Principal investigator
Fergal O’Brien
Director of TERG · Professor of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine · Principal Investigator
Biomaterials · Tissue engineering · Regenerative medicine · Gene delivery
About
Research profile
Professor Fergal O’Brien leads a multidisciplinary research programme developing advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine. His work connects scaffold design, mechanobiology and therapeutic delivery with the repair of damaged tissues and clinical translation.
Expertise
Research interests
Lab members
Fergal’s research team
Senior Postdoctoral Researcher
Guilio Brunetti
Dr Guilio Brunetti is a senior postdoctoral researcher in TERG whose work is shaped by the group’s collaborative, translational approach to tissue engineering.
Current work
Research projects
Biomaterial scaffolds
Natural-polymer scaffolds engineered to reproduce extracellular-matrix structure, guide cell behaviour and support tissue repair.
7 associated researchers
Explore research areaHydrogels
Injectable, printable and stimuli-responsive hydrogels for controlled delivery, tissue support and next-generation biomedical devices.
6 associated researchers
Explore research areaBiofabrication and 3D printing
Additive-manufacturing and bioprinting approaches that organise biomaterials, cells and conductive components with spatial precision.
5 associated researchers
Explore research areaTargeted therapeutic delivery
Local delivery of drugs, proteins, peptides, bioinorganic ions, nucleic acids and cells from biomaterials and medical devices.
7 associated researchers
Explore research areaGene-activated materials
Non-viral vectors and biomaterial platforms that deliver genes, microRNAs and other nucleic-acid therapeutics at the site of repair.
6 associated researchers
Explore research areaElectroactive biomaterials and stimulation
Graphene, MXene and conductive-polymer systems that deliver or direct electrical stimulation for regenerative and neurological applications.
3 associated researchers
Explore research areaAntimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials
Bioactive materials designed to counter infection, regulate inflammation and create a repair-supportive immune environment.
6 associated researchers
Explore research areaBone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA
Regenerative and drug-delivery strategies for bone defects, cartilage damage, osteoarthritis and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).
5 associated researchers
Explore research areaSpinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair
Biomimetic scaffolds, gene therapeutics and electroconductive implants for neurotrauma repair and neurological disease.
4 associated researchers
Explore research areaCardiovascular regeneration
Vascular grafts, heart-valve scaffolds, computational models, biosensors and device-based treatments for cardiovascular disease.
5 associated researchers
Explore research areaSkin and wound healing
Hydrogels and multilayered biomaterials that promote angiogenesis, control inflammation and infection, and support chronic-wound repair.
3 associated researchers
Explore research areaRespiratory regeneration and drug delivery
Scaffolds, disease models and delivery systems for airway regeneration, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis research.
3 associated researchers
Explore research areaOcular repair and glaucoma
Collagen-based cell carriers and biodegradable drug-eluting technologies for corneal repair and improved glaucoma surgery outcomes.
1 associated researcher
Explore research areaDental, maxillofacial and oral regeneration
Biomaterial and tissue-engineering solutions for dental-pulp, periodontal, maxillofacial and complex oral-surgery applications.
3 associated researchers
Explore research areaMedical devices and implants
Microneedles, cardiovascular and neural implants, biosensors and minimally invasive devices for therapeutic delivery, monitoring and tissue repair.
5 associated researchers
Explore research areaSelected outputs
Highlighted publications
Laminin 1 enhances the angiogenic and neurogenic potential of collagen-based scaffolds for complex wound healing applications.
Scaffold-mediated miRNA-155 inhibition promotes regenerative macrophage polarisation leading to anti-inflammatory, angiogenic and neurogenic responses for wound healing.
Advances in tissue engineering strategies for periodontal and endodontic regeneration: Current therapies and future trends for disease treatment and tissue repair in the oral cavity.
Development of a PTEN-siRNA activated scaffold to promote axonal regrowth following spinal cord injury.
3D-Printing of Electroconductive MXene-Based Micro-Meshes in a Biomimetic Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffold Directs and Enhances Electrical Stimulation for Neural Repair Applications
Biomimetic Scaffolds Enhance iPSC Astrocyte Progenitor Angiogenic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotrophic Capacity in a Stiffness and Matrix-Dependent Manner for Spinal Cord Repair Applications
Industry & translation
Turning research into impact.
TERG works with academic, clinical and industry partners to move biomaterials, devices and regenerative technologies towards patient benefit.
Industry, spin-outs and collaborationContact
Start a conversation.
For research, collaboration and supervision enquiries, email fjobrien@rcsi.com.
Lab contact details