Professor Paul Roach is a leading interdisciplinary scientist, tackling global challenges and advancing fundamental research into the complex interactions between materials and biological systems. His research spans chemistry, materials science and bioengineering, focusing on surface and interface design.

He integrates techniques from chemistry, particularly vibrational spectroscopy, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with microfabrication and interface engineering to investigate interactions between materials and biological systems.

These approaches are applied across diverse areas, including cancer diagnostics, the detection and characterisation of environmental microplastics, the analysis of plant and environmental materials, and the study of chemical information preserved in historical specimens.

A major focus of his work is the development of advanced biomaterials and in vitro models for biomedical applications, including next-generation brain-on-a-chip systems.

By combining surface patterning, protein functionalisation and cellular engineering, his research aims to create physiologically relevant platforms that mimic aspects of human neural circuitry.

This contributes to the development of human-based experimental systems that can reduce reliance on animal models, improve translational relevance and enable more predictive and ethically responsible research.