From Romans to Robotics: A Medical Journey

Ancient warfare was not kind to the bodies of soldiers. Whether injured in battle by a blade, a spear, or a missile, or in camp by frostbite or trench foot, soldiers' fingers and toes, hands and feet, arms and legs were incredibly vulnerable. Jane will explore the experiences of soldiers from injury to amputation to prosthesis, and examine the links between the development of surgical techniques and the creation of prosthetic technology in classical antiquity.

We are an ageing population and as well as focussing on lifespan we also need to consider health span. To maintain health and wellbeing, the musculoskeletal system is critical. However, technology has not moved on much in terms of implant design. In this talk we will consider how new nanotechnologies can help - nanoscale topography (cell braille), ultralow-dose delivery of powerful biological signalling molecules and use of nano-vibrations (nanokicking). Together, these could provide much longer-lasting implants and hence musculoskeletal support into very old age.

The global need for blood transfusion is increasing, at the moment supplies are taken from altruistic donors. Jo will describe some of the novel ways the problem of maintaining a sufficient blood supply is being addressed and how these concepts might be extended to provide other types of cells to treat degenerative diseases in the future.

Loss of limbs has a devastating impact on the lives of amputees as they lose the capacity to handle or manage objects as well as the capacity to feel them through touch. Many attempts over past centuries have focussed on developing artificial limbs, which were largely cosmetic. However, the real change will come when the artificial limbs allow amputees to regain lost sensory feelings. Ravinder will talk about how far we've come with prosthetics technology, and how we plan to bring about the change through our electronic or tactile skin research.