Alberto SaianiView profile
Professor
Professor Alberto Saiani is a distinguished academic in molecular materials and biomaterials science at the University of Manchester's Division of Pharmacy & Optometry. He holds a PhD in Polymer Physics from the University of Strasbourg and has held postdoctoral positions in Japan, the UK, and Belgium. Previously a lecturer at Blaise Pascal University (2000–2002), he joined Manchester's Department of Materials in 2002, co-founding the Polymers & Peptides Research Group. In 2022, he transitioned to Pharmacy & Optometry to advance translational biomaterial research for clinical applications. Education: MSc in Soft Condensed Matter Physics, University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France PhD in Polymer Physics, University of Strasbourg Research Focus: His work centers on self-assembling peptides and hydrogels for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Key innovations include the PeptiGels® technology commercialized via Manchester BIOGEL (2014–2023), now under Cell Guidance Systems. His research bridges fundamental polymer science with clinical translation, addressing challenges in biomaterial design and biocompatibility. Awards & Fellowships: JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (Japan) RAEng Industrial Fellowship (2006) EPSRC 5-Year Research Fellowship (2013) Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2016) Grants & Projects: Co-Investigator on three BHF PhD Studentships (2017–2023), focusing on cardiovascular and regenerative medicine. His work is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations within the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and the Advanced Materials in Medicine platform. Labs & Groups: Leads the Polymers & Peptides Research Group, pioneering peptide-based biomaterials for 3D cell culture, bioprinting, and combination therapies. Active in the Manchester Regenerative Medicine Network and Christabel Pankhurst Institute.








