Dr Christopher McCormick

Senior Lecturer

Biomedical Engineering

Personal statement

I am a Senior Lecturer within the Biomedical Engineering Department. I lead a multidisciplinary research team focused on the development of enhanced medical implants. All of my research is carried out in collaoboration with academic colleagues drawn from pharmacology, chemistry, mathematics and engineering, and I have collaborations with a number of clinical groups and industry partners to help advance the more applied aspects of my programme.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

Scottish Crucible Award: Recipient; 2014
Stirling Medical Award: Recipient; 2/2007

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Two circle construction of the reinforced Wheatley valve: McKee Sean, Oliveira Hugo, Cuminato José A, Seed Elizabeth, McCormick Christopher, Kerr Monica Mary, Stewart Iain William, Wheatley David; Biomedical Materials and Devices (2026); https://doi.org/10.1007/s44174-026-00691-4
In-vitro characterization of flexible biomaterials for use within a novel polymeric heart valve: Seed Elizabeth, Kerr Monica Mary, Wheatley David, Stewart Iain William, McKee Sean, McCormick Christopher; ESB2025 (2025)
In vitro development and characterization of a ‘heart valve for all’: Seed Elizabeth, Kerr Monica Mary, Wheatley David, Reid Stuart, McCormick Christopher; BioMedEng25 (2025)
Investigating broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of antibiotic-loaded PLGA coatings: Eccles Sarah, Sherwood Emma, Maclean Michelle, McCormick Christopher; BioMedEng25 (2025)
Rifampicin elution from polymer-antibiotic coatings under flow: Eccles Sarah, Sherwood Emma, Maclean Michelle, McCormick Christopher; 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2025)
In vitro rifampicin release and antimicrobial activity of biodegradable polymer coatings: Fraser Justine, Eccles Sarah, Muangsaen Hathairat, Kadam Aishwarya, Maclean Michelle, McCormick Christopher; 47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2025)

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Teaching

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Teaching

I am the Director of Learning and Teaching within the Biomedical Engineering Department. I also teach on a variety of modules within the MSc/MEng/BEng Biomedical Engineering degree programmes. My current contributions include:

BE911 Engineering Science (Module Coordinator and Lecturer)

BE919 Research Methodology (Module Coordinator and Lecturer)

BE903 Cardiovascular Devices (Coronary Stents and Vascular Grafts lectures)

BE901 Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (Biomaterials for Tissue Scaffolds)

BE101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (Module Coordinator and Lecturer)

I also supervise final year undergraduate research projects and MSc projects.

Research

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Research Interests

I have a number of research interests which range from basic to applied research. My current focus is on the development of cardiovascular and orthopaedic medical implants, which resist infection and integrate effectively with the surrounding cells and tissue. I am currently investigating the role that advanced polymer materials, novel drug delivery technologies, and intelligent monitoring systems have to play in this. Of particular interest to me is the role that endogenous healing responses play in implant performance and how these might be modulated to enhance performance. Similarly, the role of haemodynamics and its influence on vascular graft, stent and valve performance is a current area of focus. We are also exploring the mechanisms governing biofilm formation on medical implants and investigating how these might be inhibited through novel surface coatings. All of my research is carried out in multidisciplinary teams, with academic colleagues drawn from pharmacology, chemistry, mathematics and engineering, and I have collaborations with a number of clinical groups and industry partners to help advance the more applied aspects of my programme.

Professional Activities

MIIT Madras: Visiting researcher; 30/4/2024
Sona College of Technology: Visiting lecturer; 30/4/2024
Scottish Cardiovascular Forum 2021: Participant; 2021
British Society for Cardiovascular Research: Participant; 2019
Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: Challenges and Opportunities: Speaker; 14/11/2018
Modelling & Experiments in Drug Delivery Systems: Member of programme committee; 3/9/2018

More professional activities

Projects

3D-Printed Coronary Artery Disease Models: towards development of personalised interventions and treatments: McCormick, Christopher (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2026 - 24-Jan-2026
ViVitro SuperPump Pulsatile Pump: Kerr, Monica Mary (Principal Investigator) McCormick, Christopher (Co-investigator) Reid, Stuart (Co-investigator) Stewart, Iain William (Co-investigator) McKee, Sean (Co-investigator) Wheatley, David (Visiting Academic) Seed, Elizabeth (Post Grad Student); Total equipment cost of £29,200 with £19,200 awarded from EPSRC Core Equipment Fund and £10,000 contribution from BME.; 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2026
Towards practical multifunctional biomaterials: development of anti-infective and pro-endothelialisation vascular graft coatings: Lau, K H Aaron (Principal Investigator) McCormick, Christopher (Co-investigator); 07-Jan-2024 - 06-Jan-2028
DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Seed, Elizabeth: McCormick, Christopher (Principal Investigator) Reid, Stuart (Co-investigator) Seed, Elizabeth (Research Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2027
Development of a functional organ-in-lab model of human vascular aging: Wu, Junxi (Principal Investigator) Sandison, Mairi (Co-investigator) McCormick, Christopher (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2025
EPSRC IAA: Towards Clinical Translation of the Wheatley Heart Valve: McCormick, Christopher (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2025