Science for Sustainability Hub

SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing

Our experts in biomedical and healthcare technologies

Name Areas of research Description
Benjamin Bach

data visualization

data science

public engagement

Working on data visualization and making data accessible and understandable by experts and non-experts. Data visualization is essential in understanding complex processes and data sets. Especially, techniques from storytelling and visual communication have huge potential to communicate findings and information to large and diverse audiences.  

Melissa Bedinger

social sciences & policy

human factors

resilience

Interdisciplinary work in human factors, systems approaches, cascading climate impacts, and sustainable development and global health. Currently using sociotechnical systems approach in neighbourhoods or cities, to understand climate impact scenarios, model possible interventions, and inform resilience planning.
Julio Bros-Williamson

environmental adaptation

social sciences 

renewable energy

energy efficiency

Interested in low embodied carbon materials and techniques in the built environment, energy-efficient technological solutions for the refurbishment of existing buildings, and climate change adaptation and resilience of buildings by developing solutions and low carbon building services.

Dominic Campopiano

biocatalysis

industrial biotechnology

sustainability

Using biocatalysts (natural and engineered) to catalyse chemical reactions, as well as developing chemical tools to reduce waste and increase yields of enzyme-catalysed chemical reactions.
James Cheney

provenance

data quality

databases

Data curation, provenance and data quality, which are particularly relevant to scientific data management settings that are generically relevant to many of the SDGs. 
Michael Cowley

chemistry

discovering new chemistry for a sustainable society 

Working on the chemistry of the most abundant metals in the Earth’s crust - aluminium and silicon - to provide synthetic methods to prepare bulk and fine chemicals with lower energy costs and without reliance on limited reserves of precious metals.
Jamie Davies

synthetic biology

medicines

biotechnology

Focussed on improved health and well-being, particularly through research and also dissemination to and partnership wit the global south in the area of pharmacology and diagnostics. 
Maria Grazia De Angelis

environmental protection

biomedical applications

clean energy

sustainable materials

Membranes for greenhouse gas emission reduction, sustainable materials for packaging and other applications, and development of low water, accessible and inclusive  hemodialysis processes.
Simone Dimartino

bioprocessing

adsorption technologies

additive manufacturing

Broadly interested in adsorption technologies for applications ranging from manufacture of new healthcare products and foodstuff to CO2 capture.
Appolinaire Djikeng

tropical livestock

genetic improvement

smallholder farmers  

Director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH). https://www.ctlgh.org/resources/publications/
Katherine Dunn

electrosynbionics

bionanotechnology

renewable energy

Research on electrosynbionics, which involves the development of devices that use biological or bio-inspired components to generate, use or store electricity. This includes biophotovoltaics and biobatteries.
Javier Escudero

AI

data science

healthcare

Interested in helping clinicians address healthcare challenges, through development of algorithms to extract knowledge from physiological and biomedical time series. Particularly interested in conditions affecting the mind and brain and in digital technology that could be applicable across multiple countries and backgrounds.
Daniel Fosas de Pando

net zero buildings

adaptation

indoor air quality

Expertise in sustainable buildings that enhance the indoor environment. This involves appraising impacts on occupants and the energy and environmental footprint of buildings. Given the  lifespan of buildings, the scope includes research on both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Andrew Free

biotechnology

anti-microbial resistance

biogeochemical cycling

Interested in the application of microbial communities to bioremediation, sustainable waste treatment and energy generation from waste. We also have interests in the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance and approaches to tackling it.
Debora Gottardello

AI

technological advancements

diversity inclusion

power

hr

Research related to the future of work and HR. How organizations and HR department can empower innovation with the right diversity & inclusion, new edge leadership and inspiring culture within workforces. Understand the way in which HR can support ecosystems that consist of more community-driven learning and enforcing social capital along with human capital.
Margaret Graham

biotechnology

remediation

renewables

Remediation methods to tackle environmental contamination in urban areas, such as the use of biochar/microorganisms to remove manganese from drinking water.
Bjarnhedinn Gudlaugsson

energy transition

renewable energy

energy policy

Understanding decisions and policies in the context of the energy transition, energy system and policy implementation to provide practical information and support policy-making. 
Lea-Anne Henry

science and policy

renewable energy

environmental adaptation

Work centred on engaging with multiple stakeholders to develop the evidence base needed to implement and build better policies around oceans and marine ecosystems. I have strong links with the fisheries, tourism, oil and gas, and renewables sectors around the Atlantic. I engage with government agencies and international conventions with the aim of co-producing the evidence we need about the impacts of our activities and climate change to ensure marine policies are truly leading us on a path toward a more sustainable future.
Louise Holyoake

synthetic biology

proteins 

Interested in Synthetic Biology and how it can be utilised to create sustainable solutions.
Alex Hutchison

data & AI for good

climate change

responsible innovation

The Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF is a joint partnership between UNICEF, The Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh’s Data Driven Innovation Programme which seeks to enable improvement in outcomes for every child. We draw on the strengths of our partners and their network to bring insight and solve problems using data and responsible innovative data practices, with a focus on delivering against the Sustainable Development Goals. Our mission is to provide the platform that brings together the appropriate data and expertise to answer our challenge questions for children across a variety of themes and geographies.
Susan Jarvis 

sustainable Food systems

agritech

animal welfare science 

Interested in Sustainable Food Systems, and in particular the role of animal welfare science to ensure sustainable and socially acceptable food production systems. Leads the delivery of UG programmes and courses in Global Agriculture and Food Security, as well as the DDI Agritech Talent programme aimed at upskilling learners in data science and technology relevant to sustainable food systems.  
Emily Johnston

biotechnology

microbial cell factories

synthetic biology

Development of yeast cell factories for the production of plant triterpenoid compounds. These compounds have huge potential in many industries; for example as surfactants in cleaning products, as vaccine adjuvants and anti-inflammatories in therapeutics, and as gelling agents and foam stabilisers in food products. Some compounds provide novel functionalities (SDG 3 and 9), while others are bio-based alternatives to petrochemical-derived chemicals (SGD 12 and 13).
Meriem El Karoui

biotechnology

molecular microbiology

anti-microbial resistance

Works on understanding how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and how to better find solutions to avoid resistance. We combine molecular microbiology, mathematical modelling and biophysics to address these questions
Joe Kennedy

sustainable food systems

AI

 chronic disease

Works on simulations to assess the health and environmental impact of shifting diets. I'm interested in utilising novel machine learning methods in such simulations to boost their performance as well as integrate new datasets to assess a broader array of questions involving land use change and biodiversity impacts. 
   
Gary Loake

biotechnology

agritechnology

Interested in cultured plant cells as sustainable biomanufacturing platforms for high value chemicals, and sustainable solutions for crop protection. 
John McCloskey

risk

co-production

urbanisation

We run the GCRF Tomorrow's Cities Hub which aims to reduce disaster risk for the 2 billion new urban residents of tomorrow's rapidly expanding cities. We use interdisciplinary methods to understand risk and tools for risk assessment that can democratise the concept of risk and allow poor communities to argue for safer and more human future urban expansion.
Heather McQueen   Expertise in biology teaching and interested in the inclusion of SDGs in our curricula.
Afshin Mehrpouya

governance

responsible investments

business ethics

Primary focus on governance of sustainability and the role of calculative devices within. Recent work explores how use of AI and Big Data are transforming governments' approaches to citizens' behavioral governance. 
Dominic Moran
environmental, agricultural and food systems economics
Interested in definitions and metrics of sustainability, economic appraisal of technological options using non-market valuation, and behavioral and political appraisal of technology adoption. 
Adrian Muwonge 
digital health and agrictech
Develop tools to support Agriculture and Public health in LMICs
Diego Oyarzún

biotechnology

synthetic biology

AI

data science

Computational modelling and data science for better biotech solutions to global sustainability challenges.
Bart Pander autotrophic biotechnology business Interested in non-photosynthetic autotrophic microbiology and biotechnology.
Paul Patras

AI

mobile networking

Interested in building neural models that aid the management of resources in mobile networks, with a view to reducing their carbon footprint.
Symon Podilchak 

AI

sensors

engineering 

Working on a UoE spinout which deals with AI and RF solutions for recycling.
Subramanian Ramamoorthy

AI

technology in education

healthcare technologies

Expertise in Robotics and AI, with broad interests in the applications of these technologies to helping address societal problems. I am particularly interested in the application of predictive modelling and design methods to advancing healthcare technologies, and technologies for energy and sustainable systems. Also, as an educator, I am keen to explore ways to improve the quality and access to education.

 

Carys Redman-White

one health

modelling

social sciences & policy

Modelling antimicrobial use and resistance at the livestock-human interface in LMICs, with the aim of contributing to policy guidance for increased food security and health of livestock-keepers in LMICs as well as long-term global sustainability of antimicrobial drugs.
Lynne Regan

biotechnology

agritechnology

human health

Expertise in biomaterials, such as hydrogels, made exclusively from recombinant proteins produced by bacteria. This method contrasts with those that use petrochemically derived components to synthesise such materials.
Judy Robertson data literacy Academic lead for Data Education in Schools. We're looking for researchers who work on sustainability themes using data who might want to explain their work to school children. https://dataschools.education/. Our seminar series for teachers is themed around the sustainability goals this year.
Neil Robertson

drinking water

solar

rural  

Expertise in materials chemistry for application in low-cost solar photovoltaics, and electrical energy storage via batteries and supercapacitors. We also work on photocatalytic water treatment for rural communities in India, which would also be applicable to similar communities around the world. This is focused on villages where untreated surface water is currently being consumed.
Susan Rosser

engineering biology

biotechnology

biomedicine

Expertise in engineering biology approaches to engineer cells to perform novel functions e.g. build pathways for the production of biosurfactants, develop enzymes for cold water cleaning and new ways for biology to build things in general. My research is also focused on developing cell and gene therapies that are cheaper, more effective and widely available.
Christian Schnier

veterinary health

internet of things

SEBI livestock (https://sebi-livestock.org/) closely works with the Gates foundation to mobilise and improve data and evidence to help the livestock community make better investments that improve livelihoods for smallholders in low and middle-income countries.
Sohan Seth

AI  for social good

AI for health

AI for science

Interested in developing sustainable and explainable AI models from earth observation and household surveys to understand population, poverty, etc., and working with humanitarian organisations to make these tools accessible and operational. We also support data science activities throughout the University through consultancy, analysis and engagement.
Lila Skountridaki

digitalisation of the workplace & decent work

digitalisation of the workplace & productivity

Focus on new forms of flexible work (remote work; hybrid work; the 4 day work week) assisted by the digitalisation of the workplace, and how these enhance or threaten the Quality of Working Lives (including work-life balance, staff productivity, staff well-being and employee voice). 
Adam Stokes

robotics

bioelectronics

engineering

Interested in robotics for a safer and sustainable world.
Joyce Tait

life science innovation

policy and regulation

responsible innovation

Focus on genetic technology solutions to challenges relevant to Net Zero and biodiversity policy objectives, considering: development of business models and value chains for innovative technologies; regulatory systems, standards and guidelines and how they can support of constrain innovation. 
John Vines

design

co-creation

data-driven technology

Interested in issues of social responsibility around technology design and development, and co-creation of new systems with communities that are affected by and responsible for them. Conducted research around digital technologies and data-driven systems in relation to civic action, community development, and in general the role of technologies in supporting sustainable communities and address issues of social inequality.
Gary Watnough

EO4SDGS

poverty mapping

Interested in how satellite data can be leveraged for monitoring poverty and livelihoods. This is because we need more data on how SDGs are progressing but the traditional ways of doing this using household surveys are time consuming and expensive. 
Maria Wolters

ehealth

human-computer interaction

Digital inclusion for health and social care. I am interested in resilient,  affordable, and easily maintainable solutions for service users and key providers. I work with LMIC partners (Uganda, Nepal, India) on mental, maternal, and population health. 
Christopher Wood

biotechnology

AI

bioinformatics

Developing new methods for protein design. We collaborate broadly to apply our methods to address challenges in sustainability, both in agriculture and industry. We have a particular interest in developing protein-based sensors as well as novel enzymes that incorporate unnatural cofactors to expand their chemistry.