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Staff Profiles

Dr Catalina Vallejo Giraldo

B.Sc., M.Sc, PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
E: catalina.vallejogiraldo@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr. Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo is an early career lecturer at the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Galway. Her research interests are at the intersection of biomaterials, brain mechanobiology and medicine. Catalina´s international training has given her the experience of interacting with and leading multidisciplinary teams that involve members from academia (Antioquia School of Engineering, Colombia, Imperial College London, UK, Cardiff Univ., UK and University of Galway, Ireland), industry (Galvani Bioelectronics, UK, Neurent Medical, Ireland) and the clinic (Mayo Clinic, USA). To date, Dr. Vallejo Giraldo has published more than 21 refereed papers in high impact factor international journals (6 without her PhD supervisor as a co-author), 3 refereed book chapters, 15 conference proceedings, one pre-print, with a h-index 16. Dr. Vallejo Giraldo has received nine prestigious academic awards, including the Donegan Medal from the Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland, (RAMI, BME Section) and Trainee Award at the 10th World Biomaterials Congress for her contribution to the field of neuronal design of biomaterials, tissue engineering and brain mechanobiology.  

Dr. Vallejo-Giraldo serves as a referee for several international journals, and she has been guest editor of several special issues, such as the one entitled " Engineered Polymeric Materials Towards Living Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications" published in Polymers (open access journal) in 2021. 

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2022) 'Understanding the Mechanobiology of Gliosis May Be the Key to Unlocking Sustained Chronic Performance of Bioelectronic Neural Interfaces'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Krukiewicz, K., M. J. P. Biggs. (2022) 'Understanding the Mechanobiology of Gliosis May Be the Key to Unlocking Sustained Chronic Performance of Bioelectronic Neural Interfaces'. Advanced Biosystems, [Details]
(2021) 'In vitro analysis of a physiological strain sensor formulated from a PEDOT:PSS functionalized carbon nanotube-poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) composite'
Ghazal Tadayyon, Katarzyna Krukiewicz, James Britton, Aitor Larrañaga, Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Marc Fernandez-Yague, Yina Guo, Lu Li, Anup Poudel, Manus J.P Biggs (2021) 'In vitro analysis of a physiological strain sensor formulated from a PEDOT:PSS functionalized carbon nanotube-poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) composite'. Materials Science And Engineering, 121 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Understanding Cell-Material Interactions at a Molecular Level'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C¿., Genta, M¿., Cauvi, O., Goding, J., Green, R .A. (2020) 'Understanding Cell-Material Interactions at a Molecular Level'. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, [Details]
(2019) 'Considerations for Hydrogel Applications to Neural Bioelectronics'
Goding, J., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Syed, O., and Green, R. A. (2019) 'Considerations for Hydrogel Applications to Neural Bioelectronics'. Journal Of Materials Chemistry B, [Details]
(2019) 'Self-supporting carbon nanotube films as flexible neural interfaces'
Krukiewicz, K,Janas, D,Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Biggs, MJP (2019) 'Self-supporting carbon nanotube films as flexible neural interfaces'. Electrochimica Acta, 295 :253-261 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Conductive Elastomer Composites for Fully Polymeric, Flexible Bioelectronics'
Cuttaz, E., Goding, J., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Aregueta-Robles, U., Lovell, N., Ghezzi, D., and Green, R. A (2019) 'Conductive Elastomer Composites for Fully Polymeric, Flexible Bioelectronics'. Biomaterials Science, [Details]
(2018) 'Preparation of Cytocompatible ITO Neuroelectrodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Characteristics Using a Facile Anodic Oxidation Process'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Pampaloni, NP,Pallipurath, AR,Mokarian-Tabari, P,O'Connell, J,Holmes, JD,Trotier, A,Krukiewicz, K,Orpella-Aceret, G,Pugliese, E,Ballerini, L,Kilcoyne, M,Dowd, E,Quinlan, LR,Pandit, A,Kavanagh, P,Biggs, MJP (2018) 'Preparation of Cytocompatible ITO Neuroelectrodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Characteristics Using a Facile Anodic Oxidation Process'. Advanced Functional Materials, 28 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4¿Ethylenedioxythiophene):P¿Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C¿., Krukiewicz, K., Calaresu,Ivo., Zhu, J, Koo., B.S., Fernandez-Yague,M., Thomas,D., Peixoto, N., McNamara,K., Syed, T., Palma,M., Farid, N., O'Connor, Gerard., Dowd, E., Ballerini, L., Abhay, P., Biggs, M.J.P (2018) 'Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4¿Ethylenedioxythiophene):P¿Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography'. Small, [Details]
(2018) 'Fractal form PEDOT/Au assemblies as thin-film neural interface materials'
Katarzyna Krukiewicz, Magdalena Chudy, Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Małgorzata Skorupa, Daria Więcławska, Manus Biggs (2018) 'Fractal form PEDOT/Au assemblies as thin-film neural interface materials'. Biomedical Materials, 13 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2017) 'Stimulation of 3D osteogenesis by mesenchymal stem cells using a nanovibrational bioreactor'
Tsimbouri, PM,Childs, PG,Pemberton, GD,Yang, JL,Jayawarna, V,Orapiriyakul, W,Burgess, K,Gonzalez-Garcia, C,Blackburn, G,Thomas, D,Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Biggs, MJP,Curtis, ASG,Salmeron-Sanchez, M,Reid, S,Dalby, MJ (2017) 'Stimulation of 3D osteogenesis by mesenchymal stem cells using a nanovibrational bioreactor'. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 1 :758-770 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Pugliese, E,Larranaga, A,Fernandez-Yague, MA,Britton, JJ,Trotier, A,Tadayyon, G,Kelly, A,Rago, I,Sarasua, JR,Dowd, E,Quinlan, LR,Pandit, A,Biggs, MJP (2016) 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications'. Nanomedicine, 11 :2547-2563 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Nanoscale neuroelectrode modification via sub-20 nm silicon nanowires through self-assembly of block copolymers'
Mokarian-Tabari, P,Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Fernandez-Yague, M,Cummins, C,Morris, MA,Biggs, MJP (2015) 'Nanoscale neuroelectrode modification via sub-20 nm silicon nanowires through self-assembly of block copolymers'. Journal Of Materials Science-Materials In Medicine, 26 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Biofunctionalisation of electrically conducting polymers'
Vallejo-Giraldo C, Kelly A, Biggs MJ (2014) 'Biofunctionalisation of electrically conducting polymers'. Drug Discovery Today, [Details]
(2014) 'Cellular Response to Ferroelectric PVDF-TrFE Surfaces of Varying Polymer Concentration'
Biggs, M.J.P., Parisi-Capdevila, E., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Wind, SJ (2014) 'Cellular Response to Ferroelectric PVDF-TrFE Surfaces of Varying Polymer Concentration'. Journal Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, [Details]
(2011) 'Sustained Delivery of Dibutyryl Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate to the Transected Spinal Cord via Oligo [(Polyethylene Glycol) Fumarate] Hydrogels'
Rooney, G.E., Knight, A.M., Madigan, N.N., Gross, L., Chen, B., Vallejo Giraldo, C., Seo,S., Nesbitt, JJ., Dadsetan, M., Yaszemski, M.J.,Windebank, A.J (2011) 'Sustained Delivery of Dibutyryl Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate to the Transected Spinal Cord via Oligo [(Polyethylene Glycol) Fumarate] Hydrogels'. Tissue Engineering Part A, [Details]
(2011) 'Reporting of Sex as a Variable in Cardiovascular Studies using Cultured Cells'
Taylor, K. E., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Schaible, N. S., Zakeri, R., & Miller, V. M (2011) 'Reporting of Sex as a Variable in Cardiovascular Studies using Cultured Cells'. Biol Sex Differbiol Sex Differ, [Details]
(2011) 'Using Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction to Understand an `Omics Approach to Evaluating Vascular Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease¿'
Zakeri, R., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Taylor, K.E., Miller, V.M., Schaible N.S (2011) 'Using Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction to Understand an `Omics Approach to Evaluating Vascular Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease¿'. Journal Of Neurophysiology, [Details]
(2010) 'A Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel for Doxorubicin Delivery'
Dadsetan, M., Liu, Z., Pumberger, M., Vallejo Giraldo, C., Ruesink, T., Lichun, Lu., Yaszemski, M.J. (2010) 'A Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel for Doxorubicin Delivery'. Biomaterials, [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2020) '3D Cell Culture Systems for the Development of Neural Interfaces'
Syed, O., Chapman, C., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Genta, M., Goding, J., Kanelos, E. and Green, R. A. (2020) '3D Cell Culture Systems for the Development of Neural Interfaces' In: Neural Interface Engineering. Cham: Springer, Cham (pp. 201-236). [Details]
(2020) 'Biomimetic Approaches Towards Device-Tissue Integration, in N.V. Thakor (Ed.), Handbook of Neuroengineering'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Genta, M., Goding, J., and Green, R. A. (2020) 'Biomimetic Approaches Towards Device-Tissue Integration, in N.V. Thakor (Ed.), Handbook of Neuroengineering' In: Handbook of Neuroengineering. Singapore: Springer Singapore, Singapore, 2020, pp. 1-26. [Details]
(2016) 'Biological activity on piezoelectric PVDF'
Marc A Fernandez-Yague, Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Gemma Orpella Aceret, Abhay Pandit, Manus J Biggs (2016) 'Biological activity on piezoelectric PVDF' In: Electrically Active Materials for Medical Devices. USA: World Scientific. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2022) TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Martina Genta, Roberto Portillo-Lara, Josef Goding, Rylie Green (2022) FIBRILLAR MESH HYDROGELS FOR LIVING BIONIC DEVICES TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A [Details]
(2022) TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
Martina Genta, Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Josef Goding, Rylie Green (2022) CELL-MATERIAL INTERACTION IN BIOSYNTHETIC HYDROGELS FOR BIOMIMETIC NEURAL INTERFACES TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A [Details]
(2021) 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC)
Cuttaz, E., Chapman, Christopher AR., Goding, J., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Syed, O., Green, R. A (2021) Flexible Nanowire Conductive Elastomers for Applications in Fully Polymeric Bioelectronic Devices 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC) [Details]
(2016) 10th World Biomaterials Congress
Pugliese, E., Larranaga, A., Fernandez-Yague, M., Vallejo Giraldo, C., Tadajon, G., Pandit, A. and Biggs, M.J. (2016) Investigating a Novel Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite as an Electrically Conducting Implant Coating for Neuroprosthetic Devices 10th World Biomaterials Congress [Details]
(2016) 10th World Biomaterials Congress
Biggs, M., Mokarian-Tabari, P., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Thomas, D., Morris, M.A. and Pandit, A. (2016) Nanopillar Modified Neuroelectrodes through Block Copolymer Self-Assembly 10th World Biomaterials Congress [Details]
(2016) Bioengineering in Ireland 2016, the Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland
Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Pandit, A,Biggs, MJP (2016) The Effects of Electrodeposition Current Density on the Morphology, Electrochemical and Biological Characteristics of Poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(Styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) Neural Interfaces Bioengineering in Ireland 2016, the Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland , pp.21-21 [Details]
(2016) Bioengineering in Ireland 2016, the Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Dowd, E., Papy-Garcia, D., Pandit, A. and Biggs, M.J.P. (2016) PEDOT Polymeric Coatings for Neuroelectrodes: Topographical and Biologic Bioengineering in Ireland 2016, the Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland [Details]
(2016) BIODEVICES
Nathalia Peixoto, Tjerignimin Silue, Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Manus Biggs (2016) Electrochemical Analysis of Accelerated Aging of PEDOT-PTS Coated Screen-printed Electrodes BIODEVICES , pp.76-82 [Details]
(2016) Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol
Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo, Eilís Dowd, Dulcé Papy-Garcia, Abhay Pandit, Manus J Biggs (2016) Functionalized PEDOT polymeric coatings for neuroelectrodes: topographical and biological strategies Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
Boston Scientific Hydrogel International 2023,
Catalina Vallejo Giraldo Hydrogels for Brain Applications. [Invited Oral Presentation], Boston Scientific Hydrogel International 2023, Ireland . [Details]
Materials Research Society (MRS), Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2018,
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Cuttaz, Estelle., Goding, Josef., Aregueta-Robles,Ulises., Lovell, Nigel., Ghezzi., Diego, Green, Rylie A. Tailoring Properties of Polymer Bioelectronics through Blends. Tailoring Properties of Polymer Bioelectronics through Blends. [Invited Oral Presentation], Materials Research Society (MRS), Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2018, Boston, USA . [Details]
British Society for Matrix Biology, Liverpool, UK, 2019,
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Mohand, Idir Ouidja., Huynh, Minh Bao., Krukiewicz, K., Pallipurath. R Anuradha., Trotier, Alexander., Kilcoyne, Michelle, Dowd, Eilís., Papy-Garcia, Dulcé., Pandit, Abhay., Biggs, M.J.P. Functionalized PEDOT Polymeric Coatings for Neuroelectrodes using Heparan Sulphate Mimetics. [Invited Oral Presentation], British Society for Matrix Biology, Liverpool, UK, 2019, Liverpool, UK . [Details]
Biomedical Engineers, Medical Engineers and Bioengineers (BioMedEng19),London, UK, 2019,
Cauvi, O., Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Genta, M., Peressotti, S., Taylor, E., Green, R. A. P Growth Analysis of Ventral Mesencephalic Neural Population in a Polyvinyl Alcohol-Sericin Gelatin (PVA-SG) Hydrogel System. [Poster Presentation], Biomedical Engineers, Medical Engineers and Bioengineers (BioMedEng19),London, UK, 2019, London, UK . [Details]
11th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC), Glasgow UK, 2020,
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Cauvi, Olivia., Genta, M., Taylor, E., Kalyviotis, K., Pantazis, P., Goding, J., Green, R. A Living Electrode Hydrogels: 3D Culture and Cell Mechanics. [Oral Presentation], 11th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC), Glasgow UK, 2020, Glasgow, UK . [Details]
(2014) Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – EU Meeting,
Biggs, MJP,Vallejo-giraldo, C,Pandit, A (2014) Morphological modification of conducting polymers. [Oral Presentation], Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – EU Meeting, Genoa , 10-JUN-14 - 13-JUN-14. [Details]

ANET/COS

  Year Publication
(2014) The Effects of Current Density on the Morphology, Electrochemical and Biological Characteristics of Poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) Conducting Films.
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Pandit, A. and Biggs, M.J.P. (2014) The Effects of Current Density on the Morphology, Electrochemical and Biological Characteristics of Poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) Conducting Films. 26th European Conference on Biomaterials ANET/COS [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2015) The Effect of Current Density on Conducting Polymer for Neuroelectrode Coatings.
Vallejo-Giraldo, C., Pampaloni, N.P., Pandit, A., Ballerini, L. and Biggs, M.J.P. (2015) The Effect of Current Density on Conducting Polymer for Neuroelectrode Coatings. Conference Paper [Details]

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2018 National University of Galway, Ireland Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering Neuroelectrodes, Biomaterials
2012 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, Biomaterials
2007 Escuela de Ingeniería de Antioquia (EIA) (Antioquia School of Engineering) in agreement with Universidad CES (CES University) Medellin, Colombia Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) - Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Engineering

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
University of Galway, Ireland Lecturer Above the Bar in Biomedical Engineering /
CURAM, University of Galway, Ireland Industrial Postdoctoral Researcher /
University of Cardiff, UK Associate Researcher /
Imperial College London, UK Associate Researcher /

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2020 Invited Article by World Biomaterials Congress (WBC) 2020 World Biomaterials Conference 2020
2019 UK National Image Competition Host Winner ABCAM. Life under the Microscope
2018 Oral Presentation at the Neuroelectronic Interfaces Gordon Research Conference (GRC) GRC
2018 Cover Page of the Special Issue: Advanced Functional Materials Advanced Functional Materials
2016 Oral Presentation at Biointerfaces-Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) GRS
2016 Trainee Award at 10th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC) WBC
2016 Best Paper at 9th International Conference on Biomedical Electronics and Devices Biomedical Electronics and Devices
2015 Best Poster from the National University of Ireland, Galway in Advanced Functional Polymers for Medicine (AFPM) AFPM
2014 Donegan Medal Awarded by The Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland (RAMI), Section of Biomedical Sciences RAMI
2008 Young Investigator and Innovator Grant Awarded by Colciencias,Colombia Colciencias

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Europen Society of Biomaterials Member /
British Neuroscience Association, BNA-FENS Member /
Biomedical Engineering Society Member /
Royal Academy of Medicine, Ireland Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
External Thesis Evaluator for undergraduate and Masters students in the Biomedical Engineering programme at Antioquia School Engineering, Medellin, Colombia Member /
Graduate Student Advisor Committee in the BME Department and CURAM, University of Galway, Ireland Member /
Member of School of Engineering Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee Member /

Languages

  Language
English
Spanish

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach Science on Screen /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Medical Device Week, Ireland /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Teachers in Residence Programme /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Sutton Trust UK Summer Schools /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) In2scienceUK /

Reviews

  Journal Role
Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, And Medicine Reviewer
Advanced Healthcare Materials Reviewer
Journal Of Visualized Experiments : Jove Reviewer
Frontiers In Neuroscience Reviewer
Advanced Biosystems Reviewer
Acta Biomaterialia Reviewer
Biomaterials Reviewer
Biomedical Materials Reviewer
Developmental Neurobiology Reviewer
Polymers Editor
Biomedicines Reviewer
Nanotechnology Reviewer
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology Reviewer
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Reviewer

Teaching Interests

Mechanobiology
Fundamentals of Engineering
Biology
Biodesign
Biotesting
Biomaterials
Biostatistics 
Neurobiology

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2023 Merin Elizabeth Abraham

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2023 University of Galway Mechanobiology BME5101
2023 University of Galway Fundamentals of Engineering EI140
2020 Imperial College London, UK Biomaterial Journal Club BIOE97031
2024 University of Galway Masters Thesis (Coordinator) BME5102
2023 University of Galway Tissue Engineering BME 405
2020 Imperial College London, UK Molecules, Cells and Processes BE1-HMCP
2020 Imperial College London, UK Computational and Statistical Methods for Research BIOE97412
2023 University of Galway Biomaterials and Neural Diseases Module ED6180
2024 University of Galway Biodesign Project (Masters) BME5105

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
Abhay Pandit
Bharat Tripathi
Mihai Lomora
Manus Biggs

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Parvaneh Mokarian Trinity Collage Dublin IRELAND
Eric Chevet Université Rennes FRANCE
Rylie Green Imperial College London UNITED KINGDOM
John Mulvihill University of Limerick IRELAND