Nicholas Medcalf's Biography

Nicholas Medcalf, , Loughborough University

Nick Medcalf was appointed as Professor of Regenerative Medicine Manufacture at Loughborough University in 2013 under an EPSRC Manufacturing Fellowship Scheme following 36 years in the healthcare industry. He has a particular interest in improving the options for manufacture and supply of advanced therapeutics (such as cell- and tissue-based therapies) by making available appropriate technology for alternative models of business and operation. Building on a career as a chemist and chemical engineer with Glaxo, Resolution Chemicals and Smith & Nephew (S&N) Nick began work in regenerative medicine (RM) in 1997 within the joint venture between Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc. and S&N working on replacements for skin, ligament and cartilage. He was team leader in the UK and managed lab staff to prepare neo-tissue for pre-clinical evaluation, often employing novel bioreactor designs. There were many unanswered questions and few precedents. Nick’s Fellowship Project at Loughborough University is directed towards creating a systems-based approach to regenerative medicine manufacturing. The intention is to build an integrating framework and simulation tools based upon business process re-engineering principles. This will enable new and existing enterprises in regenerative medicine to evaluate their options in silico before committing to a preferred operational system. Activity-based cost analysis and the implications for regulation are important parts of this project.