, Y. Rhee, S. P.
Väänänen, H. Isaksson, S. J. Ferguson, B. Helgason
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