Professor Dimitrios Lamprou (Ph.D. MBA) is the Chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing & Director at MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics at Queen's University Belfast. He is also the Chair at United Kingdom and Ireland Controlled Release Society (UKICRS) and Visiting Professor in a number of International Institutions. Dimitrios is leading a vibrant multi-cultural and interdisciplinary group, and involved in many different committees within the school, faculty, university, nationally, and internationally.

Dimitrios is a subject matter expert in Emerging Biopharmaceutical & Pharmaceutical Technologies, and has been recognised as world leader in 3D Printing & Microfluidics with PubMed-based algorithms placed him in the top 0.1% of scholars in the world writing about 3D Printing and in the top 0.07% of scholars in the world writing about microfluidics, over the past 10 years. Moreover, PubMed-based algorithms placed him in the top 0.6% of scholars in the world writing about nanofibers. Dimitrios, has also been named in the Stanford University's list of World's Top 2% Scientists, for several consecutive years, for his research in Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering.

Dimitrios recent research focuses on four major areas using Emerging Technologies: nanoparticles for imaging & therapeutic applications, lab-on-a-chip & microfluidic devices in Pharmaceutics and Diagnostics, implants for therapeutic delivery & tissue engineering, and sustainability in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Prior to his current appointment (Full Professor / Chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing; May 2022 – Present), Dimitrios was Reader in Pharmaceutical Engineering (May 2018 – April 2022) at Queen's University Belfast (UK), 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), Visiting Scientist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology) in 2011, and Visiting Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT; Center for Biomedical Engineering; US) in 2010.

Dimitrios, has experience of teaching in Higher Education in UK, including experience in MPharm & Master courses accreditations in 3 UK institutions, and in preparing 2 de novo Master's degree programmes in 2 UK institutions (both schools ranked on the top 40 in the world). Has secure as Co-I or PI, National (e.g., EPSRC, SULSA) and International (e.g., HORIZON 2020, Commonwealth, NIH) Funding, in excess of £5M, and is currently involved in a variety of industrial projects (e.g., Janssen, Merck) and collaborates with academic partners and clinicians within the UK and internationally. He has an extended experience working with leading pharmaceutical, biological and cosmetics companies.

Dimitrios, is the author of more than 160 peer-reviewed publications (including in Chem - IF 25.832 & in Nature Nanotechnology - IF 40.523), has over 450 conference abstracts, and has given over 180 Invited Talks at International Conferences and Universities. 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 30 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 5 to 20) and book publishers (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley).

Research Funding Referee: 30+, nationally (e.g., EPSRC, MRC) and internationally (e.g., Hungary, Italy), and peer-review for EU / QUB / UKRI, and regularly sits in EPSRC board panels. 

Editorial Work: Editor for Heliyon (Pharmaceutical Sciences), Section Editor-in-Chief for Pharmaceutics (Physical Pharmacy and Formulation), Associate Editor at Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Associate Editor at Frontiers in Medical Technology (Nano-Based Drug Delivery), Guest Editor for 30+ Special Issues in International Refereed Journals (e.g., International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Polymers) and Editorial Board Member for 5+ Refereed Journals.

External Leadership:  Committee Member of the Bio-Effective Surface Treatment (BEST​) - Advisory Group, Committee Member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) AMT/8 for Additive Manufacturing, External Examiner in Pharmaceutics for UG courses at Newcastle University (UK; 2020-2024), External Examiner at MSc Pharmaceutical Industry Advanced Training (PIAT) at University of Manchester (UK; 2022-2024); PhD Programme Board at University of Urbino Carlo Bo (Italy; May 2022 – Present); Visiting Professor at University of Pavia (Italy; Aug 2023 – Present), Visiting Professor at University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy; Jun 2024 – Present), Viva Voce Postgraduate Examiner for PGR programmes (MRes, MPhil, and Ph.D.; 40+) for National & International Institutions, member of the External Evaluation Committee (EEC) for the evaluation & accreditation process for UG & PGT courses at Cyprus Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, member at the accreditation team to evaluate and review national pharmacy degree programmes (MPharm) in Irish Schools of Pharmacy The Pharmacy Regulator (PSI), member of the evaluation panel(s) for the Election and Promotion of Faculty members in Greek Institutions, and Invited Professor at Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree “Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery” (NANOMED; Oct 2018 – Present). Dimitrios also serves on numerous conference committees and scientific panels, and he is also member of three COST Actions (European Network for Skin Engineering and Modeling, European Network for diagnosis and treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, and The European Network on Osteoarthritis) and Co-I in the EPSRC Network Grant titled "Bioactive Effective Surface For Transport Network (BEST Network)". 

Example of Awards: Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Science Award, Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) Leaders Scheme Award, and Doctor Honoris Causa Award by Semmelweis University (Hungary).

Academic / Professional Qualifications: Dimitrios has been trained in multi-disciplinary areas, worked in projects across disciplines, and in first class laboratories in several countries, including the UK, the US (e.g., Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Greece. 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), Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Middlesex University (UK), and a Doctor Honoris Causa by Semmelweis University (Hungary). Dimitrios has also participated in numerous workshops, seminars and courses about entrepreneurship, finances, leadership, management (including Pharma Mini MBA), marketing, teaching (including improving/developing online teaching), and has gain advance experience in a range of research techniques. Dimtirios, has significant experience of project planning and delivery, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact with a range of stakeholders from industry and academia.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: Public engagement is an important and essential activity for our lab members. Sharing our work with the public who fund it and the wider world is a crucial part of our mission. Our Lab is very active, participating in a variety of public engagement opportunities, such as School Visits, Café Scientifique, Pint of Science, Science Festivals, Researcher in Residence Programme, University Open Days, and by organising fundraising events, public lectures and workshops. 

Applying Emerging Nano & Microfabrication Techniques in the Manufacturing of Drug Delivery Systems, Medical Devices, and Implants

The Lamprou Research 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. The current research hot-topics / themes in the lab, include:

1) Additive Manufacturing (AM): a) Manufacturing of novel drug delivery systems, implants & medical devices (e.g., catheters, drug eluting vascular grafts, implants for long-acting drug delivery, surgical meshes, microneedles, oral dosage forms) using innovative 3D printing technologies. b) 3D Bioprinting applications in pharmaceutics and tissue engineering (e.g., arterial regeneration, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, cardiac patches, wound healing). c) 4D printing systems for the manufacturing of scaffolds, implants, and targeted drug delivery systems. d) Bioinks & Filaments: In-house prepared Bio-inks using natural or synthetic polymers, and preparation of drug-loaded or empty filaments by hot-melt extrusion (HME).

The implantable medical devices that manufactured / designed in our lab, can be used for the delivery of a variety of molecules for the treatment of diversity of diseases, such Cardiovascular, Cancer (e.g., Breast, Prostate), Diabetes, Gynaecological, HIV, Ocular, and Parkinson’s, among many others.

For more information about our extensive work in Additive Manufacturing, please visit the 3D Printing & Bioprinting Lab. 

Our Lab, has been recognised as world leaders in 3D Printing, with PubMed-based algorithms placed us in the top 0.1% of scholars in the world writing about 3D Printing, over the last 10-years. 

2) Electrohydrodynamic Processes: a) Manufacturing of medical nanofibers by electrospinning (melt or solution) for a variety of drug delivery and tissue engineering applications (e.g., cardiac patches, long-acting implantable devices, oral films, solid dispersions, surgical mesh implants, wound healing). b) Electrospray: coating of implants (e.g., stents) or preparation of microparticles. 

PubMed-based algorithms placed us in the top 0.6% of scholars in the world writing about nanofibers.

3) Microfluidics & Lab-on-a-chip Devices: a) Manufacturing of polymer-based (e.g., PLGA), lipid-based (e.g., liposomes, Solid lipid nanoparticles, niosomes, exosomes), hydrid, supramolecular assembly, metal-based (e.g., Au), and Nanocrystalline Nanomedicines using microfluidics and comparison with traditional formulation methods (e.g., extrusion, high-pressure homogenization, 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 (including Lab-on-a-chip / Organ-on-a-chip) for Pharmaceutical Applications (e.g., Drug Delivery, Drug Screening, Monitoring) by 3D printing or moulding.

PubMed-based algorithms placed us in the top 0.07% of scholars in the world writing about microfluidics, over the past 10-years.

4) PoC & Biosensors: Use of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) & BioMEMS as point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices, biosensors, and drug delivery devices, in combination with 3D Printed (e.g., Microneedles) or Microfluidic systems. Moreover, Our Lab is using emerging technologies (e.g., BioMEMS, Microfluidics, Bioprinting) for the manufacturing of novel devices to improve clinical decision-making treatment choices, provide precision diagnostics, and significantly improve the quality of life at a global level (e.g., Microfluidic technology for rapid and effective detection of food allergens, detection of viral infections, and tumors).

Our studies include: a) From conceptualization to formulation to in vivo analysis: Conceptualization, Formulation, physicochemical characterization, Computational Modelling (e.g. Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)), and in vitro, ex vivo & in vivo evaluation. b) Implementation of concepts such as Scaling-out, Scaling-up, Continuous Manufacturing, Quality by Design (QbD) & Process Analytical Technology (PAT; e.g., NIR, MiR, Raman, and UV probes). c) Machine Learning /  Artificial Intelligence: variety of methods in Additive Manufacturing and Microfluidics. d) Advanced Characterisation: Use of state-of-the-art Nanocharacterisation techniques (e.g., AFM, μCT, ToF-SIMS, XPS). e) Sustainability & Supply-Chain: The lab is a Sustainable Lab and has received the Sustainable Lab Awards Silver S-Lab & is engaged in the pilot lab sustainability program LEAF.

Research and teaching are not separated activities and it is important to use both to benefit students experience and development of students and staff.

Dimitrios teaching responsibilities cover UG and PGT degree programmes in the School of Pharmacy in QUB and in CQC. Topics range from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Emerging Technologies, Biomaterials, Biofabrication, 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.

Majority of Dimitrios edited books, have been recommended and employed as textbooks for UG and PG modules and courses nationally and internationally.

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

• Drug Design and Pharmaceutical Analysis (2018/19)
• Industry: Quality, Regulation and Entrepreneurship (Since 2019)
• Personalised Medicine and Therapeutics (2018/19)
• Medicinal Substances: Characterisation and Quantification (2018/19)
• Research Projects for MPharm & BSc courses (Since 2018)
• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (NI) Prize for Best BSc Research Project. Between 2019 and 2021, the lab offered BSc research projects, and each of these years, the prize awarded to Dimitrios Project students. Awardees: Essyrose Mathew (2019), Zara-Louise Farmer (2020), and Katie Glover (2021). Many congratulations! 
• MPharm Admission Interviews.

 Postgraduate – MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics

• Formulation of Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Products (2019/21)
• Leadership & Project Management (Since 2019)
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Emerging Technologies (Since 2019)
• Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (Since 2019)
• MSc Research Project (Since 2019)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice

• Specialised teaching and marking – Pharmaceutical Project Management and Leadership (Since 2020)

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

• Industrial Biotechnology (2019)
• Quality Assurance & Regulatory Aspects of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (2019)

Continuing professional development (CPD), short courses and workshops

Provide hands-on training courses & workshops on a variety of topics.

EU Programmes

• Intern Europe programme: Provide work experience to students.
• Erasmus+ traineeships: Supervising and hosting Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students (Since 2012).
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree “Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery” (NANOMED): Provide specialised teaching as Invited Professor (Since 2018).
• NanoReMedi: External Evaluator at NanoReMedi Since 2022, with the mission to define a joint doctorate educational training model in Functional Nano-Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine where Academia and Industry join their forces to create a highly innovative research network for training a new generation of researchers.
• Joint international supervision of doctoral theses: Jointly supervised doctoral students since 2019, with institutions in another EU member states (e.g., Greece, Italy, Poland).
• Specialised teaching as invited professor in a number of Italian Institutions (e.g., Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Università di Pavia, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo).
• Seminars and workshops in several Indian Universities and Schools.

• Programme Director (Founder) at MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics (Since 2018)
• MSc (Industrial Pharmaceutics) Module Co-ordinator (Founder): Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Emerging Technologies (20 CAT; 2019-2021); Leadership & Project Management (20 CAT; Since 2019); MSc Research Projects (60 CAT; 2019-2021); Industrial Placement Coordinator (2019-2024) - 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.
• Course Recruitment: In my role as the Director for MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics, I have promoted the MSc, BSc and MPharm courses in-person in several countries including China (2019) and India (2024), locally, and by giving several webinars (Since 2019). I have had an integral role in the brand and video for the MSc. I have also advertised the MSc and the School of Pharmacy PGR courses in my international presentations / visits, and supporting further the student recruitment. I am also the Admissions Lead for the MSc.
• Seminar Organiser: Organising / Chairing MSc Industrial seminars since 2019; 20+ Pharma and BioPharma industries have been involved.
• School of Pharmacy Committee Memberships: Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SAT; from 2018 and until 2021, I was leading the groups of Collegiality & Success and School Events & Outreach Activities); Education Committee; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee - 1 of the 3 School EDI Champions; Internationalisation Committee; Personal Development Reviewer (PDR); Research Excellence Framework (REF) Reading Group (evaluating all School REF submissions since 2018); 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 Champion; Postgraduate Taught (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, lab-on-a-chip).
• 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 Materials & Advanced Technologies for Healthcare (MATCH) interdisciplinary research initiative.
• Key team member of The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), leading the pharma research topic.
• 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 Nationally & Internationally.

• Support the National and international agenda: Giving invited talks (in average 1 per month since 2012) and ensuring in bringing more Industrial funding and international students (especially PG). Contributing significantly to the internationalism agenda through publications in international journals (160+), participating in research conferences (e.g., organising, presenting, chairing), cross-disciplinary research (securing funding for bringing the gap between disciplines), established international collaborations (e.g., NIH and EU grants, COST Action and UKRI Network grants), and always hosting students (e.g., Erasmus+) and researchers. MSc marketing (e.g., face-to-face visits and personal emails to international institutions promoting the MSc & PGR courses), webinars to recruit PG students, attracting to the school international students and researchers from visits to national and international institutions, traveling abroad (e.g., Egypt, India, Qatar) to specifically visit institutions and agencies for promoting institution, and be a key member in Strategic Partnership discussions with top ranked international institutions. 

• Professional (Current) Registration Memberships: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP); Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK); British Society for Nanomedicine (BSNM); Controlled Release Society (CRS); UK BioIndustry Association (BiA); Chair at United Kingdom and Ireland Controlled Release Society (UKICRS); Native Scientist; Organ-on-a-chip Technologies Network; Bioactive Effective Surface For Transport Network (BEST Network); UK Metamaterials Network; EPSRC Design for AM Network.
• 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: Emerging Technologies for Combatting Pandemics (Expert Review of Medical Devices); The Sustainability of Emerging Technologies for Use in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery); 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).