NeuroSYNC – UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and Computing

Professor Roach is a Co-Investigator in NeuroSYNC, a UK multidisciplinary research centre developing new approaches to neuromorphic computing inspired by biological neural systems. His research contributes expertise in biomaterials, surface engineering, microfabrication and the development of engineered neuronal systems.

NEU-ChiP – Neural Networks on Chip

Professor Roach was a Work Package Lead in the European Commission H2020 Future and Emerging Technologies project NEU-ChiP. The project explored the development of living neural networks on microfabricated platforms and their potential for novel approaches to information processing and computing.

Lab2Fab

Professor Roach is a member of the Lab2Fab research community at Loughborough University, supporting the development of interdisciplinary approaches that connect laboratory-based science with advanced fabrication and translation.

Institute for Healthy Living

As Director of the Institute for Healthy Living, Professor Roach leads a University-wide interdisciplinary initiative bringing together research expertise to address major challenges in healthy living and to shape future approaches to health, wellbeing and sustainable living.

Research funding

Professor Roach has been involved in securing and delivering major UK and European research programmes spanning surface and interface science, biomaterials, tissue engineering, microfabrication, neural engineering and neuromorphic computing.

Major research programmes

  • NeuroSYNC – UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and Computing – Co-Investigator in this major UK research programme developing new approaches to neuromorphic computing inspired by biological neural systems, with contributions spanning biomaterials, microfabrication and engineered neuronal systems.
  • NEU-ChiP – Neural Networks on Chip – Work Package Lead in the €3.5 million European Commission H2020 Future and Emerging Technologies project, developing microfabricated platforms for living neural networks and exploring their potential for biological information processing.
  • EPSRC-MRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine and Devices – Co-Investigator in the £3.5 million interdisciplinary doctoral training programme bringing together engineering, materials science, medicine and biological sciences to develop new approaches to regenerative medicine and medical devices.

Current and previously funded projects

Professor Roach has also led and contributed to a range of competitively funded research projects, including NERC, EPSRC, MRC, and Charity funded research, spanning environmental impacts on biological systems, biomaterials, surface engineering, micro- and nanofabrication, tissue engineering and biological interfaces.

These projects have included research into microplastics and cellular health, the development of engineered biomaterial interfaces, and the application of advanced fabrication and analytical technologies to biological systems.

Across these programmes, Professor Roach's funding activity reflects a consistent interdisciplinary research strategy: using chemistry, surface engineering and biomaterials as a foundation for developing new technologies at the interface with biology, and extending these approaches into tissue engineering, neural systems, brain-on-a-chip technologies and neuromorphic computing