Submitted by L. Millard on Mon, 21/03/2022 - 16:38
Registration is now open for the IRC’s Professor Rylie Green’s Inaugural Professorial Lecture presenting the latest developments in polymer bioelectronics.
The Inaugural Professorial Lecture, titled ‘Evolution of a cyborg: Bionic eyes, ears, spines and brains’ will consider the realisation of the cyborg – part human and part machine – with reference to the increasing numbers of devices being used to improve the quality of life for millions of people globally. However, despite significant advances in the field, there remains a substantial gap between the complexity and functionality of the natural nervous system and the ability of a device to replace this function following injury or disease.
“We are still very far removed from the ideal bionic human,” said Professor Green. “The most important factor is the interface where synthetic device meets the biological environment, and key to making next-generation, high resolution devices is the development of advanced materials.”
We are still very far removed from the ideal bionic human. The most important factor is the interface where synthetic device meets the biological environment, and key to making next-generation, high resolution devices is the development of advanced materials. Professor Rylie Green, IRC Investigator
Professor of Polymer Bioelectronics at Imperial College London – one of the IRC’s five founding universities – Prof Green will present her work across bionic eye design, (from the bench to clinical trials), the modification of cochlear implants, pioneering ‘living bionic’ devices for spinal cord injury and brain machine interfaces, and the development of wearable technologies for biosensing.
Professor Green has developed a range of innovative materials to address the limitations that hinder the development of next-generation bioelectronic devices. Her focus has been in developing bioelectronic technologies that are soft, stretchable and mediate improved electrical charge transfer with the body. As part of the IRC programme in targeted delivery for hard-to-treat cancers, Professor Green works with Professor George Malliaras in the development of implantable devices that release cancer therapeutics at the site of the tumour. Professor Green’s work has focused on delivering chemotherapeutics from conductive elastomers placed directly in the tumour during a biopsy surgery. The ability to precisely control the spatiotemporal profile of chemotherapy with an implanted device would mark a paradigm shift in cancer treatment.
The Inaugural Professorial Lecture at Imperial College London, titled ‘Evolution of a cyborg: Bionic eyes, ears, spines and brains’, by Professor Rylie Green, on 18 May 2022 at 5.30pm (GMT) will be live streamed and can be attended in-person or virtually. Register here.
