Professor Giuseppe Tronci FIMMM

Professor Giuseppe Tronci FIMMM

Profile

My research profile lies at the interface of biopolymers, healthcare, and sustainability. I have direct experience on the design of high-value biopolymer-based materials, such as hydrogels, fibres and coatings, aiming to meet specific clinical, industrial and sustainability needs. I am driven by the development of structure-induced functions via molecular and fibre manufacturing routes to accomplish prototype customisation across multiple scales (from molecular to macroscale). I am keen to pursue pre/clinical testing and regulatory compliance of lab prototypes and support technology translation from the bench to bedside for the benefit of patients and healthcare providers.

Personal website: https://sites.google.com/site/giuseppetronci 

I joined the University of Leeds in 2011 as a Research Fellow within the WELMEC Centre of Excellence in Medical Engineering. Working with colleagues in the Schools of Dentistry and Design, I developed a new collagen manufacturing technology, which has been patented in the US and Europe. 

In 2013, I was appointed in the School of Design as a Senior Research Fellow of the Clothworkers' Centre for Textile Materials Innovation for Healthcare (CCTMIH), where I developed protein-friendly fibre spinning approaches for integrated medical devices. During this appointment, I secured a Wellcome Trust-ISSF award to support a three-month research visit at the University of Michigan Department of Chemical Engineering (US), where I worked on new orthogonal photochemistries for skeletal repair.

In 2016, I started my Lectureship in Healthcare Materials (CCTMIH, School of Design) with a joint appointment with Leeds School of Dentistry (since 2018), and was promoted to Professor in 2023. I currently serve as the Deputy Director of CCTMIH and I am academic founder of HYFACOL Limited, a new University of Leeds spin-out company developing Leeds collagen manufacturing technology for wound dressings and dentistry applications. 

I gained my bachelor's (Laurea 2003) and master's (Laurea Magistrale 2005) degrees in Biomedical Engineering, both at Polytechnic University of Turin (IT). As part of my master's degree program, I carried out my final dissertation project at EPFL Powder Technology Laboratory (CH) via an Erasmus scholarship. In 2006, I embarked on a PhD programme at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Institute of Biomaterials Science (DE), within a DFG-sponsored Collaborative Research Centre (SFB-760) joint with the Charité Medical School in Berlin. I was awarded a doctorate in Materials in Life Sciences by the University of Potsdam (DE, 2010). Further to my PhD, I gained a PGCert in Professional Innovation Management from the University of Leeds Business School in 2014.

Responsibilities

  • Deputy Director - CCTMIH

Research interests

  • design of biomimetic systems for chronic wound, oral and musculoskeletal care
  • structure-property relationships and material multifunctionality
  • creation of bespoke material geometrics based on defined macromolecular systems
  • high-value manufacture of medical devices
  • translational research
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD in Materials in Life Sciences, University of Potsdam & Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (DE)
  • Laurea Magistrale (MSc eq.) in Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin (IT)
  • Laurea (BSc eq.) in Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin (IT)
  • PGCert in Professional Innovation Management, Leeds University Business School (UK)

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM)
  • Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)

Current postgraduate researchers

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>