New minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Our vision is to challenge the mind-set of pancreatic cancer being a prognosis of extremely limited options and to enable revolutionary future treatments that will save lives and allow patients to live without major side-effects. Novel engineering and physical science has an essential contribution to make against what is currently the deadliest form of cancer (mortality 95% <2yrs).
This research will centre around the creation of new minimally-invasive technologies based on microscale, magnetically-driven, soft continuum robots. These will newly enable non-destructive access to the intricate sensitive internal anatomy of the pancreas and allow targeted treatments to be delivered. These new technologies will tackle current clinical challenges in pancreatic cancer, while also providing the treatment methods that will be required as possibilities for earlier diagnosis emerge in the future.
This research will centre around the creation of new minimally-invasive technologies based on microscale, magnetically-driven, soft continuum robots. These will newly enable non-destructive access to the intricate sensitive internal anatomy of the pancreas and allow targeted treatments to be delivered. These new technologies will tackle current clinical challenges in pancreatic cancer, while also providing the treatment methods that will be required as possibilities for earlier diagnosis emerge in the future.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Intuitive surgical (Project Partner)
- Max Planck Institutes (Project Partner)
- NIHR surgical medtech co-operative (Project Partner)
- Materialise NV (Project Partner)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- KUKA Germany GmbH (Project Partner)
- Exergic Engineering Ltd (Project Partner)
- The Electrospinning Company (Project Partner)
Publications
Abolfathi K
(2023)
Independent and Hybrid Magnetic Manipulation for Full Body Controlled Soft Continuum Robots
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Bacchetti A
(2022)
Optimization and fabrication of programmable domains for soft magnetic robots: A review.
in Frontiers in robotics and AI
Brockdorff M
(2024)
Hybrid trajectory planning of two permanent magnets for medical robotic applications
in The International Journal of Robotics Research
Chathuranga D
(2024)
Assisted Magnetic Soft Continuum Robot Navigation via Rotating Magnetic Fields
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Da Veiga T
(2021)
Material Characterization for Magnetic Soft Robots
Da Veiga T
(2023)
Six-Degree-of-Freedom Localization Under Multiple Permanent Magnets Actuation
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Di Lecce M
(2022)
Evolutionary Inverse Material Identification: Bespoke Characterization of Soft Materials Using a Metaheuristic Algorithm
in Frontiers in Robotics and AI
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/V009818/1 | 30/04/2021 | 31/01/2025 | £1,522,148 | ||
| EP/V009818/2 | Transfer | EP/V009818/1 | 01/02/2025 | 29/04/2026 | £345,230 |
| Description | Our research progress in this project is yielding an exponential number of high-quality results across different routes to impact. These results include; publications, national and international engagement, intellectual property, the development of people, and further research in areas of high societal value. This research is still ongoing and will continue to be reported on further as new results emerge. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of the research will be taken forward through the development of innovate medical devices and treatments. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The wider value of this research is now being developed for the delivery of maxillofacial prosthetics. We are developing new routes to realise on-demand high-fidelity facial prostheses for patients who have experienced soft tissue loss in the maxillofacial region, such as that resulting from cancer treatment or traumatic injury. This incorporates our Aerosol Jet Printing technologies for fabricating soft flexible materials to provide high-resolution surface definition and marginal edge interfaces. Some of the initial outcomes from this can be viewed in the Researchfish return for the project AMFaces. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | AMFaces: Advanced Additive Manufacturing of User-Focused Facial Prostheses with Real-Life Colour Appearance |
| Amount | £5,540,752 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W033968/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 11/2028 |
| Description | Towards a 'toothbrush' sensor for passive biomarker monitoring - "Sens Or Pass" |
| Amount | £229,136 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Title | Data for "Stable, conductive, adhesive polymer pattern inside a microfluidic chamber for endothelial cell alignment" |
| Description | The dataset contains all relevant pictures, AFM scans, 4-point measurement data, Raman traces, XPS data for the associated paper entitled 'Stable, conductive, adhesive polymer pattern inside a microfluidic chamber for endothelial cell alignment'. All graphs and tables originated from images, AFM scans or XPS and Raman data can be reproduced following the relevant method section in the associated publication. The dataset is aimed at allowing users to re-analyze the data and reproduce the observations made in the associated publication. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/1286/ |
| Title | High-Resolution Self-Assembly of Functional Materials and Microscale Devices via Selective Plasma Induced Surface Energy Programming Dataset |
| Description | This repository contains the data used to create the figures in the associated publication (doi.org/10.1002/smll.202408822). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/1365/ |
| Description | Aerosol Jet Printing for Maxillofacial prosthetics |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of Aerosol Jet Printing technologies for fabricating soft flexible materials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Maxillofacial and oral surgery, 3D printing / additive manufacture, reconstructive science, biomaterials, colour science, and imaging. |
| Impact | Please see researchfish of EP/W033968/1 for details |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Title | Magnetic Shape-Forming Surgical Continuum Manipulator |
| Description | Magnetic shape-forming surgical continuum manipulator ("CM") comprising an elastomeric base material and a plurality of magnetic elements, the plurality of magnetic elements being located at a plurality of points along a length of the CM and each magnetic element having a predetermined magnetic profile, whereby the shape of the CM can be magnetically manipulated substantially along said length by the application of an external magnetic field and a magnetic field gradient. |
| IP Reference | US2023138992 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Request for examination made |
| Description | EPSRC Healthcare Technologies strategy launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Harris was invited to present some of our research, particularly including this project, at the EPSRC Health Technologies strategy launch at Manchester's Industry & Science Museum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | FormNext 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Some of our research was showcased by Fraunhofer at FormNext in November 2024. There were 34,404 visitors over the course. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invitation to participate in CRUK-MRC-EPSRC Early Detection Innovation Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | 3-day sandpit workshops foster multidisciplinary innovation in cancer research across researchers, healthcare professionals, policy makers and technologists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/how-we-deliver-research/research-innovation... |
| Description | Invited speaker at Henry Royce Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker at the Henry Royce Institute for their Biomedical Materials Showcase: Biofabrication and 3D Printing for Biomedical Applications, 30 November 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.royce.ac.uk/events/showcase-biofabrication-3d-printing/ |
| Description | Invited talk at Italian Institute of Technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Russell Harris gave a invited talk at the Italian Institute of Technology entitled 'Digitally-driven manufacturing processes for healthcare' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited talk at Leeds Celebrates World Cancer Day 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Russell Harris gave an invited talk entitle 'New device technologies for cancer treatment' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited talk at the Bragg Exchange 2023 conference at Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In January 2023 Robert Kay gave an invited talk at the Bragg Exchange 2023 conference at Leeds titled "Hybrid Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Functional Materials". 100+ attendees |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research demonstration for visit of EPSRC Healthcare Technologies team and SAT |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Research demonstration for visit of EPSRC Healthcare Technologies team and SAT |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talk at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk and meeting regarding Aerosol Jet Printing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at University of Sheffield |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk, entitled 'Novel manufacturing technology enabling new devices and treatments', included our research of digital fabrication with soft materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Visit to Boston Children's Hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion at Boston Children's Hospital USA regarding fabrication research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |