Mission Statement

Inspired by life-style aspirations and biological systems, the Centre is inventing, developing and demonstrating devices to meet global challenges in healthcare and well-being, by mimicking living systems effectively and efficiently to create innovative and advanced technologies.

Research Strategy

The Centre’s research programme involves a strong combination of integrated miniature sensing with biologically-inspired, intelligent processing, through state-of-the-art semiconductor technology. We aim to make small healthcare devices, which combine electronics with biological processes. By applying conventional silicon microchip technology in new ways, we are creating new opportunities for medical device innovation.

We have pioneered next generation semiconductor sequencing (spun out and licensed internationally), developed and trialled the world’s first bio-inspired artificial pancreas for Type I diabetes, invented and commercialized the disposable digital plaster for healthcare monitoring (now both FDA-approved and CEmarked), and are continuing to push the envelope of how semiconductor technology is applied to biomedicine.

Such advances mean that there can be a shift in care away from a centralized model that puts the physician at its core to a smarter, more decentralized approach centred on the patient – known as personalised healthcare. They also open up new ways of coping with the huge problems of ageing populations and surges in chronic ailments such as diabetes and heart disease.

In our Centre, building a solid foundation for technological innovation through workbench engineering and fundamental scientific research is integral to our approach. Advancements at this level are crucial, not only for the enhancement and application of existing technologies and materials, but also for the discovery of new and disruptive alternatives. Research efforts at the preclinical stage then filter through to positive clinical outcomes with an agility only possible from the integrated development process found in CBIT. Innovations also flow both ways with the development of our novel technologies equipping scientists and engineers with new tools to address research questions of fundamental importance.

Researchers within the Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology also work together with other scientists and engineers from across Imperial College as well as in collaboration with partner institutions and industry. Project teams include medical researchers and clinicians to ensure the focus remains on the medical needs we aim to address. The Centre’s Research Strategy is based on applying engineering technologies in innovative ways to provide personalised healthcare devices for chronic disease management. Our key activities are organized into four application-aligned technology themes: Genetic, Metabolic, Neural and Cancer.

Research Groups

The Centre’s Research Strategy is based on applying engineering technologies in innovative ways to provide personalised healthcare devices for chronic disease management. This is organised into four programmes :