Research Training Vision
BioTrib will develop a unique, bioengineering-based, integrated approach to the development of early career researchers as future research and innovation leaders across interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral domains; this will deliver a step-change in the use of joint arthroplasty technology and their assessment as well as the exploitation of the technology and ideas generated within this ambitious programme.
Training Objectives
1. To deliver a specific, interdisciplinary, career enhancing, innovative training programme, including preparation for further professional qualification (e.g. Eur Ing[1] and Chartership[2]) (WP1 and WP2).
2. To deliver leading cross- and beyond-network training events, including workshops, complementary training, and secondments which reflect the international and mobile nature of a leading engineer (WP2 to WP6).
3. To foster links within the European Research Area (ERA) supporting the knowledge triangle and developing the leadership potential of doctoral candidates[3] (WP2 and WP7).
4. To contribute to the development, deployment and harmonization of the doctoral degrees through dissemination of best practice to the partners and beyond including elicitation of requirements from end-users (WP2).
5. To deliver ESRs with enhanced skills that fit the requirements of industry (WP2 and WP7)
Responsible Research and Innovation Objectives:
1. The use of additive manufacturing for the generation of novel bearings with new lubrication properties (WP3).
2. Novel biotribological bearings through the application of, for instance, self-lubricating engineering (WP4)
3. The development of next-generation soft-bearings either through novel electrospun matrices or unique nanocomposite polyethylene biomaterials for the treatment of OA conditions (WP5).
4. Assessment and characterisation of novel bearings manufactured through AM (WP6)
5. Development of novel computational simulation for the assessment of new bearing system (WP5, WP6)
6. To bridge the gap between academia, industry and the healthcare sector and accelerate research outputs with a special focus on SMEs (3 within BioTrib), a priority of EU policy[4][5] and Open Science[6] (WP7).
The programme of research will deliver early stage researchers (ESRs) with the necessary technical and innovation training/experience to provide the much needed advances in the performance of both natural and artificial joints with a focus on biotribology, that is, friction, lubrication and wear in these implants. These researchers will gain the necessary subject-specific, intersectoral knowledge and the wider innovation skills demanded by industry with which to deliver timely and cost-effective solutions to some of Europe’s most intractable healthcare problems. The career options for these researchers are wide-ranging including regulatory affairs, commercial R&D, management and policy as well as academia, all of which comprise a significant leadership and innovation component. These aims will be achieved by a unique combination of hands on research in leading research centres, industry secondments and wide-ranging workshops covering technical and transferable skills.