Key details
Professor Gianluca Tozzi
Professor of Industrial Engineering
Professor Gianluca Tozzi is a Professor of Industrial Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich. He joined the University in 2022 to lead on multi-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange in Bio-Inspired Engineering with Imaging-based AI and quantum data (Bio-AImagiQ) for biological tissues and biomaterials.
Previously, he was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering, London South Bank University and a Reader in Bioengineering at the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth. Professor Tozzi received a PhD in Bioengineering in 2012 from the University of Portsmouth and a 5-year MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from the University of Bologna.
Responsibilities within the university
Module leader
- Engineering Mathematics 2 (MATH1145)
- Global Engineering: Theory and Practice (GEEN1093)
Coordinator
- REF UoA12 Engineering
Awards
Senior Visiting Fellow (2022). Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy.
Honorary Visiting Scholar (2017). School of Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics, Flinders University, Australia.
Recognition
Editorial board member
- Journal of Microscopy (Wiley)
- Tomography of Materials and Structures (Elsevier)
- Scientific Reports (Nature)
Research / Scholarly interests
Professor Tozzi’s research is devoted to the understanding of structure-function of biological tissues and biomaterials, aimed at informing product development for industry as well as clinical practice for traumatic and pathological conditions. Over the years, he has pioneered research that advanced the understanding of biological tissues and biomaterials through the integration of advanced imaging techniques (e.g. in situ X-ray tomography), full-field measurement techniques (e.g. digital volume correlation) and artificial intelligence, producing a profound technological advancement.
Recently, groundbreaking models have been developed such as D2IM to predict bone deformation from X-ray tomography greyscale [Soar et al., 2024. Ext. Mech. Lett.], DiffSpectralNet to improve classification in hyperspectral imaging (HSI) [Sigger et al., 2024. Sci. Rep.] and MedDiffHSI to improve tumour detection with HSI [Sigger et al., 2024. J. Mic.].
New interdisciplinary research is underway and includes AI digital volume correlation of hard/soft tissue, data-driven modelling of hard/soft tissue with vision transformers and diffusion-based architectures, collaborative diffusion multi-modal image analysis of biological tissue, biomaterial formulation with diffusion-language models, composing bone biomimetic materials with AI sonification, quantum representation of images and measurement in the quantum space.
Professor Tozzi has authored over 100 papers and serves as reviewer for UK/international funding agencies and peer-reviewed journals. He has secured funding >£3.5M from various grants as well as direct support from industry, where the research produced a tangible impact with commercial exploitation.
Recent publications
Article
Mathew, Sharon , Ashraf, Sadaf, Shorter, Susan, Tozzi, Gianluca , Koutsikou, Stella , Ovsepian, Saak V. (2024), Neurobiological correlates of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: remodelling and plasticity of nociceptive and autonomic innervations in synovial joints. SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, The Neuroscientist . pp. 1-20 ISSN: 1073-8584 (Print), 1089-4098 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584241293049).
Soar, Peter , Dall’Ara, Enrico, Palanca, Marco, Tozzi, Gianluca (2024), Data-driven image mechanics (D2IM): a deep learning approach to predict displacement and strain fields from undeformed X-ray tomography images – Evaluation of bone mechanics. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Extreme Mechanics Letters, 71: 102202 . pp. 1-14 2352-4316 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2024.102202).
Sigger, Neetu , Vien, Quoc-Tuan, Nguyen, Sinh Van, Tozzi, Gianluca , Nguyen, Tuan Thanh (2024), Unveiling the potential of diffusion model-based framework with transformer for hyperspectral image classification. Nature. In: , , , . Nature, Scientific Reports, 14: 8438 2045-2322 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s***********8125-4).
Kim, Yang-Hee , Kanczler, Janos M., Lanham, Stuart, Rawlings, Andrew , Roldo, Marta , Tozzi, Gianluca , Dawson, Jonathan I. , Cidonio, Gianluca , Oreffo, Richard O. C. (2024), Biofabrication of nanocomposite-based scaffolds containing human bone extracellular matrix for the differentiation of skeletal stem and progenitor cells. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, Bio-Design and Manufacturing ISSN: 2096-5524 (Print), 2522-8552 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42242-023-00265-z).
Sensini, Alberto , Stamati, Olga, Marchiori, Gregorio, Sancisi, Nicola , Gotti, Carlo , Giavaresi, Gianluca , Cristofolini, Luca , Focarete, Maria Letizia , Zucchelli, Andrea , Tozzi, Gianluca (2024), Full-field strain distribution in hierarchical electrospun nanofibrous poly-L(lactic) acid/collagen scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration: a multiscale study. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Heliyon, 10: e26796 (5) . pp. 1-15 2405-8440 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26796).
Rojas-Rojas, Laura , Tozzi, Gianluca, Guillén-Girón, Teodolito (2023), A comprehensive mechanical characterization of subject-specific 3D printed scaffolds mimicking trabecular bone architecture biomechanics. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Life, 13: 2141 (11) . pp. 1-14 2075-1729 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/life13112141).
Karali, Aikaterina , Dall’Ara, Enrico, Zekonyte, Jurgita, Kao, Alexander P. , Blunn, Gordon , Tozzi, Gianluca (2022), Effect of radiation-induced damage of trabecular bone tissue evaluated using indentation and digital volume correlation. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 138: 105636 . pp. 1-10 ISSN: 1751-6161 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105636).
Black, Cameron , Gibbs, David, McEwan, Josephine, Kanczler, Janos , Fernández, Marta Peña , Tozzi, Gianluca , Dawson, Jonathan , Oreffo, Richard (2022), Comparison of bone formation mediated by bone morphogenetic protein delivered by nanoclay gels with clinical techniques (autograft and InductOs®) in an ovine bone model. SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, Journal of Tissue Engineering, 13 . pp. 1-13 ISSN: 2041-7314 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/20417314221113746).
Dall’Ara, Enrico and , Tozzi, Gianluca (2022), Digital volume correlation for the characterization of musculoskeletal tissues: current challenges and future developments. In: , , , . , Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10: 1010056 ISSN: 2296-4185 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.1010056).
Riveiro Rodríguez, Antonio , Badar, Waqas, Ali, Husna, Brooker, Olivia N. , Newham, Elis , Snow, Tim , Terrill, Nicholas J. , Tozzi, Gianluca , Fratzl, Peter , Knight, Martin M. (2022), Collagen pre-strain discontinuity at the bone—Cartilage interface. In: , , , . , PLOS ONE, 17 (9) . pp. e0273832 ISSN: 1932-6203 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273832).
Rumney, Robin M. H. , Robson, Samuel C., Kao, Alexander P., Barbu, Eugen , Bozycki, Lukasz , Smith, James R. , Cragg, Simon M. , Couceiro, Fay , Parwani, Rachna , Tozzi, Gianluca (2022), Biomimetic generation of the strongest known biomaterial found in limpet tooth. Nature Research. In: , , , . Nature Research, Nature Communications, 13: 3753 (1) . pp. 1-13 2041-1723 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31139-0).
Peña Fernández, Marta , Sasso, Sebastian J., McPhee, Samuel, Black, Cameron , Kanczler, Janos , Tozzi, Gianluca , Wolfram, Uwe (2022), Nonlinear micro finite element models based on digital volume correlation measurements predict early microdamage in newly formed bone. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 132: 105303 . pp. 1-16 ISSN: 1751-6161 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105303).
Dall’Ara, E. , Bodey, A.J., Isaksson, H., Tozzi, Gianluca (2022), A practical guide for in situ mechanical testing of musculoskeletal tissues using synchrotron tomography. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 133: 105297 . pp. 1-13 ISSN: 1751-6161 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105297).
Bonithon, Roxane , Lupton, Colin, Roldo, Marta, Dunlop, Joseph Nicholas , Blunn, Gordon William , Witte, Frank , Tozzi, Gianluca (2022), Open-porous magnesium-based scaffolds withstand in vitro corrosion under cyclic loading: a mechanistic study. Elsevier - KeAi Communications. In: , , , . Elsevier - KeAi Communications, Bioactive Materials, 19 . pp. 406-417 2452-199X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.04.012).
Zhang, Yuezhou , Hollis, Dave, Ross, Rosie, Snow, Tim , Terrill, Nick J. , Lu, Yongjie , Wang, Wen , Connelly, John , Tozzi, Gianluca , Gupta, Himadri S. (2022), Investigating the fibrillar ultrastructure and mechanics in keloid scars using in situ synchrotron X-ray nanomechanical imaging. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Materials, 15: 1836 (5) . pp. 1-19 ISSN: 1996-1944 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051836).
Hexter, Adam T. , Karali, Aikaterina, Kao, Alex, Tozzi, Gianluca , Heidari, Nima , Petrie, Aviva , Boyd, Ashleigh , Kalaskar, Deepak M. , Pendegrass, Catherine , Rodeo, Scott (2021), Effect of demineralized bone matrix, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells, and platelet-rich plasma on bone tunnel healing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comparative micro-computed tomography study in a tendon allograft sheep model. SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9 (9) . pp. 1-19 ISSN: 2325-9671 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671211034166).
Shen, Sabrina Chin-yun , Peña Fernández, Marta, Tozzi, Gianluca, Buehler, Markus J. (2021), Deep learning approach to assess damage mechanics of bone tissue. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 123: 104761 ISSN: 1751-6161 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104761).
Peña Fernández, Marta , Kao, Alexander P., Bonithon, Roxane, Howells, David , Bodey, Andrew J. , Wanelik, Kazimir , Witte, Frank , Johnston, Richard , Arora, Hari , Tozzi, Gianluca (2021), Time-resolved in situ synchrotron-microCT: 4D deformation of bone and bone analogues using digital volume correlation. Elsevier - Acta Materialia. In: , , , . Elsevier - Acta Materialia, Acta Biomaterialia, 131 . pp. 424-439 ISSN: 1742-7061 (Print), 1878-7568 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.014).
Bonithon, Roxane , Kao, Alexander Peter, Fernández, Marta Peña, Dunlop, Joseph Nicholas , Blunn, Gordon William , Witte, Frank , Tozzi, Gianluca (2021), Multi-scale mechanical and morphological characterisation of sintered porous magnesium-based scaffolds for bone regeneration in critical-sized defects. Elsevier - Acta Materialia. In: , , , . Elsevier - Acta Materialia, Acta Biomaterialia, 127 . pp. 338-352 ISSN: 1742-7061 (Print), 1878-7568 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.068).
Dataset
Soar, Peter , Palanca, Marco, Enrico, Dall'Ara, Tozzi, Gianluca (2024), Supplementary Information for Data-driven image mechanics (D2IM): a deep learning approach to predict displacement and strain fields from undeformed X-ray tomography images - Evaluation of bone mechanics. In: , , , . , (doi: ).
Soar, Peter , Palanca, Marco, Enrico, Dall'Ara, Tozzi, Gianluca (2024), D2IM prototype dataset: Porcine Vertebra Slices. Peter Soar. In: , , , . Peter Soar, (doi: https://doi.org/10.34740/kaggle/ds/4500725).