Principal investigator

Ian Woods

Research Fellow · Principal Investigator, Biomimetic Design Lab

Electroconductive biomaterials · Gene therapeutics · Neurological disease models · Neural biofabrication

About

Research profile

Ian Woods leads the Biomimetic Design Lab, using biomaterials and biofabrication to create implantable therapeutics and models that mimic therapeutically relevant features of neural tissue.

Expertise

Research interests

01Electroconductive biomaterials

02Gene therapeutics

03Neurological disease models

04Neural biofabrication

05Implantable therapeutics

06Medical-device design

Lab members

Ian’s research team

Browse PI groups

Postdoctoral Researcher

Juan Carlos Palomeque Chávez

Dr Juan Carlos Palomeque Chávez is a postdoctoral researcher working across TERG’s diverse tissue-engineering applications in a multidisciplinary research environment.

terg@rcsi.ie View profile

Current work

Research projects

Platforms

Hydrogels

Injectable, printable and stimuli-responsive hydrogels for controlled delivery, tissue support and next-generation biomedical devices.

6 associated researchers

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Platforms

Biofabrication and 3D printing

Additive-manufacturing and bioprinting approaches that organise biomaterials, cells and conductive components with spatial precision.

5 associated researchers

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Research areas

Targeted therapeutic delivery

Local delivery of drugs, proteins, peptides, bioinorganic ions, nucleic acids and cells from biomaterials and medical devices.

7 associated researchers

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Research areas

Gene-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

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Research areas

Electroactive biomaterials and stimulation

Graphene, MXene and conductive-polymer systems that deliver or direct electrical stimulation for regenerative and neurological applications.

3 associated researchers

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Clinical applications

Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair

Biomimetic scaffolds, gene therapeutics and electroconductive implants for neurotrauma repair and neurological disease.

4 associated researchers

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Platforms

Medical devices and implants

Microneedles, cardiovascular and neural implants, biosensors and minimally invasive devices for therapeutic delivery, monitoring and tissue repair.

5 associated researchers

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Selected outputs

Highlighted publications

All publications by this PI

2026Bioactive materials

Development of a PTEN-siRNA activated scaffold to promote axonal regrowth following spinal cord injury.

McGuire TK, Stasiewicz M, O'Connor C, Woods I, Maughan J, Dobricic M, Brunetti G, Dixon JE, Dervan AG, O'Brien FJ

Gene-activated materials Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2025Advanced ScienceFeatured

3D-Printing of Electroconductive MXene-Based Micro-Meshes in a Biomimetic Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffold Directs and Enhances Electrical Stimulation for Neural Repair Applications

Ian Woods, Dahnan Spurling, S. Sunil, Anne Marie O’Callaghan, Jack Maughan, Javier Gutierrez Gonzalez, Tara K. McGuire, Liam M. Leahy, Adrian Dervan, Valeria Nicolosi and Fergal J. O’Brien

Hydrogels Biofabrication and 3D printing Electroactive biomaterials and stimulation Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair

DOI

2025Advanced Healthcare MaterialsFeatured

Biomimetic Scaffolds Enhance iPSC Astrocyte Progenitor Angiogenic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotrophic Capacity in a Stiffness and Matrix-Dependent Manner for Spinal Cord Repair Applications

Cian O’Connor, Ian Woods, Sarah F. McComish, Sean Kerr, Matthew McGrath, Juan Carlos Palomeque Chávez, Jack Maughan, Tara McGuire, Maeve A. Caldwell, Adrian Dervan and Fergal J. O’Brien

Biomaterial scaffolds Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair

DOI Article

2025Journal of anatomy

Neurotrophic extracellular matrix proteins promote neuronal and iPSC astrocyte progenitor cell- and nano-scale process extension for neural repair applications.

O'Connor C, Mullally RE, McComish SF, O'Sullivan J, Woods I, Schoen I, Garre M, Caldwell MA, Dervan A, O'Brien FJ

Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2023Current protocols

The Manufacture and Characterization of Biomimetic, Biomaterial-Based Scaffolds for Studying Physicochemical Interactions of Neural Cells in 3D Environments.

O'Connor C, Woods I, Hibbitts A, Dervan A, O'Brien FJ

Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair Medical devices and implants Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2022Advanced healthcare materials

Biomimetic Scaffolds for Spinal Cord Applications Exhibit Stiffness-Dependent Immunomodulatory and Neurotrophic Characteristics.

Woods I, O'Connor C, Frugoli L, Kerr S, Gutierrez Gonzalez J, Stasiewicz M, McGuire T, Cavanagh B, Hibbitts A, Dervan A, O'Brien FJ

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory materials Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

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 collaboration

Contact

Start a conversation.

For research, collaboration and supervision enquiries, email ianwoods@rcsi.com.

Lab contact details