麻豆传媒

Current Position

CEO BSF Enterprise PLC

Previous Positions:

2019 - 2025 Director of Business Development, FMS, 麻豆传媒

2014 -2025 Professor of Tissue Engineering, 麻豆传媒 university

2012 - 2014   Reader in Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, University of Reading, UK.

2007 - 2012   RCUK Academic Research Fellow, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, University of Reading, UK.

2004 - 2006   Royal Society Fellowship, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.

2002 - 2004   JSPS Fellowship, Dept. Ophthalmology, Kyoto University of Medicine, Japan.        

2001 - 2002   PDRA, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.

2000 - 2001   PDRA, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, UK.

1996 - 2000  PhD Oxford Research Unit, Open University, Oxford, UK

Committee membership:

Chair 麻豆传媒, Faculty of Medical Sciences Opportunities Committee 

ARVO Corneal Section (2012 -2015)

MRC Regenerative Medicine Research Committee (2016 -2019)

Medilink North East Advisory Group

Commercial development:

Academic founder of  

Co-founder, Director and CTO of

Co-founder, Director and CEO of

Co-founder and Managing Director of

Prizes

2018            Finalist, World Technology Awards, The World Technology Network

2018            Finalist, The IET Innovation Awards, The Institute of Engineering and Technology

2018            Winner, CellInk Innovation Award for 3D bio-printing

2018           Winner, London Design Awards, DrivenxDesign

2014            BBSRC Innovator of the year - Finalist

2009      JSPS London Furusasto Award

2005       Elsevier Ophthalmology Prize

2004       American Academy of Ophthalmology, Troutman Award

Honorary positions:

Visiting Professor, University of Reading, UK (2014-2017)

Group members: 

Dr. Weaam Sultan

Mrs Vanessa Benjamin

Mr James Hawley

Ms Noor Ahmed S Hussain

Mr Enrico Torre

Mr Mathew Barraclough

Dr Cagla Erdas

Faculty Research Theme:

Primary - Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Transplantation

Secondary - Cell Signalling

Research Interests:

Applying innovative bio-materials to regenerative medicine.

My research interests are linked by the hypothesis that combinatorial approaches to tissue formation are superior to individual stimulation. More specifically, successful tissue engineering approaches will be realised upon the proper spatial and temporal presentation of cells, signaling molecules, biomaterials, and mechanical stimulation. My research team seeks to engineer functional replacement and temporary 'bridge' tissues using a modular approach while also developing model systems to study physiological and pathophysiological corneal tissue formation.

The biotechnology industry is rapidly expanding and the evolving fields of tissue engineering and cell-based therapy are projected to have a high impact in regenerative medicine. In particular my lab is investigating the application of functionalized peptide/polymer water-based gels in these progressively merging fields. Using these jelly-like substances I aim to improve stem cell bioprocessing, storage (shipment) and subsequent engraftment. I am also employing the self-assembling property of these gels to create intelligent coatings that control the spatiotemporal positioning of stem cells to create bioprosthetic tissues with appropriate hierarchical structures suitable for a range of tissue replacement and wound healing therapies. 

Recently we have begun to focus on the role tissue stiffness (compliance) plays in cell physiology in both engineered constructs and ocular surface homeostasis. This has brought about a new hypothesis underpinning epithelial differentiation and migration across the cornea with important implications for our current understanding of stem cell niche biology and corneal (limbal) stem cell therapy - of which my co-workers at the Institute have considerable clinical expertise.

However, I also predict that the future of tissue engineering will not be limited to regenerative medicine. My lab is now starting to conceive of functional cell-based biological constructs engineered not for transplantation but for a specific biotechnological need. I have termed this 'super tissue engineering' i.e. the rational design of cell based constructs that have a limited but exceptional biotechnological function. An example of this that we are actively pursuing is in lab grown meat or cellular agriculture in partnership with the GFI and others 

My research is largely funded by the UK research councils (BBSRC, MRC, EPSRC) as well as the DSTL, however I do accept a small number of self-funded PhD students with a keen interest and enthusiasm for cutting-edge tissue engineering projects across a range of structural tissues.

• Articles

  • Kostenko A, Connon CJ, Swioklo S. . Bioengineering 2023, 10(1), 23.
  • Kostenko A, Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering 2022, 8, 867685.
  • Gouveia R, Connon CJ. . Advanced Biology 2021, 5(4), 2000280.
  • Chen Y, Dong L, Kong B, Huang Y, Zhong S, Connon C, Tan J, Yang S, Sun W, Mi S. . Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST) 2021, 10(14), 25.
  • Collin J, Queen R, Darin Zerti D, Bojic S, Dorgau B, Moyse N, Molina MM, Yang C, Dey S, Reynolds G, Hussain R, Coxhead JM, Lisgo S, Henderson D, Joseph A, Rooney P, Ghosh S, Clarke L, Connon CJ, Haniffa M, Figueiredo F, Armstrong L, Lako M. . The Ocular Surface 2021, 21, 279-298.
  • Al-Jaibaji O, Swioklo S, Shortt A, Figueiredo FC, Connon CJ. . International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020, 21(16), 5849.
  • Gouveia RM, Vajda F, Wibowo JA, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . Cells 2019, 8(4), 347.
  • Volatier TLA, Figueiredo FC, Connon CJ. . Anatomical Record 2019, 303(6), 1680-1688.
  • Connon CJ, Gouveia RM. . ACS Applied Bio Materials 2019, 2(2), 838–847.
  • Gouveia RM, Lepert G, Gupta S, Mohan RR, Paterson C, Connon CJ. . Nature Communications 2019, 10, 1496.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia RM, Ionescu AM, Figueiredo F, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Advanced Functional Materials 2019, 29(8), 1807334.
  • Engels AC, Joyeux L, Van der Merwe J, Jimenez J, Prapanus S, Barrett DW, Connon C, Chowdhury TT, David AL, Deprest J. . Prenatal Diagnosis 2018, 38(2), 99-105.
  • Al-Jaibaji O, Swioklo S, Gijbels K, Vaes B, Figueiredo FC, Connon CJ. . PLoS ONE 2018, 13(9), e0202118.
  • Isaacson A, Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . Experimental Eye Research 2018, 173, 188-193.
  • Gouveia RM, Koudouna E, Jester J, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . Advanced Biosystems 2017, 1(12), 1700135.
  • Swioklo S, Ding P, Pacek AW, Connon CJ. . Process Biochemistry 2017, 59(B), 289-296.
  • Stacey GN, Connon CJ, Coopman K, Dickson AJ, Fuller B, Hunt CJ, Kemp P, Kerby J, Man J, Matejtschuk P, Moore H, Morris J, Oreffo ROC, Slater N, Ward S, Wiggins C, Zimmermann H. . Regenerative Medicine 2017, 12(5), 553-564.
  • Castelletto V, Kaur A, Hamley IW, Barnes RH, Karatzas KA, Hermida-Merino D, Swioklo S, Connon CJ, Stasiak J, Reza M, Ruokolainen J. . RSC Advances 2017, 7(14), 8366-8375.
  • Figueiredo GS, Bojic S, Rooney P, Wilshaw SP, Connon CJ, Gouveaia RM, Patterson C, Lepert G, Mudhar HS, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. . Acta Biomaterialia 2017, 61, 124-133.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
  • Gouveia RM, González-Andrades E, Cardona JC, González-Gallardo C, Ionescu AM, Garzon I, Alaminos M, González-Andrades M, Connon CJ. . Biomaterials 2017, 121, 205-219.
  • Lepert G, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ, Paterson C. . Faraday Discussions 2016, 187, 415-428.
  • Swioklo S, Constantinescu A, Connon CJ. . STEM CELLS Translational Medicine 2016, 5(3), 339-349.
  • Kirkham S, Hamley IW, Smith AM, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ, Reza M, Ruokolainen J. . Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2016, 137, 104-108.
  • Walter MNM, Dehsorkhi A, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Biomaterials Science 2015, 4(2), 346-354.
  • Dehsorkhi A, Gouveia RM, Smith AM, Hamley IW, Castelletto V, Connon CJ, Reza M, Ruokolainen J. . Soft Matter 2015, 11(16), 3115-3124.
  • Hamley IW, Dehsorkhi A, Castelletto V, Walter MNM, Connon CJ, Reza M, Ruokolainen J. . Langmuir 2015, 31(15), 4490-4495.
  • da Silva ER, Walter MNM, Reza M, Castelletto V, Ruokolainen J, Connon CJ, Alves WA, Hamley IW. . Biomacromolecules 2015, 16(10), 3180-3190.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2015, 6(3), 687-707.
  • Gouveia RM, Castelletto V, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Tissue Engineering. Part A 2015, 21(11-12), 1772-1784.
  • Foster JW, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Scientific Reports 2015, 5, 10839.
  • Gouveia RM, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 2015, 26(10), 242.
  • Connon CJ. . Procedia Engineering 2015, 110, 15-20.
  • Abidin FZ, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Organogenesis 2015, 11(3), 122-136.
  • Gouveia RM, Jones RR, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Biomaterials Science 2014, 2(9), 1222-1229.
  • Wright B, Bank PA, Luetchford KA, Acosta FR, Connon CJ. . Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A 2014, 102(10), 3393–3400.
  • Castelletto VV, Gouveia RJ, Connon CJ, Hamley IW, Seitsonen J, Ruokolainen J, Longo E, Siligardi G. . Biomaterials Science 2014, 2(6), 867-874.
  • Foster JW, Jones RR, Bippes CC, Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Experimental Eye Research 2014, 127, 37-41.
  • Castelletto VV, Gouveia RJ, Connon CJ, Hamley IW, Seitsonen J, Nykanen A, Ruokolainen J. . Biomaterials Science 2014, 2(3), 362-369.
  • Wright B, Mi S, Connon CJ. . Drug Discovery Today 2013, 18(1-2), 79–86.
  • Wright B, Hopkinson A, Leyland M, Connon CJ. . PLoS One 2013, 8(7), e70860.
  • Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2013, 54(12), 7483-7491.
  • Castelletto V, Gouveia RJ, Connon CJ, Hamley IW. . European Polymer Journal 2013, 49(10), 2961–2967.
  • Castelletto V, Gouveia RJ, Connon CJ, Hamley IW. . Faraday Discuss 2013, 166, 381-397.
  • Morrison PWJ, Connon CJ, Khutoryanskiy VV. . Molecular Pharmaceutics 2013, 10(2), 756–762.
  • Jones RR, Castelletto V, Connon CJ, Hamley IW. . Molecular Pharmaceutics 2013, 10(3), 1063–1069.
  • Gouveia RM, Castelletto V, Alcock SG, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Journal of Materials Chemistry B 2013, 1(44), 6157-6169.
  • Chen B, Sahoo R, Wright B, Connon CJ. . Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods 2013, 19(7), 568-576.
  • Xiao X, Pan S, Liu X, Zhu X, Connon CJ, Wu J, Mi S. . Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A 2013, 102(6), 1782-1787.
  • Mi S, David LA, Chowdhury B, Jones RR, Hamley IW, Squires MA, Connon CJ. . Tissue Engineering Part A 2012, 18(3-4), 373-381.
  • Chen B, Jones RR, Mi S, Foster J, Alcock SG, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. . Soft Matter 2012, 8(32), 8379-8387.
  • Castelletto V, Hamley IW, Stain C, Connon CJ. . Langmuir 2012, 28(34), 12575-12580.
  • Castelletto V, Cheng G, Stain C, Connon CJ, Hamley I. . Langmuir 2012, 28(31), 11599-11608.
  • Feng Y, Foster J, Mi S, Chen B, Connon CJ. . Experimental Eye Research 2012, 101, 97-103.
  • Jones RR, Hamley I, Connon CJ. . Stem Cell Research 2012, 8(3), 403-409.
  • Wright B, Cave RA, Cook JP, Khutoryanskiy V, Mi S, Chen B, Leyland M, Connon CJ. . Regenerative Medicine 2012, 7(3), 295-307.
  • Cave R, Cook J, Connon CJ, Khutoryanskiy V. . International Journal of Pharmaceutics 2012, 428(1-2), 96-102.
  • Mi S, Khutoryanskiy VV, Jones RR, Zhu X, Hamley IW, Connon CJ. Photochemical cross-linking of plastically compressed collagen gel produces an optimal scaffold for corneal tissue engineering. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A, 99A 2011, 1-8.
  • Cheng G, Castelletto V, Jones RR, Connon CJ, Hamley IW. Hydrogelation of self-assembling RGD-based peptides. Soft Matter, 7 (4) 2011, 1326 – 1333.
  • Connon CJ, Doutch J, Chen B, Hopkinson A, Mehta JS, Nakamura T, Kinoshita S, Meek KM. The Variation In Transparency Of Amniotic Membrane Used In Ocular Surface Regeneration. Br J Ophthalmol, 94 (accompanied by Editorial) 2010, 1057-1061.
  • Mi S, Chen B, Wright B, Connon CJ. Plastic compression of a collagen gel forms a much improved scaffold for ocular surface tissue engineering over conventional collagen gels. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A, 95A(2) 2010, 447-453.
  • Chen B, Mi S, Wright B, Connon CJ. . PLoS ONE 2010, 5(10), e13192.
  • Mi S, Chen B, Wright B, Connon CJ. Ex Vivo Construction of an Artificial Ocular Surface by Combination of Corneal Limbal Epithelial Cells and a Compressed Collagen Scaffold Containing Keratocytes. Tissue Engineering Part A, 16 (6) 2010, 2091-2100.
  • Chen B, Mi S, Wright B, Connon CJ. Differentiation status of limbal epithelial cells cultured on intact and denuded amniotic membrane before and after air-lifting. Tissue Engineering Part A, 16(9) 2010, 2721-2729.
  • Connon CJ, Nakamura T, Hopkinson A, Quantock AJ, Yagi N, Doutch J, Meek KM. . PLoS ONE 2007, 2(11), e1147.
  • Ma A, Boulton M, Zhao B, Connon CJ, Cai J, Albon J. A Role for Notch Signaling in Human Corneal Epithelial Cell Differentiation and Proliferation. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 48 2007, 3576 - 3585.
  • Elble RC, Walia V, Cheng HC, Connon CJ, Mundhenk L, Gruber AD, Pauli BU. The Putative Chloride Channel hCLCA2 has a Single Carboxy-Terminal Transmembrane Segment. J Biol Chem, 281 2006, 29448-29454.
  • Connon CJ, Nakamura T, Quantock AJ, Kinoshita S. The persistence of transplanted amniotic membrane in corneal stroma. Am J Ophthalmol, 141(1) 2006, 190-192.
  • Hirai N, Kawasaki S, Tanioka H, Connon CJ, Yamasaki K, Yokoi N, Komuro A, Kinoshita S. Pathological Keratinization in the Conjunctival Epithelium of Sjogren's Syndrome. Exp Eye Res, 82(3) 2006, 371-378.
  • Connon CJ, Kawasaki S, Liles M, Koizumi N, Nakamura T, Quantock AJ, Kinoshita S. Gene expression and immunolocalisation of a calcium-activated chloride channel during the stratification of cultivated and developing corneal epithelium. Cell Tissue Res, 323 2006, 177-182.
  • Kawasaki S, Tanioka H, Yamasaki K, Connon CJ, Kinoshita S. Expression and tissue distribution of p63 isoforms in human ocular surface epithelia. Exp Eye Res, 82(2) 2006, 293-299.
  • Connon CJ, Meek KM. The Structure and Swelling of Corneal Scar Tissue in Penetrating Full-Thickness Wounds. Cornea, 23(2) 2004, 165-171.
  • Connon CJ, Kawasaki S, Yamasaki K, Quantock AJ, Kinoshita S. The Quantification of hCLCA2 and Colocalisation with Integrin ß4 in Stratified Human Epithelia. Acta Histochemica, 106(6) 2004, 421-425.
  • Connon CJ, Meek KM, Kinoshita S, Quantock AJ. Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Collagen Fibrillar Array During the Onset of Transparency in the Avian Cornea. Exp Eye Res, 78(5) 2004, 909-915.
  • Ishino Y, Sano Y, Nakamura T, Connon CJ, Rigby H, Fullwood NJ, Kinoshita S. Amniotic Membrane as a Carrier for Cultivated Human Corneal Endothelium Cell Transplantation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 45 2004, 800-806.
  • Kawasaki S, Kawamoto S, Yokoi N, Connon CJ, Minesaki Y, Kinoshita S, Okubo K. Up-regulated gene expression in the conjunctival epithelium of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. Exp Eye Res.77 (1) 2003, 17-26.
  • Meek KM, Leonard D, Connon CJ, Dennis S, Khan S. Transparency, swelling and scarring in the corneal stroma. Eye. 17 (8) 2003, 927-936.
  • Connon CJ, Meek KM. The organisation of corneal collagen fibrils during the healing of trephined wounds in rabbits. Wound Rep Regen, 11(1) 2003, 71-78.
  • Quantock AJ, Padroni S, Connon CJ, Milne G, Schanzlin DJ. Proteoglycan Alterations in the Rabbit Corneal Stroma after a Lamellar Incision. J Cat Refract Surg, 29(4) 2003, 821-824.
  • Connon CJ, Seigler V, Meek KM, Hodson SA, Caterson B, Quantock AJ. Proteoglycan Alterations and Collagen Reorganisation in the Secondary Avian Cornea during Development. Ophthalmic Res, 35(4) 2003, 178-181.
  • Connon CJ, Marshall J, Patmore AL, Brahma A, Meek KM. Persistent haze and disorganisation of anterior stromal collagen appear unrelated following phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). J Refract Surg, 19(3) 2003, 323-332.
  • Connon CJ, Young RD, Kidd E. P2X₇ Receptors on Human Monocytes Cluster Together in Response to Prolonged Agonist Exposure: Implications for Cell Lysis. Pharmacology, 67(3) 2003, 163-168.
  • Connon CJ, Meek KM, Newton RH, Kenney MC, Karageozian H. Hyaluronidase Treatment, Collagen Fibril Packing and Normal Transparency in Rabbit Corneas. J Refract Surg, 16(4) 2000, 448-455.

• Book Chapters

  • Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . In: Connon CJ, ed. Bioprocessing for Cell Based Therapies. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2017, pp.187-210.
  • Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . In: Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology: Second Edition. Cambridge: Elsevier Inc, 2016, pp.151-177.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Connon CJ, Foster JW, Gouveia RM. . In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology (ARVO 2015). 2015, Denver, Colorado, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

• Editorial

  • Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2016, 16(10), 1181-1183.

• Note

  • Gouveia RM, Connon CJ. . Translational Vision Science and Technology 2020, 9(12), 1-11.

• Patents

  • Hallam D, Swioklo S, Connon C. . US20230416763A1, 28/12/2023.
  • Connon C, Gouveia R. . US20230069065A1, 03/02/2023.
  • Martina Miotto M, Connon CJ, Gouveia R. . US20230002448A1, 07/05/2023.
  • Miotto M, Connon CJ. . US20220296774A1, 22/09/2022.
  • Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . US20210095246A1, 19/04/2021.

• Reviews

  • Kostenko A, Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . Biomedical Materials 2022, 17(2), 022004.
  • Bellani CF, Ajeian J, Duffy L, Miotto M, Groenewegen L, Connon CJ. . Frontiers in Nutrition 2020, 7, 575146.
  • Al-Jaibaji O, Swioklo S, Connon CJ. . Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2019, 19(7), 643-653.