What is a membrane?
What is a membrane?
Podcast Description
Aston University's podcast, What is a membrane, is hosted by the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME).
It shines a spotlight on its latest research in fields as varied as water purification and drug discovery.
AIME combines world-class expertise in membrane biology and polymer chemistry, bringing together scientists who wouldn't usually speak to each other, let alone work together. AIME supported by a £10m award from the Research England Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Programme.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various themes related to membrane research including water purification, drug development, and bioprinting, with episodes featuring groundbreaking technologies like the Quantum X bioprinter used for creating living cell structures and engineering bacteria to optimize membrane protein production.
Aston University’s podcast, What is a membrane, is hosted by the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME).
It shines a spotlight on its latest research in fields as varied as water purification and drug discovery.
AIME combines world-class expertise in membrane biology and polymer chemistry, bringing together scientists who wouldn’t usually speak to each other, let alone work together. AIME supported by a £10m award from the Research England Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Programme.
Jedi jam and bioprinting
In this episode of What is a Membrane?, host Dr Matt Derry is joined by Dr Emma Shepherd, Dr Dominic Mosses, and Dr David Jenkins to explore the groundbreaking Quantum X bio printer at Aston University — the first of its kind in the UK.
Installed in 2024 with support from the BBSRC, this cutting-edge bioprinter uses ultra-precise lasers to create intricate 3D structures of living cells within a gel scaffold — mimicking real organ and tissue environments. The team discusses how this revolutionary technology is transforming research into diseases, drug development, and tissue engineering.
Dr Shepherd explains the process with a little help from “Jedi jelly” and “lightsabres,” while Dr Jenkins shares how brain and liver tissues can now be printed to study real-life biological systems in stunning detail. Dr Mosses also highlights why this printer sets a new standard in bioprinting.
Discover how this sci-fi-sounding tech is advancing science in real time.
Learn more about the Quantum X bio printer and how researchers can access it by emailing: [email protected].
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