The Biomedical Engineering Research Group is a collaborative research group that includes researchers from the Schools of Mechanical & Design Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering. This is an interdisciplinary research group and involves external collaborations with research groups at RCSI, TCD, UL and others. The group aims to further knowledge and research through these collaborations and by leveraging the connection between research and teaching in the development of postgraduate research project work and external partners. The majority of the research students in the group are located at the ESHI building on the Grangegorman Campus but have wide access to and use the facilities at Bolton St and Kevin St Campuses. The group are active in a number of key areas including:
- Assistive Technology
- Cell Culture and Tissue Mechanics
- Biomedical Device Design
- Biomaterials
- Modelling and Analysis of Blood Flow
Academic and Postgraduate members of the group and their profiles are provided below.
People
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Name SurnameG |
Ger Reilly |
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Role/Position |
Head of School Mechanical & Design Engineering, Coordinator Biomedical Research Group |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin; School of Mechanical & Design Engineering, TU Dublin. |
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Bio Summary |
Ger Reilly Completed a Degree in Metalwork and Engineering Technology and a Masters Degree in CAD/CAM at the University of Limerick. He is completing a PhD on the measurement of microdamage in bone during wedge indentation. Ger has previously supervised Masters degree students and co-supervised PhD students. He has held a number of research grants including various Strand III Grants, and Strand I Grants and has held EU Grants in various framework programmes as well as project managed a number of EU projects (4 in total). He is a manuscript reviewer and also reviews EU project proposals and carries out technical evaluations of projects. He has been engaged in research since 1993 and teaching since 1998. He has been Head of School at Mechanical & Design Engineering at TU Dublin since 2014. |
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Research Interests |
BioMechanical Engineering and in particular the accumulation of microdamage in bone as well as the mechanisms creating and preventing damage and the labelling and monitoring of damage. I also have an interest in machining and in the use of advanced high-speed machining and the use of combined additive and subtractive processes. In particular, I am interested in the part geometry and the part integrity and the surface finish that can be achieved. I have recently been involved in the creation of a new Robotics Centre at TU Dublin for additive and subtractive manufacturing. |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
Current research projects include: |
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Publications |
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Phone No |
+353 1 2206782 |
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Email Address |
ger.reilly@tudublin.ie |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Bone Mechanics, Image Analysis, Acoustic Emission, Experimental Mechanical Testing, Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing and Intelligent Machining |
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Collaboration Interests |
Joint Research in Experimental Analysis of Bone, Microdamage Analysis in Materials, Joint Publishing, Proposal Writing and Project Management, Project Supervision |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Mechanical Testing Of Materials, Visual and Acoustic Emission Analysis of Biomaterials, CAD/CAM, Manufacturing and Machining, Proposal Writing and Project Management, Project Supervision |
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Name Surname |
Damon Berry |
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Role/Position |
Lecturer (L) in Computer Systems, Senior Researcher and PI. |
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Affiliations |
School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute |
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Bio Summary |
Damon Berry is a member of academic staff in the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering. He has been engaged in research in ehealth and assistive technology for the past 25 years. Damon’s research has involved participation in a series of high profile EU Framework and nationally funded research ehealth projects such as: OpenLabs, Synapses, Synex, TUDOR, Medilink and EHRland. Damon has supervised three PhD students to completion and is currently acting as lead supervisor / mentor for 3 PhD students and a co-supervisor of a further 6 PhD students. Damon has authored over 30 academic papers, has been / is responsible as PI for research funds totalling over €800,000 and has organised and participated in numerous academic workshops and conferences. Alongside his research work, Damon is also chair of the NSAI ehealth standards committee, which is the Irish mirror-panel for ISO TC215. He has acted in an advisory capacity for HIQA and HSE on ehealth interoperability and has led Irish delegations for ISO TC215 and CENTC251 standardisation working group meetings. Damon is also actively involved in STEM promotion as a founding member of the RoboSlam STEM Collective and spent 2 years as the coordinator for engineering student recruitment and retention, and 4 years as a member of the Engineers Ireland STEPS to Engineering steering committee. |
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Research Interests |
Assistive technology, ehealth, age friendly environments |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
Two ongoing EU funded projects on smart healthy age-friendly environments. Development of IOT technology for remote amenity locations. |
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Publications |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Electronic health records, interoperability, age friendly environments, data quality, Internet of Things, smart spaces, quantified self. |
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Collaboration Interests |
Smart spaces, ehealth, assistive technology and independent living, engineering to support SDGs |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Information modelling, system integration, embedded systems, IoT, sensors and image acquisition. |
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Name Surname |
Dr Claire M. Brougham |
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Role/Position |
Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, City Campus, Technological University Dublin |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, City Campus, Technological University Dublin Tissue Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
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Bio Summary |
My degree is in mechanical engineering, and I completed a research masters in biomedical engineering, examining the effect of strain on vascular cells. The time I spent working in the medical device industry, both in manufacturing and process design, has helped shape my approach to research. I completed my PhD part time in RCSI under Prof Fergal O’Brien and I completed this is in 2016. This work focussed on the development of a heart valve for paediatric patients which could grow in tandem with a growing child, thus eliminating the need for multiple reoperations. This involved material development, cell culture and dynamic conditioning which together created a novel heart valve substitute. During 2015, I spent three months at RWTH Aachen completing experimental work and have an ongoing collaboration with the tissue engineering group there. I now have two PhD students who are further developing this heart valve scaffold platform. |
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Research Interests |
My main interest is in materials, specifically regenerative biomaterials for cardiovascular treatments. I am especially interested in how cells behave in a dynamic environment; the interface between mechanical engineering and biology. Medical device design and medical device regulatory affairs are areas I would also be interested in pursuing. |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
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Publications |
Brougham, C.M., Levingstone, T.J.; Cooney, G.C., Jockenhoevel, S.; Flanagan, T.C. and O’Brien, F.J. Creating complex natural structures with a controlled porosity (2017 Vol 6 Issue 21; 1700598) Advanced Healthcare Materials Brougham, C.M.*, Ryan A.J.*, Garciarena, C.D., Kerrigan, S.W., O’Brien, F.J. Towards 3D in vitro models for the study of cardiovascular tissues and disease Drug Discovery Today 2016; 21; 9; 1437-1445 (*joint first authors) Brougham, C.M.; Levingstone, T.J.; Jockenhoevel, S.; Flanagan, T.C. and O’Brien, F.J. (2015) Incorporation of fibrin into a collagen–glycosaminoglycan matrix results in a scaffold with improved mechanical properties and enhanced capacity to resist cell-mediated contraction. Acta Biomaterialia Oct 2015; 26; 205-214 Keating K., Brougham C., Gavin G., Reilly G., Issues in organisation and management of multidisciplinary group design projects, International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, September 2013. Barron, V., Brougham, C., Coghlan, K., McLucas, E., O’Mahoney, D., Stenson-Cox, C. and McHugh, P.E., “The effect of physiological cyclic stretch on the cell morphology, cell orientation and protein expression of endothelial cells”, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp. 1973-1981, 2007. |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Tissue engineering, heart valves, biomaterials |
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Collaboration Interests |
Cell material interactions in dynamic environments Validation of dynamic environments Regulation of tissue engineered devices |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Bioreactor development and validation Cell culture, primary and secondary 3D cell culture |
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Name Surname |
Dr Ted Burke |
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Role/Position |
Researcher / Lecturer / PhD supervisor, Biomedical Research Group |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin; Environmental Sustainability & Health Institute, TU Dublin; School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, TU Dublin. |
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Bio Summary |
Ted Burke completed his BE, MEngSc and PhD in electronic engineering in UCD, including six years in the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. During that period, he worked on a wide variety of projects, with a particular emphasis on biomedical signal processing and human-computer interfaces. His MEngSc and PhD research topics concerned the facilitation of communication and creative expression by people with physical disabilities. He joined the Dublin Institute of Technology (now TU Dublin) as a full-time lecturer in 2006. Since then, his teaching has been mainly in the areas of programming, robotics, engineering design and biomedical engineering. He has published research in engineering education and, as a first-year tutor, is particularly interested in the experiences of those adapting to third-level learning. However, his primary research interests are robotics (especially soft robotics) and signal processing (audio, biomedical, machine learning). He is a founding member of both the tPOT Research Group - which investigates people-oriented technology (technology that interacts with humans or with the human body) - and the Biomedical Research Group. Outside the formal academic setting, he is active in Dublin's maker community and is a co-creator of the RoboSlam STEM outreach initiative which since 2012 has been providing introductory workshops in robotics, electronics and programming to the public.
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Research Interests |
Soft robotics, signal processing, engineering education. |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
Current research projects include:
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Publications |
https://arrow.dit.ie/do/search/advanced?q=author%3A%22Ted%20Burke%22 |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
Ted.burke@tudublin.ie |
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Website details |
batchloaf.com |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Soft robotics, audio signal processing, signal source separation, biomedical signal processing, image processing, machine vision, machine learning, engineering education. |
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Collaboration Interests |
Interested in providing data analytics, signal processing and/or software development for multidisciplinary projects. |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Software development, embedded systems, signal processing, electronics. |
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Name Surname |
Dr Jane Courtney |
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Role/Position |
Researcher / Lecturer / PhD supervisor, Biomedical Research Group |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin; Environmental Sustainability & Health Institute, TU Dublin; School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, TU Dublin. |
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Bio Summary |
Jane graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering (BE) from UCD in 1998. After a year working as a project engineer with ESBI, she returned to UCD to pursue research in biomedical engineering and graduated with a masters (MEngSc) in 2001 and a doctorate (PhD) in 2005. Her research focused on using digital image processing to develop a novel gait analysis system. She has been with TU Dublin (formerly DIT) since September 2004. |
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Research Interests |
Research and teaching interests include computer vision and image processing, biomedical engineering and power systems engineering; Chair of the Irish Machine Vision and Image Processing Conference 2019, Member of several programme committees and reviewer for several journals, including IEEE Transactions. Past collaborations with UCD's Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, the Dept. of Clinical Medicine, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, ESBI and ESB Networks. External examiner at PhD and Masters level for DCU and Blanchardstown IT. Currently collaborating with Advanced Nano Technologies Ltd on development of a nanodrop spectrophotometer, Valeo Vision Systems on an Advance Computer Vision course, TU Dublin’s School of Biological Sciences on a Platelet Counting System, TU Dublin's School of Computing on a Harvester Design and Azorom Power Consultants on Electricity Supply Training Projects in West Africa. |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
Current research projects include: |
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Publication/Public Profile |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
jane.courtney@tudublin.ie |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Computer Vision, Machine Vision, Image Processing, Image Analysis, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Biomedical Engineering |
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Collaboration Interests |
Analysis of Images, Development of Image Analysis Systems, Training in Computer Vision, Consultancy |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Image Analysis, Coding, Training, Project Supervision |
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Name Surname |
Dr. Kevin D. Delaney |
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Role/Position |
Lecturer and Researcher in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, City Campus, Technological University Dublin |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, City Campus, Technological University Dublin |
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Bio Summary |
After graduating as a mechanical engineer I spent 10 years in advanced development and design roles in global world class companies in the automotive and connector industries. As a Senior Design Engineer I enjoyed sharing ideas with and training colleagues so much that I decided to do it full time. Now I’m continuing my engineering career as a researcher, consultant and lecturer in academia. Since making this transition I lecture primarily in the areas of Design, Innovation, Knowledge Management and Engineering Education within TUDublin (Technological University Dublin). My formal qualifications include a PhD in advanced manufacturing, specialising in replication tools for micro moulding; a Masters in using process capability to improve future designs; a PG Diploma in Third Level Teaching and Learning and a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical engineering. I am a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. I am a member of Engineers Ireland Mechanical and Manufacturing Division Committee and participate in activities to further engineering as a career and to encourage more people to study engineering. When not involved in these activities or doing DIY to entertain my kids I also like to cook and eat lots of Asian food! |
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Research Interests |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
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Publications |
Peer reviewed journal papers: Vecchietti, L.E., Delaney, K.D., Giudicati, G., Capriotti, F. (2015), Knowledge management at Eni a case study of managing knowledge in an international oil and gas company, Level3, Issue 12, For Knowledge ManagementSymposium, Dublin Castle, March 2015. Delaney, K.D., Bissacco, G. and Kennedy, D. (2012), A structured review and classification of demoulding issues and proven solutions, International Polymer Processing, XXVII (2012) 01; 77-90. Delaney, K.D., Phelan, P. (2009), Design improvement using process capability data, Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 209 (2009); 619-624. Technical conference papers: Delaney, K.D. and Lacan, F. (2015), An Experimental Report of the Force Required to Demould Parts Replicated by Injection Moulding, 4M/ICOMM 2015, 302-305. Delaney, K.D., Bissacco, G., Moore, E. and Kennedy,D. (2012), An Investigation on the Effect of Surface Characteristics on Adhesion Between Polymer Melts and Replication Tools, ANTEC 2012-Proceedings of the 70th Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, Orlando, FL, April 2-4. Society of Plastics Engineers. Delaney, K.D., Bissacco, G. and Kennedy, D., A Study of Demoulding Force Prediction for Elastomeric Components, 4M 2011, 64-67. Delaney, K.D., Kennedy, D., Bissacco, G. (2011), Investigating Polymer-Tool Steel Interfaces to Predict the Work of Adhesion for Demoulding Force Optimisation. MTSM 2011. Split, 29-30 September, 2011. Delaney, K.D., Kennedy, D., Bissacco, G. (2011), Development of a Friction Testing Apparatus for Demoulding Force Prediction. IMC28, International Manufacturing Conference, 30th August – 1st September 2011, Dublin, Ireland. Delaney, K.D., Bissacco, G. and Kennedy, D. (2010), Demoulding Force Prediction for Micro Polymer Replication: a Review of Relevant Literature, 4M 2010 (2010), 69-72. Delaney, K.D., Kennedy, D., Bissacco, G. (2010), Study of Friction Testing Methods Applicable to Demoulding Force Prediction for Micro Replicated Parts, Matrib 2010, Croatia, June 23-27th, 2010. Delaney, K.D., Bissacco, G. and Kennedy, D. (2010), A Study of Demoulding Force Prediction Applied to Periodic Mould Surface Profiles, ANTEC 2010 (2010), 2149 - 2154. Delaney, K.D. and Kennedy, D. (2008), Big Challenges in Designing Small Parts for Mass Production, IMC 25 (2008), 197-204. Delaney, K.D. (2007) Robust Connector Design: Variation management using historical manufacturing data in a process capability database, MEng thesis, University of Limerick, Supervisor: Dr. Pat Phelan. Delaney, K.D., (2006) Big in Japan: an experience of innovation and technology management in the Japanese knowledge economy, Engineers Journal, Vol. 60: Issue 8, October 2006. Delaney, K.D., Phelan, P. (2006) Refinements in using historical process data to optimize tolerance allocation. IMC23, 30 August - 1 September 2006, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey. Delaney, K.D., Phelan, P., Delaney, D., (2005) A Gap Model for Understanding the Variation of the Real Product from the Ideal. IMC22, 1-3 September 2005, Institute of Technology, Tallaght. Delaney, K.D., Phelan, P. (2005) Using historical process data to optimise tolerance allocation. IMC22, 1-3 September 2005, Institute of Technology, Tallaght. Educational conference papers: Delaney, K., Nagle, G., (2019), Teaching Approximations of Mechanical Engineering Practice through Designing and Building Robots: An Approach Inspired by Monozukuri. Proceedings of WERA 2019, Tokyo (Japan) 5th-8th August 2019. Delaney, K. (2011), Evaluating "Independent" Assessment of Capstone Projects by Mechanical Engineering Students in DIT. Proceedings of Edulearn 2011, Barcelona (Spain) 4th-6th July 2011. Delaney, K. (2009) Assessing Problem Based Learning with Mechanical Engineering Students at Dublin Institute of Technology, INTED2009 Proceedings, pp. 4217-4223. Delaney, K.D., Kelleher, J.B., (2008) Real-World Process Design for Mechanical Engineering Students: A case study of PBL in DIT. International Symposium for Engineering Education, 8-10 September 2008, Dublin City University. |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Innovation, Design, Education |
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Collaboration Interests |
Micro replication tooling, Frontier Technologies, Successful product servitization determinants particularly within SMEs |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Product development, Lean six sigma, World Class Manufacturing, Innovation methodologies, Technology road mapping |
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Name SurnameGer Reilly |
Mark McGrath |
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Role/Position |
Senior Lecturer & Researcher, School of Mechanical & Design Engineering, TU Dublin. |
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Affiliations |
Biomedical Research Group, TU Dublin; School of Mechanical & Design Engineering, TU Dublin. |
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Bio Summary |
A Mechanical Engineering graduate from DIT in 1996. Postgraduate Research towards M.Eng. in Applied Physics in the area Silicon-based Gas Sensor Production in collaboration with Analog Devices at UL in 1999. Research at TU Dublin principally in the area of Smart Actuators and Instrumentation in Biomedical Engineering. This research has been focussed in two principal areas; The Characterisation and Modelling of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators, and Force Measurement and Feedback for Robotically-Assisted Minimally-Invasive Surgical Procedures. |
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Research Interests |
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Ongoing or Previous Research |
Previous Research Supervision of 2 PhD students to completion in;
Ongoing Research
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Publications |
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Phone No |
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Email Address |
mark.mcgrath@tudublin.ie |
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Website details |
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Keywords related to your research interests |
Smart Materials, Shape Memory Alloys, Haptics, Force Measurement, Microfabrication Technologies, Engineering Education |
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Collaboration Interests |
Institute Collaboration [Within School or Across schools], Co-Authoring for Dissemination, Collaboration with External Academics or Industry |
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Research or Specialist Skills |
Control Engineering & Instrumentation, Smart Material Characterisation, Force Measurement in Biomedical Applications, Engineering Education |