Sir Peter Mansfield Lecture 2024–25: Professor John Rogers Explores the Future of Bioelectronics
Professor John A. Rogers headlined our annual Sir Peter Mansfield Lecture, revealing how bioelectronics is reshaping medicine and research.
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences was honoured to host Professor John A. Rogers, Director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics at Northwestern University, who delivered the 2024-25 Sir Peter Mansfield Lecture (2024–25) back in October.
Professor Rogers is internationally renowned for his pioneering work at the intersection of electronics and biology. His lecture, titled “Bioelectronics – From Exploratory Research to Medical Translation,” offered a fascinating glimpse into the future of biomedical innovation.
Professor Rogers highlighted how advanced electronic and optoelectronic technologies, designed for seamless integration with living organisms, are poised to revolutionise biomedical research. These innovations promise not only to accelerate scientific progress but also to lay the groundwork for transformative approaches to disease monitoring and treatment.
The lecture provided an overview of core principles in electrical engineering, materials science, and system design, showcasing breathtaking solutions developed by the Rogers group. Among these were*bioresorbable or ‘transient’ devices, which are miniaturised systems engineered to dissolve harmlessly within the body on timescales aligned with natural processes. Such technologies exemplify the potential of bioelectronics to merge with biology in ways that were once unimaginable.
Professor Rogers’ impact on the field is extraordinary. He has authored approximately 1,000 research papers and is co-inventor on around 100 patents, more than 70 of which are licensed and actively used. His groundbreaking contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship (2009), Lemelson-MIT Prize (2011), Smithsonian Award (2013), Benjamin Franklin Medal (2019), Guggenheim Fellowship (2021), James Prize (2022), IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award (2024), and the Bakerian Medal and Lecture (2025). He is also a member of the US National Academies of Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, and Inventors, as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society.
The Sir Peter Mansfield Lecture Series celebrates researchers who have successfully translated fundamental discoveries into commercial and societal impact. Professor Rogers’ work exemplifies this ethos, leveraging the unique properties of soft materials such as polymers and liquid crystals* combined with micro and nanomaterials, to develop biocompatible electronic systems that can be injected into soft tissues. These innovations are not only advancing science but also creating real-world applications that benefit society.