Staff at Materials in Medicine

Håkan Engqvist - Professor

I am the founder and leader of the MiM group. My research is focused towards understanding of the connection between synthesis, structure and properties of biomaterials, especially bioceramics for hard tissue replacement and drug delivery. 

E-mail: hakan.engqvist@angstrom.uu.se

Wei Xia - Associate Professor

I am currently responsible for “Synthetic Ceramic Biomaterials” in the Materials in Medicine group. I am interested in Synthetic Bio- and customized- materials, and my research is focused on:

  1. Strong ceramics for dental and spinal applications
  2. Nano-structured bioactive ceramics for bone repair and regeneration
  3. 3D printed biomaterials and the surface modification
  4. Bioceramics for DDS, e.x. Guided neuron growth, ASIT, Pain reliever, Transdermal delivery

Academic merits

  • PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
  • BSc in Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, China.

E-mail: wei.xia@angstrom.uu.se

Caroline Öhman Mägi - Associate Professor

Bio coming soon

Marjam Ott - Associate Professor

I established and am the responsible for the Materials in Medicine Cell Laboratory and my research interests include, the effect of biomaterial nanostructures on cell response with specific emphasis on inflammation.

Academic merits

  • Associate Professor (Docent Competence), Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • PhD in Surface Biotechnology with specialization in cell biology, Department of Surface Biotechnology, Uppsala University, Sweden.

E-mail: marjam.ott@angstrom.uu.se

Philip Procter - Adjunct Professor

I am industry-based, self-employed and my main interest is in translating biomaterials from the laboratory to clinical use to match unmet clinical needs. My research interests are:

  1. Biomimetic injectable biomaterials
  2. Tissue adhesives
  3. Bone graft substitutes 

Academic merits

  • Chartered Engineer (FIMechE, UK) and Chartered Scientist (FIPEM, UK)
  • PhD. Biomedical Engineering, Strathclyde University, Scotland.
  • BTech. Mechanical Engineering, Brunel University London, UK. 

E-mail: philip.procter@angstrom.uu.se

Michael Pujari-Palmer - Postdoc

My research focuses on the interaction between cells, tissues and biomaterials. There are three main lines of research: a) Development of a new type of biocompatible bone and cartilage tissue adhesive, which bonds to metal, ceramic and other tissue surfaces; b) Development of materials that induce bone growth (osteoinductive materials), specifically involving inorganic additives that mimic growth factors, like BMP-2; c) Identifying the contribution of inflammation, and immunomodulation by bioceramics, on osteoinduction.

Academic merits

  • PhD in Engineering Physics with Specialization in Materials Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • MSc in Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Arlington, USA.
  • BSc in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of California, San Diego, USA.

E-mail: michael.palmer@angstrom.uu.se

Alejandro López - Research Engineer

One of my main responsibilities is to act as an interface between our group, its suppliers, users and collaborators. I give support in the areas of materials synthesis and analysis, tribo-mechanical testing, surface analysis, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ICP spectroscopy. I also provide scientific/technical consulting services to local and international companies as well as manage our laboratory, and source supplies and equipment.

Academic merits

  • PhD in Engineering Physics with Specialization in Materials Science, Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • Visiting Researcher, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
  • MSc in Materials Science and Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia & Luleå UT, Barcelona, Spain & Luleå, Sweden.
  • BEng in Materials Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.

Email: alejandro.lopez@angstrom.uu.se

Torbjörn Mellgren - PhD student

In order to treat bone voids caused by trauma, cancer or birth defects, such as cleft palate, bone is routinely harvested from other parts of the patient’s own body. The aim of my research is to find synthetic alternatives, based on calcium phosphate, which perform as good or better than harvested bone. My research includes inorganic synthetic, material characterization and pre-clinical evaluation of these materials.

Academic merits

  • MSc in Chemical Engineering, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 

E-mail: torbjorn.mellgren@angstrom.uu.se

Susanne Lewin - PhD student

My research interests are biomechanics and biomaterials for bone regeneration. In my PhD thesis project, I mainly evaluate clinically available craniofacial implants with the aim of better understanding the functional use and complications. I use computed tomography and quantitative image analysis for evaluation of the pre-clinical and clinical performance. Currently, I am investigating the mechanical (quasi-static and dynamic) performance of the implants by mechanical testing, and computational modeling.

Academic merits

  • MSc in Solid Mechanics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden.
  • BSc in Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden.

E-mail: susanne.lewin@angstrom.uu.se

Lee Fowler - PhD student

  • The work I perform focuses on antibacterial biomaterials that have the ability to detect bacterial growth on the material surface. I want to understand how copper can be used to do this and why it is effective at this.

Academic merits

  • MSc in Medical Engineering, The University of Hull, UK.
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa. 

E-mail: lee.fowler@angstrom.uu.se

Amina Vazda - PhD student

My research concerns developing an inhalation method for pain treatment in which ceramics are used as a dose units. This includes both finding suitable ceramics and material characterization.

Academic merits

  • MSc in Chemical Engineering, Uppsala University, Sweden.

E-mail: amina.vazda@angstrom.uu.se

Camilla Berg - PhD student

My research concerns synthesis and characterization of ceramic nanoparticles along with evaluation of their performance in dental applications. This includes both development of the synthesis strategy for a robust fabrication process as well as testing of the materials in in-vitro conditions. 

Academic merits

  • MSc in Chemical Engineering, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

E-mail: camilla.berg@angstrom.uu.se

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