Research
My research focuses on the biomechanics and mechanobiology of cardiovascular tissues, with particular emphasis on aortic disease, vascular ageing, and the development of advanced experimental and computational approaches for tissue characterisation. I lead interdisciplinary research that integrates engineering, biology, and clinical science to better understand the structural and mechanical factors underpinning cardiovascular disease progression and failure.
A major theme of my work is the multi-scale characterisation of aortic tissues in conditions such as thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection. Using advanced biomechanical testing, nanoindentation, digital histopathology, and imaging approaches, my research investigates how alterations in extracellular matrix organisation, collagen-elastin architecture, and tissue remodelling influence vascular integrity and disease progression. This work has contributed to improved understanding of tissue heterogeneity, disease mechanisms, and the biomechanical basis of rupture risk.
Alongside cardiovascular biomechanics, my broader research interests span bone mechanics, musculoskeletal tissues, skin biomechanics, biomaterials, mechanobiology, and translational biomedical engineering. I have extensive experience in nanoindentation and nanomechanical characterisation across both engineering materials and biological tissues, including soft tissues, bone, biomaterials, and tissue-engineered constructs.
I established and currently lead the Nanomechanics Laboratory at the University of Liverpool, which supports interdisciplinary research in biomechanics, biomaterials, and mechanobiology using advanced micro- and nano-scale mechanical testing approaches. I have also developed expertise in consultancy and collaborative projects involving nanomechanical testing and material characterisation for academic, clinical, and industrial applications.
My research is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together clinicians, biologists, engineers, and international collaborators to address challenges across cardiovascular biomechanics, bone and musculoskeletal mechanics, tissue engineering, vascular biology, biomaterials, and medical device-related applications. Through these activities, my work aims to bridge fundamental engineering science with translational and clinically relevant applications that improve understanding of tissue behaviour, disease progression, and biomaterial performance.
Arterial Stiffening and Aortic Dissection
My research investigates the biomechanical and mechanobiological mechanisms underlying aortic diseases, including aneurysms and dissections. This includes the multi-scale characterisation of vascular tissues using advanced mechanical testing, imaging, and digital histopathology approaches to understand how extracellular matrix remodelling, elastin fragmentation, collagen organisation, inflammation, and vascular ageing influence tissue integrity, disease progression, and rupture risk. The work is highly interdisciplinary, integrating engineering, biology, and clinical science to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for vascular disease.
Funding for this research has been secured from the British Heart Foundation, the The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust, and the Royal Academy of Engineering / Leverhulme Trust in support of advancing this work.
Bone, Musculoskeletal and Soft Tissue Nanomechanics
I am interested in the mechanical behaviour and structure–function relationships of bone, ocular, musculoskeletal, and compliant biological tissues including skin and vascular tissues. My work combines experimental biomechanics, imaging, and spatially resolved mechanical mapping to investigate tissue heterogeneity, degeneration, ageing, repair, and biomaterial interactions across a wide range of biological systems. Applications span orthopaedics, ophthalmology, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, mechanobiology, and translational biomedical engineering.
Below is a link to an article I wrote in 'The Conversation' about ocular biomechanics: Understanding the mechanics of the eye could help treat degenerative disease - The Conversation
Nanoindentation and Nanomechanics
A major focus of my research is the development and application of nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methodologies for engineering materials, biomaterials, and soft biological tissues. I established and lead the Nanomechanics Laboratory at the University of Liverpool, where we use advanced micro- and nano-scale mechanical characterisation techniques to investigate viscoelasticity, heterogeneity, surface interactions, and structure–property relationships across a wide range of materials. By integrating nanoindentation, AFM, imaging, and spatial mechanical mapping, my work aims to provide deeper insight into tissue behaviour, biomaterial performance, and mechanobiological processes. This research supports both fundamental science and consultancy activities for academic, clinical, and industrial partners.
Research grants
AortaBank
THE AORTIC DISSECTION CHARITABLE TRUST (UK)
January 2026 - June 2029
Development of Digital Pathology tools for Aortopathy
THE AORTIC DISSECTION CHARITABLE TRUST (UK)
January 2025 - March 2026
A multi-disciplinary approach to understand the growth and remodelling of the false lumen in type B aortic dissection post-TEVAR
ROYAL SOCIETY
March 2023 - June 2025
Bench fees EMAN YOUSEF A AL AHMAD - (201711883)
ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA CULTURAL BUREAU IN LONDON (UK)
June 2023 - May 2027
Bench fees for Abdulghafoor Jama I Alsomadi - 201689970
ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA CULTURAL BUREAU IN LONDON (UK)
January 2023 - January 2027
A novel tissue-engineered conduit for substitution of small-diameter blood vessels
INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY, KINGS COLLEGE (UK)
August 2021 - July 2022
The regulation of collagen (I) homotrimer synthesis and its role in musculoskeletal dysfunction
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2017 - September 2021
Exploring the interplay between biochemical and biomechanical heterogeneity as a risk factor for acute Type A aortic dissection
BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION (UK)
July 2017 - July 2019
A novel approach to identifying risk of rare aortic diseases
ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (UK)
October 2017 - September 2018
Providing a rational basis for the development of an injectable stem cell therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in ageing patients.
VIVENSA FOUNDATION (UK)
February 2017 - February 2020
Micromechanical Properties of Sclerodermal Skin’
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
March 2014 - November 2014
Impact Acceleration Account - University of Liverpool 2012
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2012 - March 2017
Clinical Data Collection for Refractive Surgery (LASIK)
THE ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (UK)
May 2012 - July 2014
Control of Biological Responses by Isolated Synthetic Material Variables.
LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)
April 2015 - October 2018
Small items of Research Equipment at the University of Liverpool
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2012 - March 2013
Research collaborations
Mr Mark Field
Aortic Dissection
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
Mr Field is a vascular surgeon at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. His clinical/surgical input is key into our various projects related to aortic dissection.
Dr Jill Madine
Aortic Dissection
We work together on aortic dissection projects which involve biochemical expert input from Dr Madine.
Prof. Dave Adams
Nanoindentation of Hydrogels
University of Glasgow
We work with Prof. Adam's research group to characterise low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) with nanoindentation. This collaboration has led to several papers including in RSC Advances and Materials Chemistry.
Prof. Brian Derby
Soft tissue micromechanics
The University of Manchester
We have worked on various projects relating to the development of nanoindentation and scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) of soft tissues. We started this work when I was a postdoc in Prof. Derby's group.
Drs David Martin and Steve Barrett
AFM imaging
We have worked together on a number of projects relating to atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of soft tissues. Dr Barrett's software, Image SXM, is used in a number of our publications for custom image analysis.
Dr Michael Sherratt
Soft tissue micromechanics and biochemistry
The University of Manchester
We have worked on various projects relating to soft tissue micromechanics. In particular, Dr Sheratt's expertise on fibrillin microfibrils formed a key part of a large piece of work on the diabetic aorta.