Projects
Research grants and awards held in the PNT Lab, from European consortia to translational seed funding.
Current projects
EUzymat – Eutectozymes as innovative antioxidant materials for biomedical applications
European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-SE-01) · €173K
A four-year international staff-exchange programme developing eutectic-solvent-based enzyme-mimicking (eutectozyme) antioxidant materials for biomedical use.
Evaluating therapeutic response in adult and paediatric brain cancers using patient-derived 3D tumour models
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) · £35K
Extends the lab's nanomedicine platform into patient-derived paediatric brain-tumour models.
MyExoFat – Patient-derived micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) exosomes as drug delivery vehicles for glioblastoma
Confidence for Translation (C4T) Award, Translation Manchester / MRC · £75K
Translational development of adipose-tissue-derived exosomes as carriers for localised glioblastoma therapy.
In-situ forming peptide-based subcutaneous solid depot for long-term delivery of cancer drugs
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) · £76K
The lab leads the in vitro assessment of the developed long-acting depots.
Alginate-based hydrogels for complex 3D scaffolds with biochemical, mechanical and physiological relevance
UoM EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway Fellowship 2025/26 (Fellow: Dr Rebekah Kay) · £59.5K
An externally funded, independent early-career fellowship hosted in the PNT Lab.
HALo – EPSRC National Hub for Advanced Long-Acting Therapeutics (Healthcare Technologies theme)
EPSRC · £10M national Hub, £1.56M at UoM
The lab leads the development and characterisation of in vitro fluidic models for long-acting therapeutics.
Previous projects
Cell membrane-derived nanoparticles delivering nucleic acids for pre-eclampsia
Manchester–Melbourne–Toronto Research Fund (UoM) · £9K
A three-continent collaboration that delivered a placenta-on-a-chip model.
CD200-engineered microglial nanoparticles encapsulating IKK-16 for glioblastoma therapy
Nuttall Funding Award, Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre (UoM) · £25K
Established testing of the lab's nanotherapeutics on human patient tissue with the Division of Neuroscience.
Upcycling fat tissue for localised glioblastoma treatment
Drug Discovery & Advanced Therapeutics Innovation Lab Award, Wellcome Trust & NIHR via Translation Manchester · £20K
Seed project that generated the preliminary data behind the MyExoFat C4T award.
Reprogramming glioblastoma’s microenvironment using bio-membrane engineered nano-modulators
Royal Society Research Grant · £44K
The lab's first externally peer-reviewed award as an independent group; equipped the core of the laboratory.
Earlier awards & fellowships
Junior Leader Postdoctoral Fellowship
"la Caixa" Foundation
Competitive European postdoctoral fellowship supporting independent research in nanomedicine.
Seal of Excellence
European Commission
Awarded to a highly rated proposal submitted to a Horizon Europe call.
