The biomedical devices and diagnostics theme drives the invention of cutting-edge tools that detect and treat health problems with greater precision and personalisation. Our engineers (across biomedical, electrical, chemical, and mechanical disciplines) create everything from wearable sensors and lab-on-a-chip systems to advanced imaging equipment and therapeutic devices. We invent biosensors, stimulators, surgical instruments and medical imaging instrumentation for personalised care, aiming to enable earlier diagnosis and more effective interventions.
These technologies are developed with an eye toward real-world impact: point-of-care diagnostic devices can bring lab tests to remote clinics, while smart implants and miniaturised medical machines improve patient monitoring and targeted therapy. By merging engineering and medicine in device innovation, we are improving patient outcomes through faster, more accurate diagnostics and novel treatment options. In fact, health-focused technologies such as these offer new treatments, improved patient outcomes, earlier diagnostics and prevention, and better quality and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
Our research spans three strengths across multidisciplinary research
Our research aims to develop technologies that enable real-time visualisation and monitoring of the human body. This includes advanced imaging modalities such as next-generation MRI, ultrasound, and optical systems, as well as wearable and implantable sensors that track vital health signals. These innovations support earlier and more accurate diagnosis of diseases like cancer and neurological conditions, aligning with our strategy to improve healthcare outcomes through engineering-driven solutions. By integrating imaging, sensing, and data analysis, this theme contributes to our broader mission of transforming healthcare through precision technologies.
We are enhancing imaging resolution and developing multi-modal imaging techniques that combine different modalities for deeper insights into disease processes. On the sensor side, the team is creating smart biosensors and micro-electronic devices capable of continuously measuring parameters such as heart rhythm, blood glucose, and brain activity. These technologies are being integrated into wearable and implantable platforms, allowing for seamless health monitoring in clinical and everyday settings.
This research aims to improve diagnostic imaging and real-time health monitoring with a focus on early disease detection and personalised care, by developing advanced imaging systems (next-generation MRI, ultrasound, and optical imaging) and integrating them with wearable and implantable biosensors. This approach enhances the accuracy and timeliness of diagnoses and empowers both clinicians and individuals with continuous, data-rich insights into health, such as detecting cancer earlier through high-resolution imaging or managing chronic conditions like diabetes with real-time glucose monitoring.
Professor Jinman Kim, Professor Yonghui Li, Professor Branka Vucetic, Professor Xiaoke Yi, Associate Professor Anusha Withana, Associate Professor Luping Zhou, Dr Wanchun Liu
Our research aims to miniaturise complex diagnostic processes onto microchips, enabling rapid, low-cost, and accessible health testing at the point of care. This work addresses a critical challenge in healthcare: the reliance on bulky, expensive diagnostic tools that are often limited to specialised laboratories. By developing portable, user-friendly devices that can detect disease biomarkers in blood, saliva, or other samples within minutes, this research directly supports our strategy of advancing healthcare through engineering innovation and improving global health equity. This theme aligns with our broader mission to deliver impactful, translational research by creating technologies that are not only scientifically advanced but also practical and scalable.
We are designing and fabricating microfluidic chips and biosensors that integrate nanotechnology and micro-scale fluid channels to perform complex analyses, such as blood cell counting, antigen detection, or DNA analysis, on a single chip. These lab-on-a-chip systems combine sample preparation, detection, and data output in a compact format, making them ideal for point-of-care use.
We are developing smart biosensors that can continuously monitor physiological signals and detect specific biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. These devices are engineered to be low-cost, fast, and easy to use, enabling widespread deployment in clinical, home, and field settings.
This research aims to improve diagnostic accessibility and speed with a focus on miniaturising laboratory testing for point-of-care use, by designing microfluidic chips and biosensors that detect biomarkers in blood, saliva, or other samples within minutes. This approach enables rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly diagnostics outside of traditional lab settings, and expands access to early disease detection and personalised healthcare, such as enabling remote communities to screen for infections or allowing individuals to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes from home.
Professor Antonio Tricoli, Professor Arnold Ju, Professor Fariba Dehgani, Professor Syamak Farajikha
Our research aims to engineer technologies that not only detect medical conditions but also actively treat them. This dual-function approach is central to improving patient outcomes through timely intervention and personalised care. From smart inhalers and insulin pumps to implantable devices like pacemakers and neurostimulators, the goal is to create intelligent systems that respond to physiological changes in real time. These innovations reflect our broader strategy of integrating engineering excellence with clinical impact, translating research into life-changing medical solutions.
We are developing a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic devices that combine sensing, actuation, and control. These include wearable and implantable systems capable of monitoring health parameters and delivering targeted therapy, such as drug release or electrical stimulation, in response to detected anomalies. Robotic surgical tools are also being designed to enable minimally invasive procedures with greater precision and safety.
We are focused on making these devices smarter and more accessible, enhancing automation, miniaturisation, and user experience. Projects span from biosensor-integrated drug delivery systems to neuroengineering platforms that interface with the nervous system. These efforts are supported by advanced materials, embedded electronics, and real-time data analytics, ensuring that the devices are not only effective but also adaptable to diverse clinical environments.
This research aims to improve medical diagnosis and treatment delivery with a focus on integrating intelligent technologies into wearable, implantable, and robotic systems, by developing devices such as smart inhalers, insulin pumps, pacemakers, neurostimulators, and robotic surgical tools that can both detect and respond to physiological changes. This approach enables real-time intervention and personalised care, and transforms patient outcomes, such as restoring hearing through cochlear implants or managing diabetes with automated insulin delivery, while reducing hospital visits and enhancing quality of life across diverse healthcare settings.
Professor Arnold Ju, Professor Fariba Dehghani, Professor Hala Zreqiat, Associate Professor Agi Kourmatzis
