Background:

Dr Elizabeth Ratcliffe is a Senior Lecturer in Biological Engineering (2020-) and was previously awarded a Vice Chancellor’s Lectureship (2016-) in an open competition against 1650 candidates across all University Schools and Departments. Her interdisciplinary research combines biological engineering, bioprocessing and manufacturing science to tackle challenges in Regenerative Medicine, Cell-based Manufacturing and Antimicrobial Resistance. Elizabeth has led the establishment of Loughborough’s undergraduate Bioengineering programmes (2017-) and more recently the development of Loughborough’s Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub (IEEH), funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering (2022), and leading a new Vice Chancellor’s Research Cluster in Inclusive Engineering; from People to Products (2023-2027).

Prior to her current appointment, Elizabeth was awarded an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Enterprise Fellowship (2014-2016) and was a Lead Researcher to Co-Investigator on many collaborative projects within Loughborough’s £5M EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine (2010-2015). During this time, her work included novel development and use of advanced automated cell culture platforms and application of Quality Engineering tools to improve the quality of stem cell bioprocessing, including the first-time use of Response Surface Methods, and Quality by Design approaches to improve process consistency, Cost of Goods and product quality. Working alongside academic lead Professor David Williams OBE and Prof. Rob Thomas with world-leading commercial and academic collaborators to establish manufacturing processes for human stem cell-based products including Pfizer Neusentis, GE Healthcare, Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, Cook Myosite (2013-2016) and the DARPA funded blood pharming programme (2008-2012).

Elizabeth previously worked and studied at The University of Nottingham where her early research in a hospital-based clinical commercialisation interface setting included the development of novel vaccine antigens for the prevention of orthopaedic implant infection (1st grant 2007-2008; PhD 2004-2007), working alongside Prof. Brigitte E. Scammell (UKs 1st female Professor of Orthopaedics) and Prof. Roger Bayston (inventor of Bactiseal® antimicrobial platform for hydrocephalus-related CSF shunting, Codman, Johnson & Johnson).

Qualifications:

• 2018 FHEA, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
• 2015 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 4 Award in Leadership and Management.
• 2014 CSci, Chartered Scientist, Royal Society of Biology
• 2014 CBiol, Chartered Biologist, Royal Society of Biology
• 2011 PRINCE2® PRojects IN Controlled Environments Practitioner, accredited by BCS.
• 2007 Ph.D. in Molecular Medical Biology, competitively awarded University of Nottingham Scholarship, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham
• 2003 MSc Molecular Medical Microbiology, European Union Masters Scholarship Award, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham
• 2002 BSc (Hons) Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham

Key awards:

• 2022 Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships Research Cluster award, £400k, Loughborough University.
• Research to change the way future engineers are inspired to develop inclusive engineering products and services across engineering disciplines “Inclusive Engineering; People to Products” 2023 – 2027. 
• 2022 £480k awarded from the Loughborough University DIGILabs Project led by Professor Rachel Thomson (PVC Education & Student Experience) and funded by the Office for Students UK to develop integrated virtual and physical bioreactor training and new developments in virtual reality biolabs, 2023 – 2026.
• 2022, IChemE Global Awards, High Commendation Award in Diversity and Inclusion.
• 2022 Diversity Impact Award, Royal Academy of Engineering
• Developing the Loughborough University Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub with further funding awarded for 3 PhDs in “Developing Inclusivity in Engineering” (2023-2026) from Loughborough University and a philanthropic award from Fluor Ltd.
• 2016 Vice Chancellor’s Lectureship at Loughborough University
• 2014 Impact Acceleration Enterprise Fellowship, EPSRC

Current teaching responsibilities:

• CGA014 – Bioengineering Design and Make, Module Leader
• CGC824 – Biochemical Engineering, Module Leader
• CGC054 – Bioengineering Individual Project, Module Leader
• CGP086 – Fundamentals of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
• CGD066 – Professional Development Project

Current administrative responsibilities:

• Admissions Champion for Bioengineering programmes
• Personal Best Champion for Bioengineering programmes
• Member: Education & Student Experience AACME Committee
• Co-Lead: Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub

Outline of main research interests:

Elizabeth’s research interests are aimed at providing solutions to barriers in the translation of emerging therapies towards the clinic and translation towards manufacture. Her research combines biological engineering, bioprocessing and manufacturing science to tackle challenges in Regenerative Medicine, Cell-based Manufacturing and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Current interdisciplinary projects include developing methodologies and tools for bioprocessing and scale-up in virus manufacture (gene therapies and bacteriophage manufacture) and stem cell therapies including mass spectrometry methods to bio-profile mesenchymal stem cells. Further projects include development of natural treatments for tackling antimicrobial-resistant infections and development of diagnostic mass spectrometry biosensor profiles for chronic wounds.

Elizabeth has experience and interest in development and use of advanced automated cell culture platforms and application of Quality Engineering tools to improve the quality of stem cell bioprocessing, including the first-time use of Response Surface Methods, and Quality by Design approaches to improve process consistency, Cost of Goods and product quality.

Additional interest in Synthetic Biology stems from her earlier genetic engineering PhD research focussed on generation of novel vaccine antigens for prevention of orthopaedic implant infection.

Elizabeth is developing new interdisciplinary research stemming from her experience leading the establishment of Loughborough’s undergraduate Bioengineering programmes, investigating strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in Higher Education Engineering and aims to change how future engineers are inspired to develop inclusive engineering products and services across engineering disciplines.

Grants and contracts:

• 2022 Principal Investigator, Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships Research Cluster award in “Inclusive Engineering; People to Products”, Loughborough University (£400k, 2023 – 2027)
• 2022 £480k awarded from the LU DIGILabs Project and funded by the Office for Students UK, to develop integrated virtual and physical bioreactor training and new developments in virtual reality biolabs (2023 – 2026).
• 2022, IChemE Global Awards, High Commendation in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
• 2022 Project Manager and Co-Principal Investigator, Diversity Impact Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop an “Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub”. Further funding awarded for 3 PhDs in “Developing Inclusivity in Engineering” (2023-2026) from Loughborough University and a philanthropic award from Fluor Ltd.
• 2019 Co-Investigator, PhD award “investigating rapid detection of delayed onset apoptosis in cryopreserved cells using mass spectrometry”, EPSRC/MRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine (2019-2022)
• 2018 Principal Investigator, PhD award “Investigating natural substances in preventing infection and supporting healing in wounds”, Loughborough University (2018-2022)
• 2018 Co-Investigator, PhD award “Data processing and statistical methods for volatile atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry analysis” Loughborough University (2018-2023)
• 2018 Principal Investigator, “Bridging the Gaps in Antimicrobial Resistance Project” EPSRC
• 2017 Co-Investigator, “Bridging the Gaps in Antimicrobial Resistance, Network Building Award” EPSRC
• 2016 Principal Investigator, PhD award “Optimising culture of viral production cell lines for improved Lentiviral manufacture”, EPSRC/MRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine (2017-2021)
• 2016 Vice Chancellor’s Lectureship at Loughborough University.
• 2015 Principal Investigator, PhD award “A scaled-down model for the translation of bacteriophage culture to manufacturing scale”, mini-Centre for Doctoral Training in Fighting Infectious Disease, Loughborough University (2016-2019)
• 2014 Impact Acceleration Enterprise Fellowship “Synthetic biology strengthened tools for gene therapy manufacture”, £140k, EPSRC
• 2013 Co-Investigator, “Process Engineering enabling the automation of GMP cell culture processes” £223k, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine
• 2013 Co-Investigator, “Synthetic Biology applications in systematic engineering of ATMPs” £80k, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine
• 2011 Researcher Co-Investigator, “Quality by Design approach to optimise hESC recovery from cryopreservation” £225k, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine

Selected publications:

Rosenthal, K, Hunsicker, E, Ratcliffe, E, Lindley, M, Leonard, J, Hitchens, JR, Turner, M. 2021. Volatile atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry headspace analysis of E. coli and S. aureus, Analytical Methods, 13(45), pp.5441-5449, ISSN: 1759-9660. DOI: 10.1039/d1ay01555a.

Ali, J., Rafiq, Q., and Ratcliffe, E. 2020. Improving phage titre through examining point of infection. Res. Sq. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-17640/v1.

Ali, J., Rafiq, Q., and Ratcliffe, E. 2019. A Scaled down Model for the Translation of Bacteriophage Culture to Manufacturing Scale. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 116(5): 972-984. SNIP 1.2, SJR 1.3, DOI: 10.1002/bit.26911.

Balzamo, G., Wilcock, H., Ali, J., Ratcliffe, E., and Mele, E. 2018. Bioinspired Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Membranes with Directional Release of Therapeutic Essential Oils. Langmuir, 34(29): 8652-8660. SNIP 1.0, SJR 1.2, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01175.

Ali, J., Rafiq, Q., and Ratcliffe, E. 2018. Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms and Potential Synthetic Treatments, Future Science (Open Access), 4(4): FS0290, DOI: 10.4155/fsoa-2017-0109.

Evans, A., Win Niang, M., and Ratcliffe, E. 2017. Rising influence of Synthetic Biology in Regenerative Medicine, Engineering Biology (Open Access), 1, 1-6. DOI: 0.1049/enb.2017.0007.

Hourd, P., Chandra, A., Alvey, D., Ginty, P., Ratcliffe, E., McCall, M., and D.J. Williams. 2015. Academic facility qualification for automated manufacture of autologous cells, Regenerative Medicine, 9, 799-815. DOI: 10.2217/rme.14.47.

Mitchel, P., Ratcliffe, E., Kerby, J., Williams, D. and R.J. Thomas. 2014. Optimisation of cell recovery from cryopreservation using QbD, Tissue Engineering C: Methods, 20, 1-10, IF 4.6, SJR 1.02, DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2013.0595

Ratcliffe, E. 2014. Staphylococcus aureus binding proteins for Prevention of Orthopaedic Implant-related Infection. Journal of Microbial and Biochemical Technology, 6, 303-313, IF 2.16, SNIP 1.25, DOI: 10.4172/1948-5948.1000160.

Ratcliffe, E., Stacey, A., and R. Thomas. 2014. Visualising medium and biodistribution in complex cell culture bioreactors, Biotechnology Progress, 30, 256-260, DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1840.

Ratcliffe, E., Glen, K., Win Naing, M., and D.J. Williams. 2013. Stem cell-based therapies undergoing clinical trials: case studies, British Medical Bulletin, 108, 1-21, IF 4.45, DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldt034.

Glen, K., Workman, V., Ahmed, F., Ratcliffe, E., Stacey, A., and R.J. Thomas. 2013. Production of erythrocytes from hematopoietic progenitor cells, Cytotherapy, 15, 1106-1117, IF 3.1. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.04.008.*

Ratcliffe, E., Hourd, P., Guijarro-Leach, J., Rayment, E., Williams, D., and R.J. Thomas. 2013. Response surface methodology for maximising productivity of cell manufacture, Regenerative Medicine, 8, 39-48, IF 3.5. DOI: 10.2217/rme.12.109.

Williams, D., Thomas, R., Hourd, P., Chandra, A., Ratcliffe, E., Liu, Y., Rayment, E., and J.R. Archer. 2012. Precision manufacturing for clinical-quality regenerative medicines, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 370, 3924-3949, IF 2.4, DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2011.0049.

Ratcliffe, E., Stacey, A., and R.J. Thomas. 2012. Novel automated bioreactor for scalable process optimisation of haematopoietic stem cell culture (HSC), Journal of Biotechnology, 161,387-390, IF 2.9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.06.025.

Thomas, R., and E. Ratcliffe. 2012. Automated adherent human cell culture (Mesenchymal stem cells), Methods in Molecular Biology, 806, 393-406, IF 1.3. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-367-7_26.

Ratcliffe, E., Thomas, R.J., and D.J. Williams. 2011. Current understanding and challenges in bioprocessing stem cell-based therapies, British Medical Bulletin, 100, 137-155, IF 4.45. DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldr037.

 View central publications database

External collaborators:

• University of Birmingham
• Fluor Ltd.

External roles and appointments:

• Associate Editor for the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Engineering Biology Journal
• Member of the Royal Society for Biology (RSB)

5 fully funded Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship PhDs are available to students from diverse engineering backgrounds and data analytics, computer science, social sciences and sociology to work on interconnected projects within the Inclusive Engineering People to Products Research Cluster. People to Products is a vibrant, interdisciplinary research cluster that aims to change the way future engineers are inspired to develop inclusive engineering products and services across a wide range of engineering disciplines.

We seek talented research students from diverse engineering backgrounds and data analytics, computer science, social sciences and sociology who aspire to become leaders in inclusive engineering. 

3 fully funded PhDs are available in Developing Inclusivity in Engineering from the Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub.

The Developing Inclusivity in Engineering PhDs are part of a mini-Centre for Doctoral Training consisting of 3 PhDs working together across the Loughborough Engineering Schools, supported by the Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub team of academic staff.

The overarching theme of the Developing Inclusivity in Engineering mini-Centre for Doctoral Training is to develop and investigate strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in Higher Education Engineering.

We welcome proposals from students for co-designing projects, if you have an interesting idea for a research project in research relating to antimicrobial resistance, virus or cell manufacture that you would like to undertake, please contact me by email.