Stevens lab

Biomaterials Design Lab

We use innovative bioengineering approaches to solve key problems in regenerative medicine, biosensing, and therapeutics. Our focus extends to soft robotics and the interface between living and non-living matter. Collaborating with molecular dynamics experts and data scientists in digital health, our interdisciplinary team includes materials scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, physicists, and clinicians.

We can influence the behaviour of cells at the interface of living and non-living matter by tweaking the surface chemistry and texture of designer materials. These materials have emerging applications in medical implants, vaccines, and as instructive three-dimensional environments for tissue regeneration and cell interrogation. Our work frequently pushes the limits of what existing technologies and methods are capable of - so we decided to invent some of our own.

Within the biosensing field, our aim is to make healthcare more accessible and personalized through sensitive, affordable, user-friendly, and mobile-connected diagnostic tools. We’ve harnessed the power of nanomaterials to develop a simple colour-changing urine test that can detect chemicals produced by diseases in the body. We're also co-developing smartphone platforms to track disease spread and treatment within communities.