Tissue engineering; heart valves; dynamic conditioning; 3D cell cuture model systems; medical device design, human factors, regulations; 

Dr. Claire Brougham is an academic specialising in translating medical device technology from research into clinical application. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a product development engineer in the medical device industry in Ireland and the US, which informs her approach to research and it's commercialisation.

She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Galway and completed a Research Masters (MEngSc) in Cellular Biomechanics there, supervised by Prof. Peter McHugh. In 2016, she earned a part-time PhD from RCSI on Regenerative Biomaterials for Heart Valves, working with Prof. Fergal O’Brien. Her doctoral work received two prestigious awards.

Claire's lab's primary focus is the development of regenerative biomaterials to solve unmet needs, with a focus on pediatric patients with congenital heart defects. With Invention Disclosures submitted, much of the lab's research outputs are under embargo while their commercial potiental is explored through the TU Dublin TTO. This multidisciplinary research involves materials development, 3D primary cell culture and bioreactors to develop living biomaterials capable of growth and remodelling. Using tissue-engineered constructs as 3D model systems for healthy and diseased tissues is a parallel research track of interest to her lab. Indeed, assessing the impact of 3D culture in combination with dynamic conditioning underpins much of the research work within the lab. Additionally, she has interests in medical device regulation through the NoBoCap project, as well as patient and public involvement (PPI) in preclinical research.

Dr. Brougham has supervised Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD students, Master's students, and undergraduate students within the School of Mechanical Engineering. She has secured national funding from SFI (Frontiers for the Future) and international funding via EU4Health for her research. She is a funded investigator with CÚRAM, the National Centre for Medical Devices under the MedTrain+ MSCA programme and has won funding for capital research equipment from the HEA and Research Ireland. Dr Brougham has held Management council positions for the BIONECA COST action.

Committed to fostering research culture at TU Dublin and supporting colleagues, she serves on the SHRH executive and the University Research and Innovation Academy. Dr. Brougham is the Biomedical Lead for the tPOT Research Centre at TU Dublin and collaborates actively with several academic and clinical institutions, in particular the RCSI Tissue Engineering Research Group, where she is a PI. She also maintains numerous international research partnerships including University of Sydney, RWTH Aachen and Eindhoven TU. The Medical Device Notified Body, SGS, is an active partner of Dr Brougham.

In terms of academic leadership, she has led the strategy for development of medical device education within the School of Mechanical Engineering culminating in level 9 certificates in medical device regulation and the BSc in Biomedical Design, starting in September 2026. 

Claire was awarded a fellowship with the TU Dublin Enterprise Academy in 2024 where she examined skills shortages in the MedTech sector in Ireland. This culminated in the development of an educational strategy for the School of Mechanical Engineering in the MedTech area, and the realisation of a BSc in Biomedical Design, starting in September 2026.

Module example:

Dr Brougham takes final year Mechanical and final year Manufacturing & Design Engineering Students for MEDV4111 module- Medical Devices.