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Research group

Skin Sensing Research Group

Close up of a skin sensor being placed on a patient's arm

Our research explores skin health and comfort using sensing technologies. We improve medical devices and wearable products to increase quality of life, patient safety and health outcomes.

Part of Health science

About

We are a multidisciplinary group advancing knowledge of skin function, health, technology and comfort. A particular focus is co-designing new technologies that promote healthy skin, thermal comfort and the prevention of chronic wounds.

We carry out basic, applied and clinical research. Key areas we study include:

  • aetiology of skin and soft tissue damage from mechanical and thermal interactions
  • human thermoregulation and sensory function in health and disease
  • medical device innovation, from healthcare to consumer products
  • wearable technologies to promote health and wellbeing across the life course

Our findings inform clinical guidelines and international standards for device testing. They also shape the design and development of:

  • new medical devices
  • support surfaces
  • sportswear
  • consumer products

We offer consultancy services and welcome opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and business. Successful spin-out company Radii Devices was a result of the new technologies we developed.

Our partners include healthcare providers, policy makers and industry from the NHS to regulatory bodies like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

We have strong ties with University Hospital Southampton. They host our testing labs and let us use their clinical research facilities. The facilities in the PressureLab allow us to measure device performance and run clinical trials. We can also measure the body's thermoregulatory, cardio-metabolic and sensory responses to thermal stress using our Thermosense lab.

Learn about the impact of our research. Explore our Research Excellence Framework 2021 case studies:

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Davide Filingeri BSc, MSc, PGCAP, PhD

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Davide’s original research programme investigates:
  • i) the biophysical and physiological mechanisms that allow humans to sense changes in the temperature and wetness of their skin.
  • ii) the role of these mechanisms in body temperature regulation and the initiation of thermal behaviours.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: d.filingeri@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Dr Florence Mbithi BSc, MSc, PhD, CEng, MIMechE

Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Skin health and pressure ulcersApplied biomechanical engineeringModern prosthetics designBiomedical engineeringAutonomous systems

Miss Hannah Blount MSc

Research interests

  • Thermal Physiology
  • Gender differences
  • Aerospace Physiology

Email: h.blount@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Miss Hemalatha Jayabal

Research interests

  • Biomarkers
  • Skin damage
  • Point of Care diagnosis

Miss Jade Ward MSc

Research interests

  • Skin Health
  • Thermal Physiology
  • Perceptual Sensing of the Skin-Wetness Perception, Thermal Sensation and Tactile Sensitivity 

Email: j.ward@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Mr Laurence Russell

Research interests

  • Biomechanics
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Computational modelling

Email: l.j.russell@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Professor Lisette Schoonhoven

Email: l.schoonhoven@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Professor Pete Worsley

Professor

Research interests

  • Skin and Soft Tissue Health
  • Bioengineering
  • Healthcare Technologies

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: p.r.worsley@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Dr Ralph Gordon BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Thermal and Exercise Physiology
  • Heat Acclimation/Acclimatization
  • Skin Cooling

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: r.j.f.h.gordon@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Dr Silvia Caggiari

Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Skin Heath
  • Biomechanics
  • Healthcare Technologies

Accepting applications from PhD students

Contact

Contact us

Get in touch with the Skin Sensing Research Group, we welcome enquiries.

Group administrator

Clinical research laboratory

Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, UK time
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