AMFaces: Advanced Additive Manufacturing of User-Focused Facial Prostheses with Real-Life Colour Appearance
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Facial prostheses are needed when patients are treated for certain cancers or accidental injuries affecting, for example, the nose, lips, eyes, ears, or skin. The quality of prostheses is naturally very important for patients, both protecting the affected area and giving them confidence, self-esteem, and an improved quality of life.
The demand for facial prostheses is growing rapidly, with increases in cancer rates, an ageing population, and rising patient expectations. Within the UK, there are currently over half a million people with facial disfigurement, and each year about 2,500 new patients need facial prostheses. Compounding the problem, prostheses need to be renewed every 12-18 months as they degrade and discolour.
At present the production of facial prostheses is technically demanding and lengthy, with the end-product depending on the skill of only a few highly experienced maxillofacial prosthetists. Their number is likely to diminish further with 20% of the workforce due to retire over the next 5 years.
A new approach is needed urgently to deliver consistent high-quality prostheses to patients in a timely and cost-effective manner. There are, though, significant challenges. To date, no modern manufacturing method has managed to control medical grade silicone to reproduce facial skin tissue with the necessary softness, colour, surface texture, and flexibility, all in high fidelity. In fact, there is no good computer model for 3D facial skin appearance, even with the latest digital imaging techniques.
To meet these challenges, we have brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts and early career researchers (ECRs) from five universities whose expertise is essential for a successful outcome: clinicians in maxillofacial and oral surgery, scientists and engineers in 3D printing (additive manufacture or AM), reconstructive science, biomaterials, colour science, and imaging. The multidisciplinary nature of this project will allow ECRs to gain broader knowledge, skills, and leadership training in different research areas, mentored by researchers at the forefront of their fields.
Our work entails several innovations:
- introducing 3D hyperspectral imaging and computer modelling of facial skin colour, texture, 3D shape, and translucency for all ethnicities
- developing hybrid AM systems for manufacturing medical silicone parts with micron-level modelling of skin surface colour and texture
- transforming physical modelling data to digital pipeline AM printer control
- formulating new medical silicones and colorants with improved longevity
- maintaining throughout a patient-centred approach, with patient feedback incorporated at every stage of the manufacturing process.
The tight integration of these advances is central to achieving our goal, enabling the prompt delivery of bespoke ultra-realistic facial prostheses on demand.
The results of the research will be delivered mainly through two NHS Foundation Trusts (Manchester University and Guy's and St Thomas', London) and will support regional NHS networks for prosthetic services and charities. We will work with local SMEs to facilitate sustainable research development and further investment. We will share our technological innovations with the clinical, scientific, and engineering communities, especially with developing countries with limited resources.
The demand for facial prostheses is growing rapidly, with increases in cancer rates, an ageing population, and rising patient expectations. Within the UK, there are currently over half a million people with facial disfigurement, and each year about 2,500 new patients need facial prostheses. Compounding the problem, prostheses need to be renewed every 12-18 months as they degrade and discolour.
At present the production of facial prostheses is technically demanding and lengthy, with the end-product depending on the skill of only a few highly experienced maxillofacial prosthetists. Their number is likely to diminish further with 20% of the workforce due to retire over the next 5 years.
A new approach is needed urgently to deliver consistent high-quality prostheses to patients in a timely and cost-effective manner. There are, though, significant challenges. To date, no modern manufacturing method has managed to control medical grade silicone to reproduce facial skin tissue with the necessary softness, colour, surface texture, and flexibility, all in high fidelity. In fact, there is no good computer model for 3D facial skin appearance, even with the latest digital imaging techniques.
To meet these challenges, we have brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts and early career researchers (ECRs) from five universities whose expertise is essential for a successful outcome: clinicians in maxillofacial and oral surgery, scientists and engineers in 3D printing (additive manufacture or AM), reconstructive science, biomaterials, colour science, and imaging. The multidisciplinary nature of this project will allow ECRs to gain broader knowledge, skills, and leadership training in different research areas, mentored by researchers at the forefront of their fields.
Our work entails several innovations:
- introducing 3D hyperspectral imaging and computer modelling of facial skin colour, texture, 3D shape, and translucency for all ethnicities
- developing hybrid AM systems for manufacturing medical silicone parts with micron-level modelling of skin surface colour and texture
- transforming physical modelling data to digital pipeline AM printer control
- formulating new medical silicones and colorants with improved longevity
- maintaining throughout a patient-centred approach, with patient feedback incorporated at every stage of the manufacturing process.
The tight integration of these advances is central to achieving our goal, enabling the prompt delivery of bespoke ultra-realistic facial prostheses on demand.
The results of the research will be delivered mainly through two NHS Foundation Trusts (Manchester University and Guy's and St Thomas', London) and will support regional NHS networks for prosthetic services and charities. We will work with local SMEs to facilitate sustainable research development and further investment. We will share our technological innovations with the clinical, scientific, and engineering communities, especially with developing countries with limited resources.
Publications
Chung SH
(2025)
Evaluation of methodologies and additive efficacy on maxillofacial color longevity research: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
in The Journal of prosthetic dentistry
Foster DH
(2023)
Little information loss with red-green color deficient vision in natural environments.
in iScience
Foster DH
(2025)
Frequency of mismatching surface colors in the wild.
in Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision
Morimoto T
(2026)
Eye movements efficiently expose single cone photoreceptors to global scene color statistics
in iScience
Nascimento SMC
(2023)
Misidentifying illuminant changes in natural scenes due to failures in relational colour constancy.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Tuck CJ
(2025)
FAME Senior Award Keynote
| Description | At this half-way mark, significant progress has been made towards enabling the delivery of bespoke ultrarealistic facial prostheses: • New ways of using additive manufacturing (3D printing) to print medical-grade silicone prostheses have been developed at the University of Nottingham. Two reactive liquid silicone components have been combined in inkjet printing, allowing material to be positioned precisely with better control of its mechanical properties. Specialized printing hardware for reactive silicone manufacturing has also been advanced in collaboration with Added Scientific Ltd. • Aerosol silicone printing will be used to add fine surface detail. A computer-controlled system has been developed at Manchester Metropolitan University (Additive Manufacturing) to analyse the behaviour of silicone aerosols and optimize their deposition onto prostheses produced by inkjet printing. • To ensure silicone prosthetic materials and pigments satisfy international safety standards, in vitro screening has been introduced at the University of Manchester (Biology) using human skin cells. • The shape of a prosthesis produced by additive manufacturing will be guided by 3D computer imaging. A method of projecting colour images of the face onto a computer model has been developed at KCL to achieve improved colour fidelity. In parallel, an optical imaging system that scans the spectrum has been developed at the University of Manchester (Engineering) to measure how colour changes under different viewing conditions. • As well as appearing and feeling realistic, prostheses need to resist ageing and physical damage. Work at Manchester Metropolitan University (Materials) has found that some pigments used to colour prostheses could influence their mechanical properties. Feedback from mechanical testing is helping to optimize inkjet printing and pigment choice. |
| Exploitation Route | There are multiple groups of potential academic beneficiaries: in additive manufacture, biomaterials, imaging, visual psychophysics, and surgery and prosthetics. They will benefit from access to data sources, software, and techniques and methods. Specific benefits will be in designs for new hybrid additive manufacture (AM) machines for enhanced functionality; new optical and psychophysical models of 3D object surface appearance for research and industrial applications; and new formulations of biocompatible and robust silicone elastomer based materials and new pigment recipes for reproducing natural skin-like soft tissue. There will also be benefits for clinical academics managing facial disfigurement, both in the UK and internationally. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Internal grant from King's Undergraduate Research Fellowship scheme (KURF) |
| Amount | £1,900 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | DI-Chung |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2025 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | PhD Studentship - Dentistry |
| Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2026 |
| End | 07/2028 |
| Description | University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime project |
| Amount | £32,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2025 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Title | Computer-controlled apparatus and instrumentation for the analysis silicone aerosols |
| Description | We have designed and engineered substantial computer-controlled apparatus and instrumentation that will newly enable the analysis and understanding of the aerosol of silicone. This is critical to accurately inform and optimise the deposition of silicone onto prosthetics. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet |
| Title | Development of photo-registration protocol for improved realism and colour precision of 3D facial images. |
| Description | This research method enhances 3D facial model construction by integrating colour-calibrated photographic images with 3D geometric data from an Artec 3D scanner. A bespoke reference accessory kit was designed to facilitate accurate alignment of the photographic (feature known as photo-registration) images with the 3D model. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The developed protocol significantly improved the realism and colour accuracy of 3D facial models compared to the initial control output (raw colour data from Artec 3D). This advancement addresses limitations in previous methods by enhancing the visual fidelity of scanned models, making them more suitable for applications requiring high precision in both geometry and colour representation. |
| Title | Multilateral High Viscosity Printing system |
| Description | A new methodology and tool for co-printing of reactants and materials to allow production of varying mechanical and physical properties on a voxel basis. Driven by industrial inkjet technology the system has been designed to allow the processing of reactive silicone materials and the incorporation of nano-fillers for colour matching. The tool could also allow printing of electronic devices or sensors within constructs and allows both reactive, IR and UV curing methods. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Title | 3D facial scan and spectrophotometric skin colour database |
| Description | An in-progress research database linking high-resolution 3D facial scans with objective spectrophotometric skin measurements. The dataset currently includes 83 participants (target n=120) sampled across diverse ethnicities and age/sex groups. For each participant, we record CIELAB colour coordinates and skin shade pigment formulation (recipe) outputs generated in Spectromatch Pro. The database is being developed to provide input data for the additive manufacturing of patient-specific maxillofacial prostheses and to support research on colour accuracy and colour longevity (spectrophotometry and pigment recipe data). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Enables colour-accurate 3D digital facial modelling. Objective colour validation: CIELAB values and Spectromatch Pro pigment recipes provide measurable targets to assess colour-matching accuracy. Supports colour longevity research: Validates colour stability in maxillofacial silicone and pigments/colourants. Improves inclusivity and generalisability: Diverse sampling across ethnicity and age/sex groups reflects real-world skin variation. |
| Description | 3D scanning service to PhD student |
| Organisation | Henry Royce Institute |
| Department | Henry Royce Institute – University of Manchester Facilities |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Se Hun Chung, PDRA at King's College London (KCL), conducted a facial scan on Joseph Lynch, PhD student at the University of Manchester on 2 November 2023 using the Artec Spider 3D scanner funded by the project. Joseph needed the morphology of the outer ear. The scan provided a 3D image of an ear for Joseph to input into the scanner at Manchester. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joseph agreed to undergo a facial scan which enabled Se Hun to test his developing facial scanning protocol and to make any adjustments to the procedure. |
| Impact | Joseph Lynch presented the image taken at KCL at a Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) UK - The Society of Life Support Engineering (SLSE) Japan online workshop in a short presentation on 1st February 2024 (https://tces.org/). |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Added Scientific Ltd |
| Organisation | Added Scientific Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The University of Nottingham (UoN) team work closely with Added Scientific Ltd. The key benefit for Added Scientific in this partnership is to be able to expand their technical knowledge and market awareness of silicon components produced via the methods proposed by the UoN team. This relies on the knowledge and expertise of the UoN team. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Added Scientific will offer their expertise in the design of materials for inkjet printing to advise on the development of suitable inks for the printing of coloured components retaining functionality. As the project progresses, they may be able to offer access to their state-of-the-art inkjet printer, currently in development and associated characterisation equipment. |
| Impact | The University of Nottingham team along with Added Scientific have significantly improved the mechanical properties of a novel silicone created by the Nottingham team which is continuously being developed and improved upon. The partnership has also resulted in novel printer concept currently in development which will improve the on those currently used for printing silicone. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | Manchester Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Engineering and scientific knowledge of facial reconstruction in AMFaces (a team at the University of Manchester in advanced digital imaging at Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, and bio-compatible materials at Dentistry) contribute to the partners research activities, namely, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts, through organising interdisciplinary workshops with not only the named partners but also internationally distinguished researchers across the disciplines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Extending our knowledge and research networks about faces and facial reconstruction across multiple disciplines, such as, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts. Furthermore, as a consequence of the workshops organised, we gained knowledge about patient care for facial disfigurements at Manchester Cancer Research Institute, Psychological Sciences, Heritage Digitisation, Computational facial recognition with AI, Material sciences, and Theology, encouraging initialising discussions of a future collaboration and partnership. |
| Impact | The details of the interdisciplinary workshops and discussions have been summarised and updated on a blog: https://multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com This project is funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute, led by School of Engineering, the Manchester Museum, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Medical Science (Dentistry) at the University of Manchester. This collaboration is supported by and contributes to the Creative Manchester, a research platform to develop interdisciplinary research communities across the University of Manchester and beyond, emphasising creativity in innovation, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | School of Arts, Languages and Cultures |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Engineering and scientific knowledge of facial reconstruction in AMFaces (a team at the University of Manchester in advanced digital imaging at Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, and bio-compatible materials at Dentistry) contribute to the partners research activities, namely, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts, through organising interdisciplinary workshops with not only the named partners but also internationally distinguished researchers across the disciplines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Extending our knowledge and research networks about faces and facial reconstruction across multiple disciplines, such as, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts. Furthermore, as a consequence of the workshops organised, we gained knowledge about patient care for facial disfigurements at Manchester Cancer Research Institute, Psychological Sciences, Heritage Digitisation, Computational facial recognition with AI, Material sciences, and Theology, encouraging initialising discussions of a future collaboration and partnership. |
| Impact | The details of the interdisciplinary workshops and discussions have been summarised and updated on a blog: https://multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com This project is funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute, led by School of Engineering, the Manchester Museum, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Medical Science (Dentistry) at the University of Manchester. This collaboration is supported by and contributes to the Creative Manchester, a research platform to develop interdisciplinary research communities across the University of Manchester and beyond, emphasising creativity in innovation, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | School of Dentistry Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Engineering and scientific knowledge of facial reconstruction in AMFaces (a team at the University of Manchester in advanced digital imaging at Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, and bio-compatible materials at Dentistry) contribute to the partners research activities, namely, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts, through organising interdisciplinary workshops with not only the named partners but also internationally distinguished researchers across the disciplines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Extending our knowledge and research networks about faces and facial reconstruction across multiple disciplines, such as, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts. Furthermore, as a consequence of the workshops organised, we gained knowledge about patient care for facial disfigurements at Manchester Cancer Research Institute, Psychological Sciences, Heritage Digitisation, Computational facial recognition with AI, Material sciences, and Theology, encouraging initialising discussions of a future collaboration and partnership. |
| Impact | The details of the interdisciplinary workshops and discussions have been summarised and updated on a blog: https://multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com This project is funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute, led by School of Engineering, the Manchester Museum, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Medical Science (Dentistry) at the University of Manchester. This collaboration is supported by and contributes to the Creative Manchester, a research platform to develop interdisciplinary research communities across the University of Manchester and beyond, emphasising creativity in innovation, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Pump-Prime project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Engineering and scientific knowledge of facial reconstruction in AMFaces (a team at the University of Manchester in advanced digital imaging at Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, and bio-compatible materials at Dentistry) contribute to the partners research activities, namely, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts, through organising interdisciplinary workshops with not only the named partners but also internationally distinguished researchers across the disciplines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Extending our knowledge and research networks about faces and facial reconstruction across multiple disciplines, such as, Ancient Egyptology, European History, and History of Arts. Furthermore, as a consequence of the workshops organised, we gained knowledge about patient care for facial disfigurements at Manchester Cancer Research Institute, Psychological Sciences, Heritage Digitisation, Computational facial recognition with AI, Material sciences, and Theology, encouraging initialising discussions of a future collaboration and partnership. |
| Impact | The details of the interdisciplinary workshops and discussions have been summarised and updated on a blog: https://multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com This project is funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute, led by School of Engineering, the Manchester Museum, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Medical Science (Dentistry) at the University of Manchester. This collaboration is supported by and contributes to the Creative Manchester, a research platform to develop interdisciplinary research communities across the University of Manchester and beyond, emphasising creativity in innovation, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | 'I'm Still Me' at St James Hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Russell Harris and Dr Keith Winwood were invited to attend the opening of 'I'm Still Me' at St James Hospital, an exhibition of portraits and stories of cancer rehabilitation with facial prostheses |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | 'New Manufacturing Processes' @Precision and Performance event on National Manufacturing Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | An overview of recent research was provided, following by a Q&A panel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | A poster presentation at the World Cancer Day event in Manchester Cancer Research Centre/ the Christie NHS FT (18 February 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano (Research CoI, KA) took part in the open day event "United by Unique" at Manchester Cancer Research Centre/ the Christie NHS FT Manchester (18 February 2025) as part of the World Cancer Day activities. KA introduced AMFaces project with a poster presentation and promoted our interdisciplinary approach to this clinical application, particularly for cancer patients. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/united-by-unique-tickets-1112648273939?contact_organizer=1 |
| Description | Coordination of the interdisciplinary workshops funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute for a project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" (August 2025 - July 2026). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | DHF, JY and KA from AMFaces team were awarded an funding from the University of Manchester Research Institute Pump-priming for a project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" to run interdisciplinary workshops and networking events across research disciplines about faces and facial reconstruction, including Science and Engineering, Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Anatomy, Egyptology, Ancient History and History, Art History, Archaeology, Psychology, Patient care, Theology, and so on. We have coordinated three workshops so far: Workshop1: Investigating Ancient Faces (I): Pharaonic Visages (8 Oct 2025) Workshop2: Faces through modern eyes: reconstruction and recognition (17 Dec 2025) Workshop3: (Re)imaging faces: belief, arts, physics (25 Feb 2026) Audiences (~30) involved researchers, academics and students across the University. Further three workshops will be held until July 2026, including a public engagement event at the Manchester Museum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025,2026 |
| URL | https://multifacetedresearch.wordpress.com/ |
| Description | Dr Se Hun Chung (PDRA, KCL) presentation at the University of Manchester Research Institute "Challenging the impossible" workshop: (Re)imaging faces: belief, arts, physics (25 Feb 2026). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Se Hun Chung (PDRA, KCL) presented about his works on 3D colour scanning technology of human faces (WP1, AMFaces) to the University of Manchester Research Institute "Challenging the impossible" workshop: (Re)imaging faces: belief, arts, physics (25 Feb 2026). The workshop was part of the interdisciplinary project "Challenging the impossible: Questioning the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian faces through interdisciplinary collective approaches from digital, medical and arts methods" consisted of talks and networking concerning faces and facial reconstruction, including Science and Engineering, Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Anatomy, Egyptology, Ancient History and History, Art History, Archaeology, Psychology, Patient care, Theology, and so on. Audiences involved researchers, academics and postgraduate students mainly from the University of Manchester but across various disciplines: Material Sciences, Engineering, Egyptology, History of Arts, European History, History of Science and Technology, and Medicine, Heritage Imaging, Cancer Research and Patient care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| Description | EPSRC Engagement Presentation at Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Overview presentation of AMFaces, the EPSRC awarded project, to the EPSRC Head of Regional Engagement Northwest England and the Portfolio and Senior Portfolio Manager of the EPSRC Manufacturing and the Circular Economy Theme who were visiting Manchester Metropolitan University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | Invited presentation to the "Symposium on color vision and facial skin color", Chiba University, Japan, 18-19 June 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano was invited to present the research topics in AMFaces at "the Symposium on color vision and facial skin color" at Chiba University, Japan, supported by Formation of a Strategic Base in Asia Creating and Developing Global Minded Imaging Science (BAGIS), JSPS Research Center Formation Project-B: JPJSCCB20220006. Audience (approx. 50) consisted of international academics (JP: Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo Inst Tech; UK: UoM, PT: Minho), healthcare and cosmetic industries (Shiseido, L'Oréal), who have expertise in facial skin colour research, and PG students. Kinjiro presented the research topics in AMFaces, namely, human colour vision, hyperspectral imaging, facial skin imaging, followed by intensive discussions with the academic and industrial experts of facial colour imaging. Kinjiro was invited to a laboratory tour followed by intensive discussion of the research activities in human colour vision and skin colour perception. Kinjiro exchanged research ideas and outcomes and discussed potential future collaborations and grant applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research discussion with researchers (Prof Shin'ya Nishida, Kyoto University and Prof Keiji Uchikawa, Kanagawa Institute of Technology) at Dr Takehiro Nagai's laboratories, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan (23 June 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano visited Dr Takehiro Nagai and his research laboratories at the Department of Information and Communications Engineering (Human Centered Science and Biomedical Engineering/ Information and Communications Engineering), Institute of Science Tokyo (then Tokyo institute of Technology), Japan, with distinguished researchers, Prof Shin'ya Nishida (Kyoto University) and Prof Keiji Uchikawa (Kanagawa Institute of Technology) to discuss colour vision research. The discussions were held along with five PG students' demonstrations, involving colour perception, Shitsukan perception, skin colour perception with psychophysical experiments., which could be applicable to AMFaces. General round table discussion sessions were held with the members of the PG students (approx. 10). Future collaborations across the institutions were also discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research visit and discussion with Dr Kristina Eiviler at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan (20 June 2026). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited and discussed with Dr Kristina Eiviler (JSPS Research fellow, Shibaura Institute of Technology/ University of Zurich) about recognition of faces and facial expression for robotics-human interface application (20 June 2025). We exchanged ideas across disciplines. We will continue to discuss a potential future collaboration and establish research network by attending workshops, e.g. "AI Hopes, Fears and Realities: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue" in Zurich (1 July 2025). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit and discussion with Drs Carl Blaksley and Alexandre Nicolas at NIHON L'OREAL K.K. R&I Center, Kawasaki, Japan (24 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA made a research visit and discussion with Drs Carl Blaksley and Alexandre Nicolas at NIHON L'OREAL K.K. R&I Center, Kawasaki, Japan (24 June 2025). Since we share common research interests in facial skin colours, we exchanged knowledge in methodology involving the hyperspectral imaging and goniometric measurements from the AMFaces project. We will continue to discuss and extend research networks to skincare and cosmetic research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit to Dr Kumiko Kikuchi at Shiseido MIRAI Technology Institute, Yokohama, Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano visited Dr Kumiko Kikuchi at Shiseido MIRAI Technology Institute, Yokohama, Japan, who is an expert in facial skin colour research. They discussed various facial colour imaging techniques and analysis and exchanged knowledge, including hyperspectral imaging, gonio-spectral imaging, polarisation technique, structural imaging, depth imaging, and biological structure of skin. They discussed potential future collaborations between the institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Research visit to Dr Kumiko Kikuchi at Shiseido MIRAI Technology Institute, Yokohama, Japan (27 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited Dr Kumiko Kikuchi at Shiseido MIRAI Technology Institute, Yokohama, Japan, who is one of the experts in facial skin colour research (27 June 2025). Since KA and KK share the common research interests in facial skin colours and their measurements, we exchanged the knowledge of methodology in the measurements and devices and discussed future collaborations and networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit to Dr Takehiro Nagai at Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo, Yokohama, Japan (27 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited Dr Takehiro Nagai at Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo, Yokohama, Japan (27 June 2025) to discuss research topics of human colour vision and skin colours, and exchange knowledge of methodology involving measuring devices as well as the digital imaging technologies in the AMFaces project. We discussed about the institutional collaboration between the Institute of Science Tokyo and University of Manchester, and expansion of research network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit to Dr Yu Fang and Shigeaki Nishina at Honda Research Institute Japan, Wako, Japan (26 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited Dr Yu Fang and Dr Shigeaki Nishina at Honda Research Institute Japan (HRI-JP, Wako, Japan) to discuss and exchange research progress (26 June 2025). KA gave updates of research activities in AMFaces including analysis of human facial colour through the hyperspectral imaging and discussed their application to human-robot interaction/ interface, which are being considered at the HRI-JP. We expanded the discussion to implement studies of facial expressions, eye-movement and visual attention in the interface. Discussion will be continue to consider future research collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit to Honda Research Institute Japan (Wako, Japan) to discuss future research collaborations (22 June 2023; 21 June 2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano met with a research scientist Dr Yu Fang and a principal research scientist Dr Shigeaki Nishina at Honda Research Institute Japan (HRIJP, Wako, Japan) to exchange research interests of both institutions and discussed potential collaborations. Kinjiro introduced research activities in AMFaces including human facial colour study, hyperspectral imaging, and visual attention. Kinjiro and Dr Fang know each other since Dr Fang contributed to a JSPS Shitsukan symposium organised by Kinjiro (2017). Along with research activities at HRIJP, namely colour vision research, visual attention, and eye-movement and their applications to robotics engineering, a potential future collaboration along with the HRIJP-UoM research alliance was discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Research visit to Prof Ichiro Kuriki and his laboratory at Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University (21 June 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano visited Prof Ichiro Kuriki and his laboratory at Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Japan, to discuss research activities in human colour vision sciences. Kinjiro gave a presentation at a research seminar. Audience (approx. 40) consisted of academics and students. KA discussed human colour vision in psychophysics, hyperspectral imaging, facial skin imaging, and their application to AMFaces. Kinjiro was invited to their laboratories and discussed their research activities involving human colour vision in psychophysics, machine learning, and electrophysiological measurements on human colour vision and potential future collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research visit to Prof Satoshi Shioiri and Prof Chia-Huei Tseng at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication and Interdisciplinary ICT Research Center for Cyber and Real Spaces, Tohoku University, Japan to discuss research collaboration (19 June 2023; 17 June 2024). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano visited Prof Satoshi Shioiri and Prof Chia-Huei Tseng at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication & Interdisciplinary ICT Research Center for Cyber and Real Spaces, Tohoku University, Japan, and gave a presentation at their research seminars. Kinjiro presented research topics of human colour vision studies with psychophysics, eye-movement in natural scenes, and visual attention, and hyperspectral imaging, and their application to AMFaces. Audience (approx. 30) consisted of academics from the region and PG students. Kinjiro was invited to their laboratories and had intensive discussions on their research topics including visual attention and learning with psychophysical, neurophysiological, and computational approaches, and a future collaboration potentially along with the Tohoku-UoM research alliance scheme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Research visit to Prof Satoshi Shioiri and seminar presentation at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, Japan (23 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited Prof Satoshi Shioiri at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, Japan (23 June 2025), to discuss and exchange knowledge in research topics on vision sciences including visual attention, eye-movement, and facial image processing. KA gave a presentation in their research seminar about the hyperspectral imaging on living human faces and the image analysis from AMFaces to the academics and student audience. KA discussed potential research collaborations and an institutional alliance scheme between Tohoku University and University of Manchester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Research visit to Prof Yoko Mizokami and her Vision Science laboratory at Graduate School of Informatics, Chiba University, Japan (20 June 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kinjiro Amano visited Prof Yoko Mizokami, one of the experts in skin colour research, and her Vision Science laboratory at Graduate School of Informatics, Chiba University, Japan. Kinjiro gave a presentation at a research seminar to discuss human colour vision in psychophysics, hyperspectral imaging, facial skin imaging, and their application to AMFaces. Audience (approx. 30) consisted of academics and PG students. Kinjiro was invited to a laboratory tour which involved more intensive discussion over the research activities in colour appearance of facial skin and research ideas and outcomes were exchanged. A potential future collaboration was also discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research visit to Prof Yoko Mizokami at Graduate School of Informatics, Chiba University, Japan (25 June 2025). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | KA visited Prof Yoko Mizokami at Graduate School of Informatics, Chiba University, Japan, who is expertise in skin colour research in Japan and involved in AMFaces as a member of SAB (25 June 2025). KA discussed research topics around human colour vision in psychophysics, hyperspectral imaging, facial skin imaging, and their application to the AMFaces, and exchanged knowledge in the digital measurements and devices for the challenges. KA and YM also discussed potential future collaborations, networking, and meetings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Talk at 27th International Colour Vision Society Meeting, Ljubljana, Slovenia, July, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Useful advice on new experiments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 January Vision Meeting of the Colour Group (GB), City St George's, University of London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Useful critique stmulating new research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| 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 | Video interview "Meet the expert" on the University of Manchester's LinkedIn channel for the World Cancer Day (4 February 2025) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Julian Yates (CoI, JY) was video interviewed by UoM Social Media team for the "Meet the Expert" series on the University of Manchester's LinkedIn channel (531,803 followers) as part of the World Cancer Day campaign (4th February 2025). JY introduced the AMFaces project, including its goal, originality, and benefits to wider public as well as the cancer patients. The research team and the relevant institutions were highlighted. The role of each team was also detailed. JY detailed the traditional method of manufacturing facial soft tissue processes and then highlighted how the new research would develop this to become a semi-automated digital process with modern and innovative additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing along with novel materials news ultra realistic facial prostheses. The advantages of new technology and manufacturing process were also discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7292528849974624258/ |