AMFaces brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts and early career researchers from the University of Manchester (lead institution), University of Nottingham, University of Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan University, and King’s College London.
Theme Investigators
Professor Sarah Cartmell
Sarah Cartmell is Professor of Bioengineering, Vice Dean, and Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her research portfolio includes approaches to skin wound repair, orthopaedics, and translating 3D tissue engineering techniques to a range of practical applications. She advises the project on biomaterials in relation to tissue engineering and biocompatibility testing of experimental facial prosthetics.
Professor Trevor Coward
Trevor Coward is Professor in Maxillofacial and Craniofacial Rehabilitation at Kings College London and Honorary NHS Consultant with Guys NHS FT. His research centres on rebuilding faces for NHS patients with prostheses based on novel technologies. In the project, he uses digital imaging to capture facial appearance data for developing synthetic materials with colour, texture, and translucency similar to that of natural facial tissue.
Professor David Foster
David is a professor of Vision Systems at the University of Manchester. He has expertise in hyperspectral imaging, colour vision, computational modelling, and clinical applications. He is the overall lead on the project but is also helping to measure 3D skin colour appearance and construct computational models to provide data for advanced additive manufacturing.
Professor Russell Harris
Russell Harris is Professor of Medical Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Leeds. His research focuses on new fabrication processes, for which he has a track record of advancing for healthcare applications. His involvement in AMFaces is in developing a hybrid process to produce high-fidelity silicone components, in particular, a multi-axis aerosol jet printer for micro-features.
Dr Yinfeng He
Yinfeng He is Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, specializing in materials science. His research concentrates on polymeric materials and devising formulations for additive manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on multi-material additive manufacturing. His work in the project is exploring ink formulations for reactive inkjet printing of coloured silicone materials with tunable physical properties.
Professor Christopher Tuck
Christopher Tuck is Professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Nottingham and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Faculty of Engineering. He is an expert in additive manufacturing and co-founded Added Scientific Ltd and Reactive Fusion Ltd. His involvement in the project is in developing the hybrid production of high-fidelity silicone components, in particular, a high viscosity reactive-jetting printer for volume.
Professor Ricky Wildman
Ricky Wildman is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham. He has expertise in the interaction between materials and processes in advanced manufacturing proccesses and co-founded Added Scientific Ltd. His work in the project is aimed at developing a novel additive manufacturing inkjet system for high-fidelity silicone elastomer-based components, with optimized ink formulations.
Dr Keith Winwood
Keith Winwood is Reader in the Department of Life Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, and program leader for the collaborative MSc Clinical Science (Reconstructive Science) course with Kings College London. His research expertise is in musculoskeletal health, bone biomechanics, and materials for dental and reconstructive science applications. He is overseeing the materials testing of novel prosthetics.
Professor Julian Yates
Julian Yates is Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology at the University of Manchester and Clinical Lead in Oral Surgery, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS FT. His clinical interests are in facial trauma, oral and maxillofacial implantology, and tissue augmentation. His work in AMFaces includes evaluating new medical grade prosthetic materials, engaging Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement groups, and improving treatment and delivery.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Kinjiro Amano
Kinjiro Amano is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester. His research interests are in human colour vision and applications of psychophysics and hyperspectral imaging. His work on the project includes characterizing 3D facial skin colours and colour appearance assessment and modelling facial skin and AM products.
Dr Kathryn Chamberlain
Kathryn Chamberlain is a postdoctoral researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research interests are in the materials science, biological, and engineering aspects of biomaterials. Her work on the project deals with the materials testing, analysis, and development of silicone formulations for additive manufacturing and materials validation of structural longevity.
Dr Se Hun Chung
Se Hun Chung is a postdoctoral researcher at King’s College London. His research interests are in implementing engineering advancements into medical science. His focus in AMFaces includes spectral analysis, colour formulation and validation, and modelling colour-accurate 3D facial scans.
Dr Silvia Taccola
Silvia Taccola is a postdoctoral researcher at University of Leeds. Her research interests focus on advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for biomedical engineering applications. Her work on the project deals with the development of a novel additive manufacturing process for the high-resolution printing of silicones for the surface finishing of facial prosthetics.
PhD Research Students
Midori Sanchez-Sifuentes
Midori is a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds, working within the Future Manufacturing Processes Research Group. Her research interests lie in applied bioengineering, focusing on projects involving CAD design, digital manufacturing, microfabrication, and material sciences. Her work on the project centres on fabrication techniques and materials utilising Aerosol Jet printing.
Ben Scholfield
Ben Schofield is a PhD student at the University of Leeds. His research interests are in medical and process engineering, with a focus on implants and prosthetics. His work on the project includes atomisation of silicone formulations, high-definition computer-controlled additive manufacture, and process design.
Project Management and Technical Support
Gabrielle Freeman
Gabrielle Freeman is the Project Manager for AMFaces at the University of Manchester. She has experience in supporting UKRI funded grants and research impact at the University of Warwick. She oversees research administration across the institutions and monitors the research progress and finances.