Sara Ferraris, PhD, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Dr Sara Ferraris received a PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2010 from Politecnico di Torino. She is a Senior Assistant Professor (RTD-B) at the DISAT Department in Politecnico di Torino.
Her main research interests are surface modification (chemical and physical treatments, coatings, and surface functionalization) and characterization of biomaterials and advanced materials. In the recent past, she intensively worked on the combination of electrophoretic and electrokinetic zeta potential measurements for the optimization of surface functionalization and coatings.
Sara Ferraris is the author of 145 publications in international journals and has an h-index of 32 (Scopus). She is also active in dissemination and communication activities for the general public.
Piergiorgio Gentile, PhD, Newcastle University, UK
Dr Piergiorgio Gentile is a reader of Bionanotechnologies at Newcastle University, UK. He obtained his BSc, MSc, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy. He moved to the UK in 2012 after being awarded an IEF Marie Curie Fellowship. His research deals with the nano- and micro-scale design and the manufacturing and surface functionalization of biomimetic constructs for tissue engineering. He is the author of >100 papers (H-index= 35) in the leading journals in Bioengineering, five book chapters, and his research has led to 3 patents and >50 oral presentations at national & international conferences, including >10 as an invited speaker.
John George Hardy, MSci, PGCert, PhD, Lancaster University, UK
Dr John George Hardy has an extensive academic and research background. He began his academic journey in the UK, where he was awarded an MSci from the University of Bristol, and a PhD from the University of York.
Following his doctoral studies, Dr Hardy has a decade of postdoctoral research experience across several prestigious European and United States institutions. He conducted research at the University of Strasbourg in France, the University of Bayreuth in Germany, Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Florida in the US before commencing his independent career at Lancaster University, UK. He leads a research group engaging in highly interdisciplinary projects that span the fields of biology, biomedical engineering, materials science, and pharmacy supported by national/international funding sources.
Pau Turón Dols, PhD, B. Braun Surgical, S.A.U., Spain
Dr Pau Turón, vice-president of Global B2B Partnering and Business, has developed a professional career of more than 30 years in B. Braun Group, a biomedical multinational firm. He has successfully launched more than 30 products, medicinal substances (i.e., antibiotic and anesthetic drugs), and medical devices focused on closing surgical wounds (i.e., sutures, hernia meshes, tissue glues, hemostats, and vacuum therapy devices). He has published over 90 scientific papers and 15 patents in several fields (i.e., medical devices and catalysis). He is currently focused on Advanced Therapies.
In addition, he has held the responsibilities of Vice President of Research and Development, Global Quality Management, Regulatory Affairs, and medical and scientific affairs of the Centre of Excellence of Closure Technologies (currently OR-Supplies) of B. Braun/Aesculap in RubÃ, Barcelona (Spain).
Beyond the medical field, together with Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and Prof Carlos Alemán's research group, he has developed a catalyst for CO2 recycling, decarbonization of the atmosphere, and nitrogen fixation. The catalyst, made of permanently polarized hydroxyapatite, is intended to obtain high-added-value molecules (e.g., ammonia or urea) of interest for the generation of green hydrogen and fuels (e.g., methanol, formic acid, and ethanol) obtained through a green and sustainable chemical process.
He is a member of the industrial advisory board of IMDEA Materials Research Institute (Madrid-Spain).
