Dr Alexandra Iordachescu

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr Alexandra Iordachescu leads a research theme focused on developing organotypic & organoid systems for regenerative medicine and simulating the response of biosystems to extreme environments. These include simulated microgravity, shock and impacts, achieved using a range of specialised capabilities.

Her research also involves studying habitability in extreme environments, such as space habitats and designing bioengineered solutions in support of crew health during deep-space missions. She collaborates with researchers globally for developing the next generation of testing platforms for biomedical research, bioastronautics and defence applications. She is a visiting academic at Cranfield Defence and Security based at the UK Defence Academy, where she co-supervises research in the area of hypervelocity impacts.

She also has a background in space physiology and is involved in initiatives focused on using the low Earth orbit for advancing medical research.

Themes

Artificial organs; Biomaterials; Biomechanics; Biomedical instrumentation; Bionics; Health systems engineering; Medical devices & technology; Microgravity; Molecular and cell engineering; Orthopaedics; Precision medicine; Regenerative medicine; Systems physiology; Tissue engineering; Translational medicine.

Current projects

The application of trabecular bone organoids to investigate mineral-sensing in skeletal physiology and disease.
Iordachescu, A. Funded by the NC3Rs.
From ageing to space travel: Developing an organotypic model of skeletal tissue disuse for understanding degeneration in altered environments.
Iordachescu, A. Funded by the NC3Rs
On the failure of composite panels under hyper-velocity impact. Funded by EPSRC & Cranfield University.
Project Bio-SPHERE (UKRI STFC Boulby UGL partnership).
Consortium for Organotypic Research on Ageing and Microgravity.

Research Groups

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: outcome-oriented, supportive, collaborative.

Provision of Training

I will provide the required training and expertise during the first stages of the project. Subsequently, I will mentor the student to enable them to develop independent methods and techniques.

Progression Monitoring and Management

It is important to be kept up to date, and will expect to see evidence of method development/data generation results on a weekly/monthly basis.

Communication

E-mail is the primary method of communication. I can be contacted on my mobile for urgent matters. I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per month

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per week

Meetings will be a mixture of face to face, via video chat or telephone, and I am usually contactable for an instant response 1 or 2 days per week.

Working Pattern

Work in my lab requires being present on site (be it in a laboratory or at a field site) during defined core hours (or a subset if working part time).

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

An integrated biomanufactory and testing platform for studying advanced biosystems in non-ideal environments

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

An integrated biomanufactory and testing platform for studying advanced biosystems in non-ideal environments

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Kit Windows-Yule

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes: Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Engineered bioactive polymers (containing living matter or acellular) are the next generation of industrial materials, due to their ability to self-regulate, self-heal and process energy. These engineered biosystems, which hold promise for many regenerative medical interventions, are being increasingly used for tissue deterioration, mitigating trauma and enhancing healing. They can address additional healthcare challenges (such as the global shortage of transplantation tissue), by acting as substitutes which can simultaneously restore the biomechanics of an affected site and the original biochemistry; therefore, minimising rejection and enhancing integration with surrounding tissues.

These bioengineered constructs are, however, inherently complex and composed of multiple phases and states, which can undergo significant morphing when exposed to minor fluctuations in the physiological conditions they were designed for. These can include the harsh immunological microenvironment in the body following implantation or during pathologies; or the physical environment when manipulated in non-ideal climates (in emergency medicine, in space or in natural disaster/climate-change affected areas).

There is a lack of capabilities that can evaluate and predict the dynamics of engineered biosystems in these extreme conditions (biological or physical) – these properties are essential for their bioactivity. Such a tool could help with validation, improving manufacture and exploiting the environmental conditions to generate biological constructs with enhanced functionalities and greater stability. Importantly, it would provide a tool to study the interaction of biopolymers with living matter (i.e. human cells) which is important for producing advanced hybrid systems with clinical potential.

At the University of Birmingham, we pioneered several bioengineered models (such as bone organoids [1] and long-term organotypic culture [2]) that can be employed to study both pathological states and the biological response to extreme environments (e.g. simulated microgravity [1]). These biopolymer-based, ‘humanised’ systems, based on 3Rs approaches, were designed also for applications in regenerative medicine by combining typically used surgical reconstruction ceramics and haemostatic agents.

We are looking to develop a new technology that will allow us to concomitantly produce and assess the real-time environmental responses of these/similar biosystems, using state-of-the-art physico-chemical analysis. This apparatus will also allow us to determine the biomaterial effects on cellular physiology, viability and behaviour.

The project will combine tissue engineering and culture techniques with remotely-controlled manufacturing elements and an array of testing units that will assess the kinetics and microstructure of these systems in ideal and non-ideal conditions. The sample microenvironment will be manipulated using a series of biochemical, thermal, vibration-induced and simulated microgravity capabilities. Subsequently, these systems will be assessed in terms of their bioregenerative potential using advanced in-vitro models (organotypic and multi-cellular).

The work will combine optical and mechanical diagnostics with in-depth biochemical characterisation to examine the morphological and biological responses (e.g. high resolution cell microscopy, molecular/genetic analysis, particle tracking analysis, rheology, uXRF, uCT, XRD, spectroscopy). The project will also include CFD and coupled CFD-DEM simulations to allow the exploration of a broader and denser parameter space than is accessible through the experiment alone.

This project would suit a candidate with a background in (bio)physics, chemical/mechanical engineering or mechatronics. Experience in programming and computer modelling is also desirable. Full training will be provided in all areas, including the handling of biological components and the generation of biological models.

References

[1] Iordachescu A. et al. Trabecular bone organoids: a micron-scale ‘humanised’ prototype designed to study the effects of microgravity and degeneration. npj (Nature) Microgravity (2021).

[2] Iordachescu A. et al. An In Vitro Model for the Development of Mature Bone Containing an Osteocyte Network. Advanced Biosystems (2018).