Oops, I Healed It Again: Autoimmunity and Smarter Healing Tools

The chemical and physical characteristics of manufactured implants can lead to chronic inflammation, potentially leading to implant rejection, patient discomfort and increased medical costs. Bio-mimicking materials are based on the understanding of interactions between cells and the material surfaces which have the potential to reduce persistent inflammation and improve the long-term performance of medical implants. Bio-friendly materials are a promising application to create a boundary between bodily tissues and implanted devices, thereby leading to improved recovery.

My talk will explore the history of managing, diagnosing and understanding autoimmune rheumatic disease – and The City of Bath’s role in this story! From the Roman baths to modern research labs, I will discuss the past, present and future of rheumatology. There will be science, history… and some mentions of bloodletting/leaching (yuck!).