Elizabeth Tanner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Tanner OBE FREng FRSE
Prof Elizabeth Tanner at the University of Glasgow graduation day
Born	Kathleen Elizabeth Tanner Farnham, Surrey
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Oxford (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Biomedical Engineering
Institutions	Queen Mary University of London University of Glasgow
Thesis	The Design of a Fracture Movement Transducer (1983)

Kathleen Elizabeth Tanner is a famous British scientist. She is known for her work in Biomedical Engineering. This field combines engineering with medicine.

Professor Tanner studies and creates special materials. These materials are used in the human body, especially for replacing bones. One of her biggest achievements is developing a material called HAPEX. It was used in many ear surgeries to help people hear better.

She also helped start the first university degree in biomedical engineering in Scotland. This program began at the University of Glasgow in 2010.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Tanner was born on March 20, 1957, in Farnham, Surrey, England. Her school headmistress encouraged her to study engineering.

She went to the University of Oxford. In 1979, she earned her first degree. Later, she completed her PhD in engineering science in 1983. Her PhD research looked at how bones move when they are broken.

Scientific Career and Discoveries

In 1983, Professor Tanner joined Queen Mary University of London. She became a Professor of Biomedical Materials in 1998. Her main focus was creating materials to replace or strengthen bones.

She also worked as a visiting professor in Sweden. From 1998 to 2001, she was an Associate Director at a research center for biomedical materials. She was also the Dean of Engineering from 1999 to 2000.

Professor Tanner moved to the University of Glasgow in 2007. She worked there as a Professor of Biomaterials. In September 2018, she returned to Queen Mary University of London.

Helping Babies Breathe

From 2016, Professor Tanner led an important study. It was funded by Action Medical Research. The goal was to help babies who had trouble breathing. She worked on creating a special tube, called a biodegradable stent, that could dissolve safely in the body.

Throughout her career, she has written or edited three books. She has also published over 160 scientific papers and chapters.

HAPEX: A Special Bone Material

One of Professor Tanner's most important inventions is HAPEX. This material is used in middle ear transplants. It helps to restore hearing.

HAPEX is made from a type of plastic called polymers. It also contains bone-like ceramics. This mix makes it strong and safe for the body. Doctors have used HAPEX to help patients hear since 1988.

Awards and Leadership

Professor Tanner has received many awards and held important leadership roles. These show her great contributions to science.

• 2020: She was the President of the 11th World Biomaterials Congress. This big event was held online.
• 2017: She received an honorary PhD from Lund University in Sweden.
• 2016: She was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honor from the British government.
• 2015: She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
• 2015: She became a Fellow of the European Alliance of Medical and Biological Engineering and Science (FEAMBES).
• 2006: She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
• 2004: She became a Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE). This was awarded by a global group of biomaterials societies.
• 2005–2009: She served as the secretary of the Executive Committee for the European Society for Biomaterials.
• 2001–2009: She was a member of the Executive Committee for the European Society for Biomaterials.