Silvia Caggiari

Profile

I am a bioengineer by background. After my MSc studies, I pursued an area of research through fellowships within the framework of a collaboration between the Regional Multiple Sclerosis of Sardinia and the “Biomechanics and Industrial Ergonomics” Laboratory at the University of Cagliari (Italy) where I led several research projects aiming at evaluating the impaired movement patterns of individuals affected by neurological diseases e.g., Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson, using a range of sensing technologies including 3D motion capture, wearable actimetry sensors, plantar pressure.

In 2016, I joined the Skin Sensing Research group at the University of Southampton (UK) to undertake an iCase EPSRC PhD. The programme of research was designed to develop a predictive algorithm to detect movement patterns in individuals whilst lying or sitting for prolonged time periods, for the prevention of a clinical condition termed Pressure Ulcer. During my doctorate research, I developed analytical methodologies and intelligent algorithms involving, AI to detect posture and mobility from interface pressure data. The algorithm was sucessfully translated to patients in acute care settings, e.g. spinal cord injured, offering the potential to inform effective personalised prevention strategies and self-management of posture and pressure ulcer risk.

In 2020, I was appointed post-doctoral research fellow on a 18-month ESPRC COVID Rapid Response call ‘A BioEngineering approach for the SAFE design and fitting of Respiratory Protective Equipment’ (BE-SAFE RPE) (2020-2022). I led work packages to evaluate the goodness of fit of respirator devices, designing a novel algorithm and imaging data to objectively estimate their goodness of fit. I also led the analysis of a national data set of respirator fitting outcomes, in collaboration with NHS England, demonstrating the inequality of respirator fitting for females and ethnic minorities, with an associated report being submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care for the COVID response enquiry. In 2022, I was appointed named researcher on the EPSRC funded project ‘Intelligent Sensing to Promote Self-management of Posture and Mobility in Community dwelling Individuals’ (2022-2025), where I led the technical development and bench to bedside testing for translation of pressure sensing technologies to address the unmet need of providing assistive technologies for promotion of self-management of posture, mobility, and pressure risk in both hospital and the community. Throughout these projects, I have developed a national and international reputation which has resulted in several invited speaker talks at international conferences, in becoming a member of the ‘Pressure Injury Panel Group’ to contribute to the clinical guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention (2023) and a European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) trustee position (2024). I also received the EPUAP Early Career Award 2024 in recognition of my achievements in the pressure ulcer field.

During my time in Southampton, I was involved in a number of research and enterprise projects across disciplines, which I was awarded as PI through institutional fundings and Co-I through research or enterprise contracts. One of these projects resulted in a patent filed in 2023. Early this year, I also secured a iCASE PhD studentship as PI, in collaboration with Winchester School of Art and Medstrom, company based in the Midlands who are national leaders in manufacturing devices of pressure ulcers prevention.

In 2023, I was also awarded a prestigious and competitive EPSRC Business and Commercialisation fellowship, which provided me with the opportunity to build a strong foundation in enterprise to support translation of research. 

In October 2024, I moved to Leeds as senior research fellow in biomechanics of human movement working on a project that is developing a low cost gait retrainer for people living with a spinal cord injury.

Research interests

My research interests surround the scientific understanding of key healthcare challenges and how to address them with technology innovation.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioengineering/Health Sciences
• MSc in Bioengineering
• BSc in Bioengineering
• FHEA

Professional memberships

• EPUAP trustee

Student education

I have taught modules where I deliver research-informed teaching on the following learning outcomes:

- Understanding the fundamental of pressure ulcer development

- Preventive strategies and treatments in clinical practice

- Patients and care providers perspective on managing pressure ulcer risk

- Bioengineering technologies and biomechanical interactions to support and promote skin heath

- Role of prosthetics in amputees and their implications on skin and soft tissue health.

I am currently working to establish my her teaching contribution within the School of Biomedical Sciences.