Institute of Life Science 1 internal Atrium view up

Dr Natalie De Mello

Senior Lecturer / Faculty Enterprise, Partnerships and Innovation (EPI) Lead

Biomedical Sciences

n.demello@swansea.ac.uk

Open plan office - 303
Third Floor
Institute of Life Science 2
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6973-2881

About

Dr De Mello is a Senior Innovation Technologist at Swansea University’s Healthcare Technology Centre, part of the Accelerate Wales programme. Leading on collaborative industry led research and development (R&D) of healthcare technologies.

After gaining a BSc and PhD, Dr De Mello worked with industry partner Innoture Ltd through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership as principle scientist to lead and develop their R&D capabilities within Swansea. This led to the successful launch of three products and a pilot clinical investigation of their medical device.

Dr De Mello is a chartered Scientist gaining accreditation in 2019 through the Royal Society of Biology.

Areas Of Expertise

• Research and Development of Innovations
• Medical Devices
• Research Ethics
• Research Governance
• Industrial Research Collaborations
• Commercialisation of Research Outputs

Publications

Research Highlights

Wilkinson, R., Meldrum, K., MAGGS, C., Thomas, N., Thomas, B., De Mello, N., & Joyce, N. (2023). Determining the efficacy of disinfectants at nucleic acid degradation. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 134(11)
https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxad244, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67706
Paravati, R., De Mello, N., Onyido, E., Francis, L., Bruesehafer, K., Younas, K., Spencer-Harty, S., Conlan, S., Gonzalez, D., & Margarit, L. (2020). Differential regulation of osteopontin and CD44 correlates with infertility status in PCOS patients. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 98
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-020-01985-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55414
Rees, D., Thomas, R., Davies, G., Rich, N., Laing, H., Edwards, C., Samaras, V., Mabbett, I., Davies, J., De Mello, N., & Vardasca, R. (Eds.). (2024). Innovation Management in Health & Social Care (2023).. Swansea, Wales, UK Swansea University Innovation Academy 2024.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67873
https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65070

All Research

Journal Articles

Wilkinson, R., Meldrum, K., MAGGS, C., Thomas, N., Thomas, B., De Mello, N., & Joyce, N. (2023). Determining the efficacy of disinfectants at nucleic acid degradation. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 134(11)
https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxad244, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67706
Paravati, R., De Mello, N., Onyido, E., Francis, L., Bruesehafer, K., Younas, K., Spencer-Harty, S., Conlan, S., Gonzalez, D., & Margarit, L. (2020). Differential regulation of osteopontin and CD44 correlates with infertility status in PCOS patients. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 98
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-020-01985-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55414

Edited Books

Rees, D., Thomas, R., Davies, G., Rich, N., Laing, H., Edwards, C., Samaras, V., Mabbett, I., Davies, J., De Mello, N., & Vardasca, R. (Eds.). (2024). Innovation Management in Health & Social Care (2023).. Swansea, Wales, UK Swansea University Innovation Academy 2024.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67873
https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65070

Taught Modules

PM-355 Drug Development and Regulation

This is an applications and project management driven module designed to provide the student with an introduction to drug development and the key role of separation science and mass spectrometry within the pharmaceutical industry. This module will introduce Good Laboratory, Clinical and Manufacturing Practice (GLP, GCP, GMP), assay validation (as requested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)), the need and implementation of SOPs with particular focus on the pharmaceutical and medical industries, and how these correlate with stringent quality control procedures and health and safety existing due to current legislation. The ethical principles of research, including clinical trials and animal research (design, implementation and reporting) will be outlined, as well as the essential nature of the principles of reduction, refinement and replacement for the use of animals in research. Students will also be able to characterize and map the path of a drug from administration, to metabolism and elimination, for critical evaluation of drug design.
PMNM12 Research Innovation and Management

The growth of the personalised medicine industry and advances within medicine and engineering that have led to the emergence of nanomedicine, present exciting opportunities for the development of advanced therapeutics. However, the management of research and innovation from discovery through to the transition to clinical trial, present unique project management, regulatory and ethical challenges that must be considered to effectively develop new diagnostics and therapeutics. This module will take students through the development process for a novel nanomedicine, highlighting the project management, ethical and regulatory considerations at each stage. The module will also explore the challenges faced from an academic and industry perspective, as well as providing the opportunity for students to learn from industry leaders with direct experience of the research and innovation journey.

Other Roles

Committee member, School of Medicine Research Ethics Sub-Committee

2019 - 2020

Public Engagements

Dr De Mello has been an active STEM ambassador since 2012 and regularly participates in Super Science Saturday, Swansea Science Festival and Technocamps activities. In addition to co-organising Soapbox Science Swansea since 2014.

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

Randomised, Split-Face Study Of The Efficacy Of Microneedle Patches With Accelerated Absorption Of Hyaluronic Acid For Reduction

July 2018

New York