if you class yourself as an “early-career” researcher (ECR) – perhaps you are a student or a recent post-doc, or a recently appointed academic – or if there is someone in your department that works in the Bionics field and
User-Centred Design and Usability of Bionic Devices
Bionics+ is an EPSRC funded research network plus and will stimulate and support a cohesive activity towards next-generation bionic technologies to co-create user-centred systems, methods and care models that are fit for purpose. Bionics+ takes place with four central tenets in mind: A) a user-centric approach; B) security in our data (cybersecurity); C) inclusive of clinical and industry inputs; D) promoting smart manufacturing processes.
Bionics+ deals with four major application areas: implants, prostheses, artificial organs and exoskeletons/ wearables, and seven cross-cutting capabilities: data processing and AI, bioelectronics, materials, control systems, secure communications, sensing and stimulation. Taken together these will allow for cross-fertilisation of ideas across the network such that Bionics+ will focus on ambitious, collaborative and transformative research and the formulation of longer-term strategy.
1. Networking Activities
Our team is not limited to the investigators and network members. We work with various stakeholders including patients and their families, clinicians, industry experts, policymakers, media and charity organisations from the project outset. We will discuss specific ideas and goals
2. Dissemination Activities
Bionics+ will implement a comprehensive equality, diversity, and inclusion panel to guide and shepherd network activities. Membership will include representation across academia, industry, patient users and healthcare. The panel will identify main areas where policies and initiatives can be established
3. Impact Activities
Public Engagement with Bionics – Issues surrounding bionics attract high levels of public interest, and researchers in these fields have a responsibility to inform public debate. The current work of the executive team has received high media coverage (BBC, ITV and
4. Management Activities
We have earmarked an amount of funding that will be made available to network partners through a bidding process. All the activities will be announced through all our communications well in advance of the closing dates. Eligibility criteria will be
A. Sandpits
We plan to hold Funding Sandpit events in Years 1, 2 and 3 – a fixed amount of funding will be made available for exciting and innovative explorations of bionic technologies and feasibility studies. The specific details and themes for
B. Impact Space
ImpactSpace is a platform that brings together stakeholders to accelerate the translation of bionics research into clinical impact. Stakeholders will be patient groups, their families & carers, charity organisations, industry, academia, clinicians & healthcare executives (e.g., policy). They will co-design
C. Public Engagement training
We will make three annual awards, over the four years of the project (so 12 awards in total), to enable our network members to design and implement relevant public engagement activities.
D. Research exchange visits
Annually Bionics+ will fund two national & one international research exchange visit(s) of PhD students and/or Early Career Researchers. This will facilitate the initiation of new collaborations & help researchers to acquire new skills that are not available in their
E. RADA training
We will sponsor three network members per year to attend training workshops of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Example workshops are Voice of Influence and Stepping up with Confidence for Women. Specific details on actual schemes will be released each
ED & I
We are committed to creating a diverse network environment where we value, trust and respect each other. Our network will include members of different national origin, race, colour, genetics, religion, marital status, lifestyle, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability,
The Executive Team
Christopher James
Professor of Biomedical Engineering (PI)Christopher is a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist and interested in information extraction from brain and behaviour. He uses AI based techniques to create precise and efficient BCI system.
Helen Dawes
Professor of Movement Science (CoI)Helen is a clinical academic and her research explores mechanisms of movement & posture in health & disease in both adults & children; it specifically focuses on translational technology & innovation to support rehabilitation & self-management.
Rylie Green
Professor of Polymer Bioelectronics (CoI)Rylie is a biomedical engineer with a focus on improving comms between the body & interfacing devices such as neuroprostheses & BCI. She does this through development of novel materials & tech that mimic the natural way cells communicate.
Kianoush Nazarpour
Reader in Biomedical AI (CoI)Kia is biomedical engineer. He believes that co-creation has the potential to aid in building fit-for-purpose bionic solutions, by working with users as core stakeholders.
Rory O’Connor
Charterhouse Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine (CoI)Rory is a clinician scientist working at the interface of rehabilitation technology, applied health research and measurement science.
Maria Dolores Richards
Network ManagerMaria has worked on the previously funded EPSRC Adaptive Assistive Rehabilitative Technology – Beyond the Clinic (AART-BC) project and is now Bionics+ Network Manager.
Lynda Webb
Senior Researcher in Co-creationLynda believes in engaging with all stakeholders including end users as central to the success in design, products, services and research.
Project Partners from Industry
Some featured posts from our Blog
Hot-topic Proposals
In the coming year we will be running a series of “hot-topic” seminars and workshops: these are short events that will take place around the UK (as well as online) and are aimed at turning the focus onto subject areas
Bionics+ Down-Under
Bionics+ was promoted at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC2023) in Sydney, Australia in July 2023 Bionics+ was promoted at the IEEE International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in Sydney, Australia earlier this year. With the
Update on Sandpit 2022 funded projects
In 2022 we announced the first major funding outlay for our network where we ran a day long funding sandpit (see link below this article) that was followed up by online discussions and resulted in 6 submissions for funding. After
Meet the team: Prof Christopher James
Christopher was born in Malta, received the B.Elec.Eng. (Hons) degree in from the University of Malta (1992) and a Ph.D from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (1997). He was a postdoctoral research fellow at the EEG department of the
Bionics Plus Sandpit 2022
We are excited to announce our first Sandpit for the Bionics+ network. This will be our first opportunity to really push the boundaries of our work, a chance to create real cross-disciplinary collaborations that will explore and develop novel ideas.
Meet the team: The Bioengineering Inaugural Lecture of Professor Rylie Green
Professor Rylie Green delivers her inaugural lecture detailing her career in polymer bioelectronics. Evolution of a cyborg: Bionic eyes, ears, spines and brains.The cyborg – part human and part machine – is a science fiction construct that has been realised across recent
Announcing our EDI Advisory Group
The new EDI advisory group is taking shape with currently five members including Helen Dawes, Maria Feijoo Reñones, and Drs Nada Yousif, Mae Mansoubi, Amit Narahar Pujari and Leen Jabban. We are currently writing our Terms of Reference. The group
Special Session at EMBC2022, Glasgow – 11-15 July 2022
We would like to announce that we will be hosting a Special Session on the Bionics+ network at this year’s annual EMBC conference that will be taking place in Glasgow, UK. We hope to see you at the conference as
Reminder: Call for Funding
Remember that we have an open call for funding which is open to all eligible network members (make sure you are registered as a network member (applicant must be a UK based) so that you are able to apply –