• Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials, 2005.
• Lecturer in Biomaterials, School of Dentistry, 1997.
• PhD in Microbial Genetics, University of Birmingham,  1980.
• BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Birmingham, 1976.

Dr Sammons graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1976 with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences. She gained her PhD in 1980 on the biochemistry and genetics of spore germination of Bacillus subtilis 168. She was then awarded a Royal Society European Exchange Fellowship to work at the Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS, Gif-sǔr-Yvette, France on chromosomal rearrangements in Bacillus subtilis trpE26. She returned to Birmingham in 1982 to resume work on the molecular biology of bacterial spore germination but in 1988 she moved to the Department of Anatomy, to take up a Research Fellowship as a cell biologist. In 1991 she was awarded a Senior Research Fellowship by the charity “Action Research” to work on the molecular biology of osteoblast-hydroxyapatite interactions and the influence of calcium phosphate phase variability in plasma sprayed coatings on bone cell behaviour. She moved to the School of Dentistry and was made a lecturer in biomaterials in 1997, senior lecturer in 2005 and has been Course Leader of the BMedSc(Biomedical Materials Science) degree programme since 2001.

Infections associated with implanted medical devices cause considerable problems because they can rarely be successfully treated with antibiotics and in most cases the implant has to be removed. Dr Sammons research focuses on ways to improve cellular attachment and differentiation on titanium surfaces and inhibit bacterial attachment and proliferation. This may include ion implantation or application of coatings (especially hydroxyapatite) which optimise the tissue response and reduce bacterial interactions. Sammons has published several papers on biofilms and biomineralisation, having worked for several years on the manufacture of hydroxyapatite by a species of Serratia bacteria. She maintains collaborative links with researchers and companies in Japan, initiated by a BBSRC Japan Partnering award, and in Europe via membership of a Eureka! Consortium, as well as collaborative links with Italian and Swedish researchers, working on cell-dental implant interactions and degradation of bone-substitute materials, using the scanning electron microscope as an investigative tool. She was recently awarded a grant from the Furlong Charitable Foundation to carry out a collaborative programme of research on the development of reinforced artificial ligaments.

• BMedSc.
• BDS.
• MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice. 

Dr Sammons is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the area of:-

Modification of titanium and hydroxyapatite surfaces for optimisation of tissue interactions and prevention of bacterial attachment and proliferation.

Research Interests:

• Development of tissue engineered ligaments: This is a collaborative project with Drs Liam Grover and Jennifer Paxton, Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham and the Japanese company Hi-Lex. Funded by Furlong Charitable Foundation, the aim of the project is to develop a reinforced tendon for repair of injuries to tendons and ligaments. Project commenced March 2011.
• Development of antimicrobial titanium surfaces and perimplantitis: The aim of this research is to investigate bacterial attachment to commercial titanium (dental implant) surfaces in order to develop modified surfaces that will deter bacterial attachment. This project is funded by an EPSRC Advantage West Midlands Case Studentship and commenced November 2010. A linked project involves collaboration with Dr H. Dong (metallurgy and Materials), developing active Screen Plasma Alloying for manufacture of wear-resistant antimicrobial surfaces.
• Antimicrobial bone cements: The aim of this research is to investigate the feasibility of incorporation of antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances into various types of calcium phosphate bone cement. This is a collaborative project with Dr Mike Hoffmann and commenced October 2010.
• Tissue reactions to bone-anchored hearing aids: Investigation of biofilm formation and inflammatory response to bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA); Like dental implants, BAHAs form a bridge connecting the external environment and sterile bone. Approximately 20% of patients suffer an adverse skin reaction to the implants. This collaborative research project is investigating the inflammatory response to BAHAs, focussing on the presence of inflammatory markers in tissue exudate and biofilm formation on the internal implant screws. This is a collaborative project involving several staff.  in the School of Dentistry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
• Bacterial biomineralisation by a species of Serratia This project was initially funded by a BBSRC until 2005 and the work has continued to 2010 via PhD and Masters studentships in Dental School and School of Engineering (Metallurgy and Materials). The bacteria manufacture hydroxyapatite via a mechanism involving an acid-phosphatase enzyme located in the bacterial cell wall that cleaves organic phosphates, liberating incorganic phosphates that combine with calcium ions to form mineral. Analogous to bone mineral formation, the method can be used to form 3D scaffolds whose surface topography resembles that of the original biofilm and is a non-line-of sight method of coating metal and polymer substrates with hydroxyapatite.

Dr Sammons represents the University of Birmingham in European Eureka consortium Bionanocomposit 3033! (http://www.eureka.be;“Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite Ceramics – “New Implant Material) (partners in Latvia, Rumania, France, Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland); 2005-2011.

(Chapter in a Book) Sammons, RL. (2011) “Modifying biomaterial surfaces to optimise interactions with bone” In Williams R (ed) Surface modification of biomaterials; Methods, analysis and applications. Woodhead Publishing, Oxford. pp 365-391.

Mangano, C., Mangano, F., Shibli J.A., Tettamanti, L., Figliuzzi, M., d’Avila, S., Sammons, RL, Piattelli, A. (2011) Prospective evaluation of 2,549 Morse Taper Connection Implants: 1-6-year Data. Journal of Periodontology, 82: 52-61.

Dong, Y; Li, X; Tian, L; Bell, T; Sammons, RL; Dong, H. (2011) Towards long-lasting antibacterial stainless steel surfaces by combining double low plasma silvering with active screen plasma nitriding,  Acta Biomaterialia, 7:447-457.

Sammons R.L., Wang, A., Thackray, A., Yong, P, Kuboki, Y., Ametani, A., Macaskie, L.E. (2010), Bacterial Calcification: Friend or Foe? (Review), Nano Biomedicine 2: 71-80.

Dong, YC; Li, XY; Sammons, R; Dong, HS. (2010) The Generation of Wear-Resistant Antimicrobial Stainless Steel Surfaces by Active Screen Plasma Alloying with N and Nanocrystalline A. Journal of Materials Research Part B – Applied Materials, 93B: 185-193.

Lindgren, C; Hallman, M; Sennerby, L; Sammons, R. (2009) Back-scattered electron imaging and elemental analysis of retrieved bone tissue following sinus augmentation with deproteinized bovine bone or biphasic calcium phosphate. Journal of Materials Research Part A, 88A: 823-831.

Slater, N; Dasmah, A; Sennerby, L; Hallman, M; Piattelli, A; Sammons, R. (2008) Back-scattered electron imaging and elemental microanalysis of retrieved bone tissue following maxillary sinus floor augmentation with calcium sulphate Clinical Oral Implants Research 19:814-822.

Ledo, HM; Thackray, AC; Jones, IP; Marquis, PM; Macaskie, LE; Sammons, RL. (2008) Microstructure and composition of biosynthetically synthesised hydroxyapatite. Journal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine, 19:3419-3427.