18 IMCRC Current RESEARCh ThEMES Customised Products This theme seeks to make products that suit the requirements of customers at a cost similar to mass-produced goods. Designers, manufacturers, users, distributors and world-class academics are together generating novel design and manufacturing techniques. The following projects are included within this theme. Project 185 - Tailored Injury Prevention and Performance Improvement for Protective Sports garments (SCUTA) aims to produce comfortable, conformable, personal, protective equipment for athletes taking part in three different sports. New models of assessment of impact injuries to the body are being evaluated and novel material structures being designed to help dissipate the impact of the forces incurred within these sports. Project 219 – A Unique human grip Simulator for Robotic Testing of Sports Equipment, is developing a mechanism of the human grip to more realistically simulate the motions of the hand when gripping and manipulating lightweight, flexible structures. The project is focusing on golf, with the ultimate objective to develop a golf robot capable of recreating the unique swing profiles of different golfers. The IMCRC is renowned for its expertise in modelling for injury prevention and engineering design. Project 281 - Rail Transport Safety for Pregnant occupants - Preliminary Investigations, aims to have an impact on safety considerations in railway transport for pregnant women and contribute to UK public transport design, without compromising the safety of nonpregnant occupants. Project 254 - Feasibility Study for Anthropometric Test Device and Computational Models for Ageing occupants has been focussed on producing guidelines for automotive safety engineers and medical engineers, for the representation of ageing vehicle occupants in order to minimise the risk of injuries and fatality as a result of road traffic accidents. AnnuAl RepoRt <strong>2010</strong> healthy & Secure Future This IMCRC theme is providing enhanced environments and products to improve our safety and security, and promote healthier lifestyles. Research within this theme includes facilitating healthcare delivery through the Centre’s involvement in the cross institutional ‘HaCIRIC’ project and the transformation of bioscience onto commercial practice through the ‘Remedi’ Grand Challenge. Project 248 - The health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre (haCIRIC) is focussed on researching the infrastructure needed to deliver healthcare. This is a collaboration project with research centres at Imperial College, <strong>Loughborough</strong>, Reading, and Salford. <strong>Loughborough</strong>-led aspects of the research include: the development of a continuous improvement framework for the procurement of primary healthcare facilities; the adoption of disruptive innovation as a mechanism for change in the NHS; metrics, models and toolkits for a sustainable urban environment; proactive resilient engineering and emergency mitigation protocols; the innovative design of well performing built healing environments; and the design of sustainable healthcare infrastructure and healthcare facilities. HaCIRIC now has regular input into Department of Health and NHS policy process in healthcare technology and innovation management. The grand Challenge project 214 – Regenerative Medicine: A New Industry (Remedi) is led by Prof. David Williams at the <strong>Loughborough</strong> IMCRC. This Grand Challenge includes two IMRCs, three other universities and eleven key collaborators, in a £7 million project over five years. It aims to demonstrate how established bioscience can be transformed into profitable commercial practice and generate affordable therapies, while developing the science of manufacture. The <strong>Loughborough</strong>-led research is focussed on creating process demonstrators for three products: scaffolds, cells and tissues, and on SME tools. The project has already demonstrated the automated, scaleable culture of: human bone marrow and umbilical cord blood derived hMSCs; multiple hESC lines in serum‐free or feeder‐free conditions; two ‘near to clinic’ commercial cell types, verified against commercially relevant endpoints; differentiated otic progenitor cells from hESCs for application to hearing disorder therapy; and human endothelial progenitor cells for drug screening applications. Project 223 - Complex Bone Surgery Simulation is engineering tailored bone phantoms with realistic visual and physical properties, to simulate surgical practices and enhance medical training. This research is already influencing surgical teaching. Is the quality of life of elderly people affected by biomechanical changes in the body? Project 298 - Investigations to Prevent Falls in the Ageing Population, is a unique study into the role spine curvature plays in postural stability and falls in old age. Project 220 - Understanding the older Construction Worker, is identifying changes required in the construction workplace, and in the tools and equipment used, if older workers are to remain productive in the industry. This research is important for health and safety considerations as the average age of the construction worker continues to increase. The Project 263 - The Relative Value and Systemic Implications of Counter-Terrorism Measures, is protecting key components of the built environment by evaluating the systemic implications associated with the use of counter-terrorism measures. The project is contributing to future legislation, guidelines and codes of practice. Project 300 - Link with the <strong>University</strong> of Milan in Commercial Exploitation of Bioscience was established in order to form a link with the <strong>University</strong> of Milan in the area of commercial exploitation of bioscience. By enabling researchers to access capabilities and work in development for activity in micro and nano-biotechnology at <strong>Loughborough</strong>, and bio-related processing and microfluidics capabilities in Milan, an early feasibility trial for high adhesion electro-less plating of thermoplastic polymers using a nanocomposite base layer has been undertaken. Project 303 - Modelling Complex Sustainable Urban Environments for 2050, is exploring the use of systems dynamics for modelling the effective delivery of infrastructure and services, together with potential applications of complexity theories in strategic decisionmaking for the healthcare industry. Project 308 - The use of innovative equipment and techniques to improve construction safety on the Birmingham New Street Station Refurbishment project, will investigate innovative multimedia methods used in the safety induction process on a major building refurbishment contract in order to produce guidelines for effective design induction processes for construction workers.
185 219 214 223 263 298 AnnuAl RepoRt <strong>2010</strong> 19 6
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