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)
- Intuitive surgical (Project Partner)
- KUKA (Germany) (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)
- Exergic Engineering Ltd (Project Partner)
- The Electrospinning Company (Project Partner)
Publications
Lloyd P
(2023)
A Magnetically-Actuated Coiling Soft Robot With Variable Stiffness
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Karipoth P
(2023)
Aerosol Jet Printing of Strain Sensors for Soft Robotics
in Advanced Engineering Materials
Di Lecce M
(2021)
Evolutionary Inverse Material Identification: Bespoke Characterization of Soft Materials Using a Metaheuristic Algorithm.
in Frontiers in robotics and AI
Koszowska Z
(2023)
Independently Actuated Soft Magnetic Manipulators for Bimanual Operations in Confined Anatomical Cavities
in Advanced Intelligent Systems
Lloyd P
(2022)
Magnetic Soft Continuum Robots With Braided Reinforcement
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Da Veiga T
(2021)
Material Characterization for Magnetic Soft Robots
S. Taccola
(2022)
Micro-Scale Aerosol Jet Printing of Magnetic Materials for Soft Robotics
Taccola S
(2022)
Micro-scale aerosol jet printing of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle patterns.
in Scientific reports
| 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 | 07/2022 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 |