Dr Caroline S. Taylor BMedSci, MSc, PhD, FHEA

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2024
• PhD in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, University of Sheffield, 2018
• MSc in Biomedical Science with Neuroscience (Distinction), Nottingham Trent University, 2012
• BMedSc in Biomedical Materials Science, University of Birmingham, 2010

Dr Caroline Taylor joined University of Birmingham as an Assistant Professor in the School of Dentistry in 2026. She originally studied Biomedical Materials Science at Birmingham before completing an MSc in Biomedical Science with Neuroscience at Nottingham Trent University and a PhD in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

Her PhD research focused on the development of biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair, establishing an interdisciplinary research career spanning biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and neural engineering. Following her PhD, Caroline held a series of postdoctoral research positions at the University of Sheffield, working across multidisciplinary projects in nerve repair, vascular tissue engineering and the development and preclinical evaluation of implantable medical technologies.

From 2024–2025, Caroline was a Lecturer (maternity cover) in Musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine at the University of Leeds, where she contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching alongside her research activities. She subsequently returned to Sheffield as a Senior Research Associate before joining University of Birmingham.

Caroline’s research has received recognition from the UK biomaterials and tissue engineering communities. She received the UK Society for Biomaterials (UKSB) Larry Hench Young Investigators Award in 2023 and was recognised by the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES) Robert Brown Award for Early-Stage Investigators. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Alongside her research and teaching, Caroline has contributed extensively to the wider research community through early-career researcher networks and professional societies. She has held leadership and representative roles within the UK Society for Biomaterials, Tissue and Cell Engineering Society and European Society for Biomaterials, reflecting her commitment to supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and researcher development.

Caroline contributes broadly at the School of Dentistry and across University of Birmingham's campus:

• Dental Surgery BDS 
• Biomedical Science BSc
• Dental Materials Science MSc

Dr Taylor is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the areas of biomaterials, tissue engineering, peripheral and craniofacial nerve regeneration, nerve guidance conduits and advanced 3D in vitro models. Please get in touch if you have an interest in joining the team.

Research

Caroline’s research lies at the interface of biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on developing technologies and advanced biological models to understand and promote tissue repair. Her work spans biomaterial development and characterisation, in vitro modelling and preclinical evaluation, with an emphasis on translating engineering approaches towards clinically relevant applications.

Peripheral and craniofacial nerve regeneration

A major focus of Caroline’s research is peripheral nerve repair. Her work investigates how biomaterial properties, architecture and surface chemistry can be engineered to influence neural regeneration. This includes the development of nerve guidance conduits, aligned fibrous scaffolds and bioactive materials designed to support neurite extension, Schwann cell behaviour and vascularisation. Her current research is extending these approaches towards craniofacial and trigeminal nerve injuries, including injuries to the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves associated with trauma, oral surgery and cancer treatment.

Advanced human in vitro models

Caroline is developing physiologically relevant 3D human models of nerve injury and regeneration as alternatives to conventional cell culture and to reduce reliance on animal models. Her research combines neuronal, Schwann and endothelial cell populations with engineered biomaterials to recreate key features of the regenerating nerve microenvironment. She is particularly interested in integrating these models with functional technologies, including electrophysiological assessment, to evaluate neural activity alongside structural regeneration and enable screening of regenerative biomaterials and therapeutics.

Biomaterials and medical-device translation

Caroline also has extensive experience investigating the biological response to implanted biomaterials and medical devices. Her research incorporates advanced in vitro testing, histological and biological evaluation and in vivo preclinical models to understand tissue integration, vascularisation, inflammation and fibrosis. This translational work aims to improve the design and evaluation of implantable healthcare technologies and bridge the gap between early-stage biomaterials research and clinical application.