Dr Cristiano Palego,
School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering Bangor University, UK
Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1pm
Venue: Main Lecture Theatre (MLT), Dean Street
Contact: Professor Jonathan Roberts
‘Engage’ is a series of lectures on a range of computing, engineering and design topics, organised by the School of Computer Science and Engineering.
Bioelectric stimulation is a new way of using electricity to help treat diseases like cancer and help the body heal. Scientists are learning how to use tiny pulses of energy to target cancer cells or help tissues grow back.
This talk will explain how different types of energy, like waves or fields, can change how cells behave, helping them grow or respond better to treatments. Scientists are testing these ideas on 3D models of cancer to see how they work in real life. The goal is to use this method to make new treatments that combine biology, physics, and engineering to improve healthcare in the future. A particular focus will be on our work with 3D cancer organoids (lab-grown structures that mimic the behaviour and characteristics of actual tumours), used to model complex biological responses under different stimulation conditions. We will discuss how targeted energy delivery can modulate cell growth, improve drug efficacy, and promote regenerative outcomes, opening new paths for future therapies.
Cristiano Palego received the MEng. Degree in Electronics from the University of Perugia, Italy, in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree in Microwaves and Optoelectronics from the University of Limoges, France, in 2007. He was a research scientist at Lehigh University, USA (2007-2017). He joined Bangor University as a Senior Lecturer in 2013. His interest includes micro/nanotechnology and biomedical research as well as antenna arrays, energy harvesting and machine learning. Cristiano has developed CMOS-compatible lab-on-chip technology for millimeter-wave probing and stimulation of cells in both Welsh Government and Horizon 2020 funded initiatives. His group has also developed the first piezoelectric energy harvester that can be attached to and supports radio telemetry of the world’s most economically beneficial insect: the honeybee. He is now pursuing flexible and wearable bioelectronics for minimally invasive sensing and stimulation in healthcare, environmental monitoring and agri-tech applications.