Dr Zahrina Mardina

Profile

I obtained master of Biomedical Engineering from Gent University Belgium and The University of Groningen, in the Netherlands. Afterwards, I embarked for a PhD in materials engineering atThe University of Queensland, Australia. My master provided the solid background of various range of medical devices, and connected me with clinicians as the main users of the devices. My PhD journey provided another set of skills in materials selection, manufacturing process, and characterisation of the medical device. I worked to conceptualise, manufacture and evaluate a novel vaginal mesh from biodegradable metals to address safety issues regarding vaginal mesh. I worked closely with surgeons and researchers from different fields to accomplish the final product.

Currently, I am appointed as a research fellow at Healthcare Materials group at School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Leeds. I have completed ReMed project (circular materials in medical devices 2024-2026) in collaboration with Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University. During ReMed, I developed a framework to assist medical device manufacturer in sustainable materials selection which has been published as a paper. I also published a paper related to various brands of glucose meters to evaluate which circular economy/sustainable practices manufacturers can implement.

Upon completing ReMed, I am involved in Healthcare Research Centre (HRC) sustianability theme, supported by NIHR funding. During this project, I work together with academics and clinicians to evaluate surgical textiles including drapes and gown to identify a practical solution to shift into the sustainable systems. I was also involved in collaboration with biopolymers companies, assist to do materials testing to validate the potential novel sustainable materials.

Currently, I am part of Green Helathcare Hub, in collaboration with Brighton Sussex Medical School. It is aimed to explore materials choice and various decontamination methods to support Re-USE in medical devices. We work together with clinicians, business model academics, as well as industrial partners to offer our expertise in materials evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Creating framework for guiding materials selection in creating circular economy of medical device

Research interests

Materials selection for medical devices

Materials characterisation

Medical device manufacturing

Qualifications

• PhD The University of Queensland
• MSc The University of Groningen
• MSc Gent University