Pharmaceutics lecturer awarded top UK Society for Biomaterials prize
A Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics at the University of Huddersfield has been awarded a top prize by the UK Society for Biomaterials (UKSB) for her innovative research into biomaterials and tissue engineering.
Dr Jessica Senior received the Larry Hench Young Investigators Prize at the UKSB Conference held recently. The annual award is presented to a promising young research scientist in recognition of outstanding and innovative contributions in a selected field of biomaterials research, in remembrance of a key figure in the field, Professor Larry Hench.
Candidates were judged on peer-reviewed publications, their outstanding contribution and demonstrable research in the field of biomaterials as well as experience in presenting at international and national conferences.
Dr Senior is part of a team across the University’s Biopolymer Research Centre and Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention that has developed a range of 3D bioengineered wound models for training and educational purposes, translating their research into a patented product which utilises innovative techniques to solve real-world problems.
The team includes University of Huddersfield colleagues Professor of Biopolymer Science Alan Smith, as well as Emeritus Professor of Skin Integrity Karen Ousey, Vascular Nurse Consultant and Research Fellow Dr Leanne Atkin, Head of the Department of Pharmacy Professor Barbara Conway, and Samantha Holloway, a Reader at Cardiff University.
As a group, they have been able to match the mechanical properties of natural biopolymers to the consistencies found in wound tissues. This enables end users, such as those training in healthcare professions, to practice wound preparation and debridement using the models before facing live patients in the clinic.
The 3D bioengineered wound models, which are the first of their kind, are currently supplied across the UK, Canada, Sweden and Germany. Similar methods have been used to develop skin tear models, a diabetic foot ulcer model and scar simulations, as well as additional features including hair, bone and tendons, having appointed new PhD student Tanvir Siddique and post-doctoral researcher Dr Haja Muhamad.
She commented: “It is a researcher's dream to see the product of their work actually being utilised and contributing to society, and I am incredibly grateful for all of my team and collaborators in what is very much a joint effort”
It is the second prize won by Dr Senior in the last year, after she picked up the Award for Excellence at the Wounds UK conference in Harrogate in November 2024. This was for an abstract and oral conference presentation based on the group’s wound bioengineering research, co-authored with Professor Smith. The abstract is due to be published in the journal Wounds UK.
Discover more about studying Pharmacy at Huddersfield
Dr Senior began her undergraduate studies at the University of Huddersfield studying Medical Biology and has subsequently completed a Master’s in Pharmaceutical and Analytical Science. She then became a PhD Researcher at the University with a focus on suspended manufacturing of multilayered biopolymer hydrogels for tissue engineering, before moving to postdoctoral research and then securing a promotion to Senior Lecturer.