About
Professor Summers is internationally recognised for his research excellence, which focuses on two areas: metrologies for cell analysis (cytometry) and the development of nanoparticle-based diagnostics and therapeutics (nanomedicine).
Professor Summers is internationally recognised for his research excellence, which focuses on two areas: metrologies for cell analysis (cytometry) and the development of nanoparticle-based diagnostics and therapeutics (nanomedicine).
The module introduces the core concepts of systems analysis in engineering and applies them to a range of physiological structures ¿ ranging from sub-cellular molecular networks to whole body cardio-vascular systems. The module is delivered in a blended format with topics introduced in lectures and then explored further through a weekly PC lab in which the Mathworks¿ MATLAB or SIMULINK software environment is used by students to computationally simulate cell and physiological system operation. The module prepares students to apply engineering tools to biological systems with relevance to medical technologies, infection risk, and tissue engineering.
This module will explore the history and development of molecular medicines and pharmaceuticals, providing the basis for an advanced understanding of next generation therapeutic approaches. Using landmark technology and chemical development phases informed by separation science and mass spectrometry, the module uses an application driven approach to provide the student with an extensive knowledgebase of drug development, the pharmaceutical industry and nanotherapeutics. Students will be able to characterize and map the path of a drug from administration, to metabolism and elimination, and critically evaluate drug design and delivery approaches. Traditional small chemical entities used in molecular medicine will be outlined, using drugs such as taxols and tamoxifen as exemplars. Common target oncology and non-oncology disorders will provide the context; with students encouraged to explore targeted nanoparticle fabrication, drug encapsulation and release profiling, from early first generation drugs such as Abraxane to second generation biologically targeted SMART delivery systems. Future molecular medicines such as antibody drug conjugates and kinase inhibitors will be taught by guest lectures from industry and clinicians, covering the spectrum of drug development to delivery and clinical considerations.
Throughout the module, foundational principles will be explained using sporting examples of data analysis, with a particular focus on time-series data. A core principle of the module is that the process of measurement must be understood before applied studies are designed and data analysis is undertaken. The limits to measurement and the errors that can exist in a dataset have to be appreciated in the context of performance sport applications. The origin of the data also has to be considered as there are often hidden assumptions influencing its acquisition and pre-processing built into sensors. The aim here is to educate students about where their data comes from and to encourage them to critically assess the conditions under which valid measurements can be obtained in applied performance environments.