Dimitrios A. Lamprou (Ph.D., MBA) is Reader in Pharmaceutical Engineering (May 2018 – Present) and Programme Director (Founder) at MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics at the School of Pharmacy in Queen's University Belfast (UK). Dimitrios is also the Chair at United Kingdom and Ireland Controlled Release Society (UKICRS) and Chair (Founder) of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS) Emerging Technologies Focus Group.

Dimitrios expertise is in Emerging Technologies for Drug Delivery Systems and Medical Devices / Implants. Examples of Emerging biopharmaceutical & pharmaceutical technologies include: 3D Printing & Bioprinting, Electrospinning & Electrospraying, Microfluidics & Lab-on-a-chip, and BioMEMS.

Prior to his current appointments, Dimitrios was Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery (Sep 2016 – Apr 2018) at University of Kent (UK), Lecturer B in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Aug 2012 – Aug 2016) and Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems (Oct 2009 – Jul 2012) at Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) at University of Strathclyde (UK). Dimitrios was also Visiting Researcher (Sep 2016 – Aug 2020) at University of Strathclyde (UK), and Visiting Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT; Center for Biomedical Engineering; US) in 2010 and at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology) in 2011.

Dimitrios, has experience of teaching in Higher Education in UK, including experience in MPharm & MSc accreditations, and in preparing 2 de novo Master's degree programmes in 2 different top UK institutions. Has secure as Co-I or PI, National (e.g., EPSRC, SULSA) and International (e.g., HORIZON 2020, Commonwealth) Funding in excess of £2.2M, and is currently involved in a variety of industrial projects (e.g., AZ, Janssen) and collaborates with academic partners and clinicians within the UK and internationally.

Dimitrios, is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications (including in Chem - IF 22.804 & in Nature Nanotechnology - IF 39.213), has over 250 conference abstracts, and has given over 100 Invited Talks. Dimitrios has experience as PI & Co-I in supervising Post-Doc's, over 100 Undergraduate and Postgraduate Project students (e.g., Erasmus, BSc, MChem, MPharm, MPhil, MRes, MSc) and over 25 Ph.D. & EngD. students to successful completion (< 4 years), all of whom are now further developing their careers in either Academic or Industrial positions.

Journals & Publishers Referee: 50+ journals (IF 3 to 17) and book publishers (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley).

Research Funding Referee: 17, nationally (e.g., EPSRC, MRC, UKRI) and internationally (e.g., Hungary, Italy), and peer-review for EU / QUB / UKRI, and regularly sits in EPSRC board panels. 

Editorial Work: Section Editor for Heliyon (Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacology and Toxicology), Associate Editor at Frontiers in Medical Technology (Nano-Based Drug Delivery), Editor for Topical Collection in Pharmaceutics (3D Printing and Bioprinting Applications in Pharmaceutics), Guest Editor for 17 Special Issues in International Refereed Journals (e.g., International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Polymers) and Editorial Board Member for 3 Refereed Journals.

External Leadership: Committee Member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) AMT/8 for Additive Manufacturing, External Examiner in Pharmaceutics for UG courses at Newcastle University (UK), member of the External Evaluation Committee (EEC) for the evaluation & accreditation process for UG & PG courses at Cyprus Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, member of the evaluation panel(s) for the Election and Promotion of Faculty members in Greek Institutions, Viva Voce Postgraduate Examiner for PGR programmes (6 MRes and 22 Ph.D.) for National & International Institutions, and Invited Professor at Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree “Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery” (NANOMED) at University of Pavia (Italy; Oct 2018 – Present). Dimitrios also serves on numerous conference committees and scientific panels.

Example of Awards: Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Science Award and Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) Leaders Scheme Award.

Academic / Professional Qualifications: Dimitrios was trained in multi-disciplinary areas and in first class laboratories (e.g., in Greece, UK, USA). He received Bachelor of Engineering (BEng Hons) degree in Medical Engineering from the University of Bradford (UK) working on the Modelling of Flow and Diffusion in a Dialysis Process and Master's in Biomedical Engineering from the University Of Surrey (UK) working on Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts. Has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Bio-Surface Chemistry (Ph.D. Thesis Viva took place in Nov 2009) in a collaborative project between the University of Portsmouth (UK) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) - Porton Down (UK), by working in areas such as biomaterials, bioadhesion and drug delivery. Also holds Certificate (Cert) in Computing (with experience in chemometrics using PCA/PLS and other multivariate approaches), Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Scientific Research Methods for Laboratory Scientists from the University of Portsmouth (UK), Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Advanced Academic Studies (Educational degree) from the University of Strathclyde (UK) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Middlesex University (UK). Dimitrios has also participated in numerous workshops, seminars and courses about entrepreneurship, finances, leadership, management (including Pharma Mini MBA), marketing, teaching (including online teaching), and has gain advance experience in a range of research techniques.

Responding to the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items during the pandemic

In March 2020, our team quickly responded in the enormous shortage of PPE, by coming up with a pioneering programme. We used our state-of-the-art 3D printing facility to manufacture different items for the NHS and frontline professionals; for example: face-shields (over 1,500 delivered), "No-touch" hand tools (over 1,600 delivered) and other items (e.g., microplate holders for COVID testing, mask extenders). This rapid response then encouraged other schools and institutions (nationally and internationally) to follow suit. Moreover, Dimitrios transferred the design knowledge to the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, in order to be able to produce these items in continuous process. This generated a lot of positive reputational coverage (e.g., BBC Radio Ulster, Sky News, RTÉ News, Belfast Telegraph, Newspapers in Greece & Italy). The team was nominated for the QUB Staff Excellence Award in the "Community Impact" category & Dimitrios for the National Honour relating to COVID-19 support.

Nano / Microfabrication Techniques in the Manufacturing of Drug Delivery Systems, Medical Devices & Implants

The Lamprou Lab is emerging new materials and manufacturing techniques, in order to address the challenges associated with the manufacture of pharmaceutical systems that will teach new tricks to old drugs and on the development of new personalised medical devices and implants. More specifically, the group areas of interest include:

1) Additive Manufacturing (AM): a) Manufacturing of novel drug delivery systems & medical devices (e.g., catheters, drug eluting vascular grafts, implants for long-acting drug delivery, surgical meshes, microneedles) using innovative 3D printing technologies; including in-house prepared filaments / pellets by hot-melt extrusion (HME) and granules by Twin Screw Granulation (TSG). b) 3D Bioprinting applications in pharmaceutics and tissue engineering (e.g., arterial regeneration, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, cardiac patches, wound healing). The 3D printing Facility hosts >20 * 3D printers (e.g., Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Bioprinters, Digital Light Processing (DLP), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Pellet, Food (Chocolate), and Laser), 5 single-screw HMEs & with access to 4 twin-screw HMEs, Desktop 3D Scanner, and Plastic Injection Moulder. For more info, please visit the 3D Printing & Bioprinting Lab.

2) Electrospinning (melt & solution): Manufacturing of nanofibers for a variety of drug delivery and tissue engineering applications (e.g., cardiac patches, long-acting implantable devices, oral films, surgical mesh implants, wound healing). The facility hosts four electrospinning systems, 3 solution (can also be used as electrospraying for polymeric particle fabrication) and one melt, including co-axial electrospinning and variety of collectors (e.g., flat plate, rotating drum, rotating mandrel).

3) Microfluidics & Microfluidic Devices: a) Manufacturing of Polymer (e.g., PLGA) & lipid-based (e.g., liposomes, SLNs) Nanomedicines using microfluidics and comparison with traditional formulation methods (e.g., extrusion, thin-film hydration) for imaging or treatment or targeting using new or currently available drugs & biologics; including surface modification for cancer treatment/targeting. b) In-house fabrication of microfluidic chips (Lab-on-a-chip) for Pharmaceutical Applications (e.g., Drug Delivery, Drug Screening) by 3D printing and soft photolithography. The microfluidic Lab hosts six microfluidic devices, including temperature controllers and high-speed microscope for the evaluation of the particles and flows in the microfluidic chips.

Studies include: formulation, physicochemical characterization, computational modelling (e.g., Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)), and in vitro & in vivo evaluation. Including the use of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS & BioMEMS) as point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices, biosensors, and drug delivery devices, in combination with 3D Printed or Microfluidic systems.

The lab research involves both the study of material characteristics as well as the application of such knowledge to the design and manufacture of pharmaceutical products & medical devices/implants, including the implementation of concepts such as Scaling-up, Continuous Manufacturing, Quality by Design (QbD) & Process Analytical Technology (PAT; e.g., NIR, MiR, Raman, and UV probes), and the use of Nanocharacterisation Techniques (e.g., AFM, μCT, ToF-SIMS, XPS).

Dimitrios teaching responsibilities cover UG degree programmes and TPG degree programmes in the School of Pharmacy in QUB and in CQC. Topics range from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Emerging Technologies, Biomaterials, Regulatory, to Project Management and Entrepreneurship.

Consistently sustained and enhanced the quality of learning opportunities within the School through effective student engagement and participation; this is evidenced by the high evaluation scores >4.5.

Dimitrios, is also mentor for staff, advising them on educational best practice and of how to develop scholarship in their roles, and is conducting peer reviews for colleagues to help with their development.

Undergraduate – Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme, BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences, BSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

• Drug Design and Pharmaceutical Analysis
• Industry: Quality, Regulation and Entrepreneurship
• Personalised Medicine and Therapeutics
• Medicinal Substances: Characterisation and Quantification

• MPharm and BSc Research Projects

  For the last 3 years, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (NI) Prize for Best Research Project in the BSc courses has been awarded to Dimitrios Project students, Essyrose Mathew (2019), Zara-Louise Farmer (2020), TBA (2021). Many congratulations! 

 Postgraduate – MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics

• Formulation of Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Products
• Leadership & Project Management
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Emerging Technologies
• Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs
• MSc Research Project

Undergraduate – Teaching support at China Queen's College (CQC)

• Industrial Biotechnology
• Quality Assurance & Regulatory Aspects of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

EU Programmes

• Intern Europe programme: Provide work experience to students.
• Erasmus+ traineeships: Supervising and hosting Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students.

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree “Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery” (NANOMED): Provide specialised teaching as Invited Professor.

• Joint international supervision of doctoral theses: Jointly supervised doctoral students with institutions in another EU member states.

• MSc (Industrial Pharmaceutics) Module Co-ordinator (Founder): Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Emerging Technologies (20 CAT); Leadership & Project Management (20 CAT); MSc Research Projects (60 CAT); Industrial Placement Coordinator - also liaised with industries to ensure that the content and skills being taught on the MSc meets their needs in terms of skills and knowledge.

• Seminars Organiser: Organising/Chairing weekly Industrial lunchtime seminars for the BSc (Level 3) & MSc Students; 22 speakers from 18 Pharma and BioPharma industries, per year. 

• School of Pharmacy Committee Memberships: Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SAT; leading the groups of Collegiality & Success and School Events & Outreach Activities); Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee - 1 of the 3 School EDI Champions; Internationalisation Committee; Research Excellence Framework (REF) Reading Group (evaluating all School REF submissions); Research Committee; School Board; Fire Warden.

• University Committee Memberships: Collaborative Provision Group (CPG) Panel; Panel Member of the Programme Evaluation Meetings (PEM) for New Programmes; EDI MHLS faculty committee; MHLS faculty Athena SWAN Working Group; University Racial Equity Co-Champion; PGT School Representative at University PGR & PGT Advisory Body.

• Personal Development Advisor (PDA; Counsellor; Personal Tutor) for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

• Peer Reviewer: Internal and external peer reviewer of grant applications for national and international Research Funding Bodies.

• Support: Assist the School in Career Events and Open Days (including creating new sessions, e.g., 3D printing).

• Mentoring & Supporting: Provide mentoring, support, direct, coach and develop academic staff, research fellows, technical staff, and Ph.D. Students in QUB and other institutions.

• Member of the MATCH interdisciplinary research initiative.

• Communication with the Public and Science Community: e.g., Blog, Twitter, Facebook, School visits, Café Scientifique, Pint of Science, Science Festivals, Researcher in Residence Programme, University Open Days, organising fundraising events, public lectures and workshops.

• Public Engagement Examples: Science Festival (e.g., present 3D-printing and the applications in Pharmaceutical Sciences); High School Café-Science Events (e.g., present hydrogels of different formats and we show examples of hydrogels in our life and as drug delivery systems); Public Lecture & Workshop (e.g., present to elderly, the preparation of tablets using traditional methods and 3D Printing); Organising fundraising events; Visiting Schools.

• Professional Registration Memberships: Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS) & Chair (Founder) of the APS Emerging Technologies Focus Group; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP); Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK); Association of Biomedical Engineers, Medical Engineers and Bioengineers (BioMedEng Association); British Society for Nanomedicine (BSNM); Controlled Release Society (CRS) & Board Member at CRS Communications Group; Chair at United Kingdom and Ireland Controlled Release Society (UKICRS); International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP); Society of Chemical Industry (SCI); Native Scientist.

• Conference Organiser: Active in organising virtual and face-to-face national and international conferences (e.g., APS, SPM, UKICRS), and chairing/organising sections in many other major conferences.

• Organising Fundraising Events: Organising annually events in the School of Pharmacy, such as the “International Women's Day” and the “International Men’s Day” fundraising events.

• Examples of Invited reviews of topical area of research: 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery Devices (Pharmaceutics); How innovative drug delivery devices can help realise clinical utility of new effective therapies (Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery); On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine (Nature Nanotechnology); Characterization of drug delivery vehicles using atomic force microscopy: current status (Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery); 3D printing applications for transdermal drug delivery (International Journal of Pharmaceutics); Engineering and manufacturing of pharmaceutical co-crystals: a review of solvent-free manufacturing technologies (Chemical Communications).

• Examples of Single author publications: Emerging technologies for diagnostics and drug delivery in the fight against COVID-19 and other pandemics (Expert Review of Medical Devices); Emerging Technologies in the Delivery of Proteins and Peptides (BioProcess Online).