Novel Models for Haemodynamics and Transport in Complex Media: Towards Precision Healthcare for Placental Disorders
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Barbacena P
(2022)
Competition for endothelial cell polarity drives vascular morphogenesis in the mouse retina.
in Developmental cell
Chen Q
(2023)
Robust fabrication of ultra-soft tunable PDMS microcapsules as a biomimetic model for red blood cells
in Soft Matter
Edgar LT
(2022)
Traffic Patterns of the Migrating Endothelium: How Force Transmission Regulates Vascular Malformation and Functional Shunting During Angiogenic Remodelling.
in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
Enjalbert R
(2021)
Compressed vessels bias red blood cell partitioning at bifurcations in a hematocrit-dependent manner: Implications in tumor blood flow
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Giarratano Y
(2020)
Automated Segmentation of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Images: Benchmark Data and Clinically Relevant Metrics.
in Translational vision science & technology
Giarratano Y
(2022)
Novel retinal vascular phenotypes for the potential assessment of long-term risk in living kidney donors.
in Kidney international
Hardman D
(2022)
Correction to 'Mathematical modelling of oxygen transport in a muscle-on-chip device' (2022) by Hardman et al.
in Interface focus
Hardman D
(2024)
An in vitro agent-based modelling approach to optimization of culture medium for generating muscle cells.
in Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
| Title | ARCHER2 calendar artwork |
| Description | Simulation image highlighted on ARCHER2 (UK National Supercomputing Service) Annual Calendar 2023 |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | A simulation artwork from our project was selected for the annual ARCHER2 calendar and made available to all ARCHER2 users. |
| Title | Advancing Placental Research: Unlocking the Mysteries of Blood Flow in Pregnancy |
| Description | Discover the fascinating world of placental research and emerging precision medicine. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative efforts of researchers from the University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, and McMaster University as they explore the intricate workings of blood flow in the human placenta. Using advanced technology such as computer simulations, physical experiments, and mathematical models, they aim to redefine pregnancy care by gaining a better understanding of placental disorders and by developing innovative biomedical solutions, including artificial placentas, to support the health of mothers and their babies. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXtKvrAFQsQ |
| Title | Front cover of Royal Society Interface Focus |
| Description | Artwork featured as the front cover of the Royal Society Interface Focus journal (Volume 12, Issue 6, 12/2022) |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Our artwork was chosen by the journal as front cover visible to all researchers accessing any paper from this issue. |
| URL | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rsfs/2022/12/6 |
| Title | IOP workshop banner |
| Description | Artwork used to advertise the IOP workshop "Microrheology and Transport in Complex Biological Media" |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | We created the banner artwork for the IOP workshop in order to promote the workshop and attract attendees. |
| URL | https://iop.eventsair.com/cbm2022 |
| Title | Journal front cover Biophys . J. |
| Description | The artwork visualises the flow of deformable red blood cells in a microvascular bifurcation. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://www.cell.com/biophysj/issue?pii=S0006-3495(22)X0009-X#fullCover |
| Title | Movie 1 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in OPM-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_1_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 1 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in OPM-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_1_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 2 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.5-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_2_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 2 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.5-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_2_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 3 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the droplet experiment in LPM-s0.5-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_3_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 3 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the droplet experiment in LPM-s0.5-?0.57 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_3_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 4 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.5-?0.67 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_4_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 4 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.5-?0.67 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_4_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 5 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.7-?0.67 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_5_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 5 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in LPM-s0.7-?0.67 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_5_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 6 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in GRM1-?0.66 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_6_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Movie 6 from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | Video clip of the RBC simulation in GRM1-?0.66 (HF = 0.2). |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Movie_6_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascular_biologi... |
| Title | Royal Society workshop banner (Theo Murphy) |
| Description | The artwork shows the flow of red blood cells in a canonical porous medium as model for the maternal side of the human placenta. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2023/10/complex-rheology/ |
| Title | Simulation artwork featured in UK Fluids Network gallery |
| Description | The artwork shows the flow of red blood cells through a vascular network in a mouse retina. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://fluids.ac.uk/gallery/zoomify/971 |
| Title | Supplementary Movie1 (RBC flow in ROI-1) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-1 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie1_RBC_flow_in_ROI-1_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie1 (RBC flow in ROI-1) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-1 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie1_RBC_flow_in_ROI-1_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie1 (RBC flow in ROI-1) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-1 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie1_RBC_flow_in_ROI-1_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie2 (RBC flow in ROI-2) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-2 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie2_RBC_flow_in_ROI-2_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie2 (RBC flow in ROI-2) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-2 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie2_RBC_flow_in_ROI-2_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie2 (RBC flow in ROI-2) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-2 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie2_RBC_flow_in_ROI-2_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie3 (RBC flow in ROI-3) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-3 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie3_RBC_flow_in_ROI-3_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie3 (RBC flow in ROI-3) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-3 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie3_RBC_flow_in_ROI-3_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie3 (RBC flow in ROI-3) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-3 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie3_RBC_flow_in_ROI-3_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie4 (RBC flow in ROI-4) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-4 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie4_RBC_flow_in_ROI-4_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie4 (RBC flow in ROI-4) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-4 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie4_RBC_flow_in_ROI-4_from_Association_betwe... |
| Title | Supplementary Movie4 (RBC flow in ROI-4) from Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks |
| Description | Simulated RBC flow in region of interest ROI-4 of the retinal vasculature. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Supplementary_Movie4_RBC_flow_in_ROI-4_from_Association_betwe... |
| Description | The research project was aimed at understanding the dynamics of blood flow on a cellular scale within biological tissues, particularly focusing on the human placenta. Through a series of experiments and simulations, the project team has identified several key findings. Firstly, we have successfully created tunable soft microcapsules that mimic the behaviour of red blood cells in terms of flow dynamics and deformability. These microcapsules can be manipulated and studied in a controlled manner, and flowing a large number of such capsules in complex geometries has provided new insights into blood flow at both the cell and tissue scale. Secondly, we have investigated how solutes, such as oxygen, move past isolated sinks in a domain where flow dominates diffusion. The study has revealed that corrections to existing approximations can be complex and non-local, impacting solute distribution patterns significantly. We have also developed a method to estimate these corrections and validated the predictions through computer simulations. Lastly, informed by advanced three-dimensional scans of the placenta at the national synchrotron facility and with the help of supercomputers, the research team has simulated blood flow in porous media representing the human placental tissue. The simulations indicate that the structural disorder can strongly influence the flow distribution and the dynamics of red blood cells. Understanding these effects could shed light on how tissue structure impacts blood flow and oxygen delivery, crucial for developing precision healthcare strategies for placental disorders and beyond. |
| Exploitation Route | The theoretical and experimental tools and datasets resulting from this project have applications in reproductive medicine and neonatal healthcare, as well as in multiple other sectors. We have taken specific steps to maximise the potential impacts by fostering new collaborations and securing follow-up funding. Please see more details in the Narrative Impact. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | This research project has demonstrated significant impacts across various sectors. Utilising novel biomimetic manufacturing technology and national facilities like the Diamond Light Source and ARCHER2 Supercomputing facility, this project has paved the way for significant advancements in understanding the blood flow in the complex microstructure of the human placenta and its role in pregnancy complications. By conducting high-resolution X-ray microscopy on human placental tissues and associated image-based theoretical modelling and advanced experiments, the research team has produced new models and datasets, leading to multiple publications, keynote academic and public talks that have benefited the broader scientific community as well as non-academic sectors. Moreover, the creation and sharing of research datasets, simulation codes and X-ray tomography data, have facilitated collaborations nationally and globally, enhancing knowledge exchange. For example, these datasets and tools enabled the team members to join a major global $50M clinical challenge supported by Wellcome Leap to reduce stillbirths worldwide by a combination of novel measurements and predictive modelling. On the other hand, the developed novel microfluidic approaches that mimic the mechanics of red blood cells have shown strong potential for direct knowledge transfer, including in optimising the 3D bioprinting technology (in collaboration with the EU and UK space agencies). Likewise, the precision-engineering approach to placental physiology has contributed to a new collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop and characterise a placenta-on-a-chip using a microfluidics framework. The creative outputs of the project, including an image feature for the ARCHER2 portal, a popular mathematical magazine article and the academic consultancy for a popular science book on the physics of pregnancy, have extended the reach of the research to a wider audience, bridging the gap between academia and the public. The production of a short film titled "Advancing Placental Research" further highlights the interdisciplinary collaboration and serves as a valuable communication tool for disseminating research findings to academic peers, healthcare professionals and the general public. This impact has been further strengthened by contributing to two UK-wide case studies that highlighted the economic and societal role of fluid dynamics in reproductive health. In summary, this research project has not only made significant contributions to the academic community but also holds promise for improving outcomes of placental disorders and for developing the next generation of precision healthcare technologies. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Case study for the UK Fluids Network report "Our Fluid Nation: The Impact of Fluid Dynamics in the UK" |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/178990/ |
| Description | High-performance computing case study for ARCHER2 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.archer2.ac.uk/research/case-studies/placenta-blood/Archer2_placenta_blood_AW_LOW.pdf |
| Description | I-test 2: novel retinal biomarkers in pregnancy for early prediction of stillbirth |
| Amount | £661,305 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome LEAP |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | I-test: Novel retinal biomarkers in pregnancy for early prediction of stillbirth |
| Amount | £292,629 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome LEAP |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Title | Simulation Files from Red blood cell dynamics in extravascular biological tissues modelled as canonical disordered porous media |
| Description | The dynamics of blood flow in the smallest vessels and passages of the human body, where the cellular character of blood becomes prominent, plays a dominant role in the transport and exchange of solutes. Recent studies have revealed that the micro-haemodynamics of a vascular network is underpinned by its interconnected structure, and certain structural alterations such as capillary dilation and blockage can substantially change blood flow patterns. However, for extravascular media with disordered microstructure (e.g. the porous intervillous space in the placenta), it remains unclear how the medium's structure affects the haemodynamics. Here, we simulate cellular blood flow in simple models of canonical porous media representative of extravascular biological tissue, with corroborative microfluidic experiments performed for validation purposes. For the media considered here, we observe three main effects: first, the relative apparent viscosity of blood increases with the structural disorder of the medium; second, the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) dynamically alters the flow distribution in the medium; third, symmetry breaking introduced by moderate structural disorder can promote more homogeneous distribution of RBCs. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the cell-scale haemodynamics that mediates the relationship linking the function of certain biological tissues to their microstructure. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Simulation_Files_from_Red_blood_cell_dynamics_in_extravascu... |
| Title | Supplementary material from "Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks" |
| Description | Sprouting angiogenesis is an essential vascularization mechanism consisting of sprouting and remodelling. The remodelling phase is driven by rearrangements of endothelial cells (ECs) within the post-sprouting vascular plexus. Prior work has uncovered how ECs polarize and migrate in response to flow-induced wall shear stress (WSS). However, the question of how the presence of erythrocytes (widely known as red blood cells (RBCs)) and their impact on haemodynamics affect vascular remodelling remains unanswered. Here, we devise a computational framework to model cellular blood flow in developmental mouse retina. We demonstrate a previously unreported highly heterogeneous distribution of RBCs in primitive vasculature. Furthermore, we report a strong association between vessel regression and RBC hypoperfusion, and identify plasma skimming as the driving mechanism. Live imaging in a developmental zebrafish model confirms this association. Taken together, our results indicate that RBC dynamics are fundamental to establishing the regional WSS differences driving vascular remodelling via their ability to modulate effective viscosity. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/collections/Supplementary_material_from_Association_between_erythrocyte_dyna... |
| Description | Collaboration with Saarland University, Germany |
| Organisation | Saarland University |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team performed numerical modelling and computer simulations of red blood cells flowing through several bifurcations of blood vessels. Our simulations shed light on the mechanisms of red blood cell lingering at the apex of diverging vessel bifurcations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners performed the experiments to investigate red blood cell lingering in diverging bifurcations of blood vessels. The experimental data were used for validation of our numerical model. |
| Impact | The collaboration led to one research publication spanning the disciplines of physics and engineering: Y. Rashidi, G. Simionato, Q. Zhou, T. John, A. Kihm, M. Bendaoud, T. Krüger, M.O. Bernabeu, L. Kaestner, M.W. Laschke, M.D. Menger, C. Wagner, A. Darras. Red blood cell lingering modulates hematocrit distribution in the microcirculation. Biophys. J. 122, 1526 (2023), https://www.cell.com/biophysj/fulltext/S0006-3495(23)00173-X#%20 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | "Science Insights" outreach at University of Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou as an Engineering representative participated in the University of Edinburgh's annual "Science Insights" programme 2023. S5 pupils across Scotland high schools who are interested in biological, biomedical or animal sciences attended the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-genetics-cancer/news-and-events/events/latest-events/science-insights... |
| Description | ARCHER2 science webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou as an invited speaker gave an online talk "The Science behind the Image Competition" to introduce the EPSRC project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc7CgY_a8Wc |
| Description | Biophysical Society blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou wrote a blog article for the Biophysical Society to introduce an collaborative research on microcirculatory red blood cells in health and disease. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.biophysics.org/blog/lingering-red-blood-cells-and-their-own-way |
| Description | Microrheology and Transport in Complex Biological Media workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We organised a 3-day online workshop (hosted by the IOP) to bring together experts in the field of microrheology and transport in complex biological media. Each workshop day features invited talks, contributed talks and an open discussion for all participants to define the state of the art of the field and open challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://iop.eventsair.com/cbm2022 |
| Description | Outreach article on popular science magazine Chalkdust |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou co-authored an outreach article for the popular science magazine Chalkdust to introduce the application of mathematics in placental research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://chalkdustmagazine.com/features/mathematics-and-pregnancy/ |
| Description | PhD-level course teaching |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou gave a guest lecture in the advanced course "Physiological Flows and Transport" hosted by the School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh. The lecture was well-received by the PhD students (who gave unanimous positive feedback) and inspired their strong interest in computational modelling of blood flow in the human placenta. One student even chose placental research as her course mini-project for presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Primary Engineer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Engineer assistant for training Scotland primary school teachers and pupils in engineering workshop, Primary Engineer. This event is intended to bring engineering education and research to primary school pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Public lectures during "Pint of Science" festival (UK chapter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Timm Krueger and Qi Zhou gave public lectures on computer simulations in the Edinburgh event of "Pint of Science" UK festival 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/simulating-our-cells |
| Description | Research training in interdisciplinary science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou was invited to give an online webinar to share experience in writing and publishing of interdisciplinary research. The training session received active responses from the audience and was later on highlighted on the research centre's website. Attendees reflected that after the training they were more confident in writing and publishing interdisciplinary science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://mitm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1008/3048.htm |
| Description | STEM Careers week at Penicuik High School, Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Qi Zhou contributed to the STEM Careers week held by Penicuik High School. About 120 S2 pupils learned about computer simulations and blood flow research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/penicuikhs/status/1737178361057722496?s=12&t=C2T48uNCYwmBD-zVxXshnw |
| Description | School visit (Castlebrae) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Demonstrator of science club on ultrasound imaging for medical applications, Castlebrae Community High School. The motivation was to bring science closer to a class of High School pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |