Elizabeth Tanner

Prof Elizabeth Tanner is the Bonfield Professor of Biomedical Materials and SEMS External Reputation Champion at Queen Mary University of London. She leads the Materials Engineering Division and directs the Institute of Bioengineering. Her research focuses on biomaterials for orthopaedic applications, including bioactive ceramic-polymer composites for bone/joint replacements and bone biomechanics. She holds honorary fellowships from the Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society of Edinburgh, and an honorary PhD from Lund University.

• Education: DPhil in Engineering Science (University of Oxford), honorary PhD (Lund University)
• Affiliations: Editor of Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part H, former Visiting Professor at Lund University

Research interests include bioactive composites (e.g., HAPEX), osteoarthritis effects on bone properties, and sustainable biomedical materials. Recent projects involve electrospun scaffolds and biodegradable polymers. She coordinates the Bone and Joint Replacement Programme and pioneered Scotland’s first Biomedical Engineering degree at the University of Glasgow.

Key achievements: Over 500,000 clinical uses of HAPEX implants, leadership in international biomaterials conferences, and £11K+ in recent research funding for summer internships. Her work spans material science, cell-biomaterial interactions, and clinical applications.