Project summary

Eleanor Barton at the lifETIME CDT Student event

Eleanor Barton, a lifETIME CDT PhD student at Aston University is building a realistic model of the human body’s largest blood vessel – the aorta – to safely test medical devices like vascular grafts, which are used to repair damaged arteries.

Traditional methods to develop new devices often involve animal experiments to test their safety and effectiveness, but animals don’t always accurately replicate what happens in humans.

Eleanor’s research could provide a reliable and ethical alternative to animal tests by creating life-like blood vessel models that behave similarly to human arteries. These models can assess how devices will perform under realistic conditions, helping to replace animal experiments in the early testing and validation of new medical devices. This will also help to make sure that devices meet safety standards set by regulators like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), helping to speed up regulatory approval and bring benefits to patients faster.

Why is animal-free research important to you? 

Animal-free research matters to me because I believe we can create safer, more accurate ways of testing medical treatments without causing harm to animals. Animal experiments often don’t reflect how the human body truly works, which can lead to unreliable results. By focusing on human-based models, we not only avoid animal suffering but also improve the science behind medical innovations.

What impact could your research have on replacing animals in medical research? 

My research could provide a reliable alternative to animal testing by creating life-like blood vessel models that behave similarly to real human arteries. These models can be used to test how devices perform under realistic conditions, helping to replace the need for animals in early testing and validation for effective medical research.

What have you enjoyed the most as part of the lifETIME CDT programme?  

My favourite part of the lifETIME CDT programme has been the chance to collaborate and share ideas with people from different scientific backgrounds. It’s great to learn and work in such an innovative environment where everyone shares a passion for improving healthcare.

What are you most proud of so far? 

I’m most proud of presenting my research at an international conference; it was a big step in sharing my work. What made the experience even more rewarding was the chance to speak confidently with experts in their field during the breaks and networking sessions – those conversations were really insightful and helped me feel more connected to the wider research community.

What are your future career goals? 

Next, I want to make my research model even more advanced – for example, by mimicking the expansion of the aorta to scale and creating models that include diseases like aneurysms, to test how devices perform in more complex situations. In the long term, I hope to keep working in this area either through industry or academia, helping to develop new technologies that improve patient care.

What do you like doing outside of the lab?

I love playing football – being part of a team keeps me active and gives me a great sense of community. It’s something I really enjoy outside the lab, and it brings a fun, competitive edge to my week. I also enjoy dancing; it’s a fun way to express myself. And when I want to relax, there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.