The group visited the Advanced Materials and Processing Lab where they saw a demonstration of the University’s Renishaw metal 3D printing machines. The machines allow for the design, manufacturing and evaluation of 3D printed, metal implantable medical devices. Dr Sophie Cox, from the Centre for Custom Medical Devices and Dr Morgan Lowther, PhD student, discussed how their research is allowing patients to live longer and healthier lives by creating implants that mechanically match their tissue, so the implant will last longer. In addition, the team at the University are researching new materials for implants that can release an anti-microbial over time that will prevent patients getting infections and make a real difference to patients’ lives.
Professor Ian Thomson, Director of the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business led discussions on this topic. This covered the challenges and misconceptions around being a responsible business and how they are transforming practises within their own respective industries. The Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business sits within Birmingham Business School, and is a challenge-centred, interdisciplinary research and engagement space exploring how businesses can be ‘rewired responsibly’ to inform, shape and energise the Responsible Business Revolution.