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Dr. Kevin O'Kelly

Associate Professor (Mechanical, Manuf & Biomedical Eng)
Deputy Director (Trinity Centre for Bioengineering)
 (3531896) 1367
PARSONS BUILDING
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Kevin O'Kelly

Associate Professor (Mechanical, Manuf & Biomedical Eng)
PARSONS BUILDING

 Kevin.OKelly@tcd.ie

 3531896 1367

Deputy Director (Trinity Centre for Bioengineering)

 (3531896) 1367


Dr. Kevin O'Kelly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering. He has acted as Deputy Director of the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Director of the BSc/MAI Engineering with Management degree programme and as Dean of Students for the University. He is a Principal Investigator (PI) in the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering. He has been a Visiting Research Fellow in the University of New South Wales, Australia and the University of Barcelona. He received a double bachelors degree from UC Berkeley in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering followed by his MEngSc on the effect of thermal cycling on fracture in metal-ceramic systems and his PhD on the microstructure and failure of cancellous bone, both from the National University of Ireland, Dublin. His research areas are in technical ceramics, focussing on active implantable neural devices, artificial bone graft materials and failure mechanisms in technical ceramics.
  Biological Materials   Ceramic Engineering   Failure Mechanics   FRACTURE   FRACTURE ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY   FRACTURE MECHANICAL STIFFNESS   FRACTURE MECHANICS   FRACTURE PATH   FRACTURE TOUGHNESS   Materials technology, engineering   Materials, Physical Properties   MICROCRACKS   OSTEOPOROSIS   Prosthetic Device, Neural   TRABECULAE
Project Title
 Development of active implanted electrode systems for neural applications.
From
01/04/2012
To
30/03/2016
Summary
Neural electrodes are devices implanted into the brain for either recording neural impulses or stimulating neurons with electrical impulses from an external source. Electrodes can be for acute (short term) or chronic (long term) recording or stimulation. An important consideration is the response of living tissue to electrode implantation. It is this tissue response that causes electrodes to fail by encapsulating the electrode in a protective layer called the glial scar. The observed tissue response is caused by a combination of the traumatic injury of electrode insertion and the persistent presence of a foreign body in the neural tissue. A scientific need exists for active implanted electrodes that improve on the functionality of existing technologies. This project will investigate two different strategies: (1) minimise the size of the electrode to diameters of <25 μm. It is hypothesized that by constructing a micrometer-size device, reduction of initial swelling and glial scar formation can be achieved. Electrodes of this size will require novel insertion and fixation methods. (2) develop electrodes that suppress activity in specific areas of the brain by localized cooling. Current techniques involve electrically "overstimulating" these areas to suppress activity. New developments have shown that cooling these areas produces a similar effect without the accompanying complications. The purpose of this project is to develop clinically relevant electrode systems that are commercially viable.
Funding Agency
HEA
Programme
PRTLI5
Project Type
Research
Project Title
 Development of a bone tissue engineering scaffold optimised for transition from bioreactor systems to in-vivo dental applications
From
01/10/2011
To
30/09/2015
Summary
This project will build on previous fundamental research developing a novel ceramic scaffold with a tri-modal pore structure. It will advance the results from in vitro testing to investigate the efficacy for providing appropriate nutrient and growth factor environments to support proliferation and differentiation of seeded mesenchymal stem cells in a diffusion environment similar to in vivo conditions. It will also optimise the manufacturing parameters with a view to commercialisation and larger scale manufacturing, focusing initially on the dental implant applications. The project addresses the limitations of bone grafts scaffolds optimised for perfusion bio-reactors which fail to provide a suitable environment throughout the volume for in-vivo applications, forming bone only in the outer 250μm - 500μm. It has been established that supply of nutrient molecules and removal of metabolic waste products are crucial to promote tissue formation. Overcoming the mass transport limitations occuring in vivo represents the most significant challenges for bone tissue scaffolds.
Funding Agency
HEA
Programme
PRTLI5
Project Type
Research
Project Title
 Performance of antiwear film in presence of friction modifiers
From
January 2008
To
December 2010
Summary
In this project we will describe how the addition of two friction modifiers change properties of ZDDP antiwear films. Surfaces will be analysed with profilometry, SEM and XPS. I think this paper will cover the chemical composition of the layers. Fresh and aged oils will be used. There is also a trend in the of the friction tests that one FM work better in boundary lubrication region while the other in mixed lubrication. Will perform tests at different speeds in the wear test to see if the same trends are observed there. If so the I might use SEM to see if there is any changes in chemical nature of the films. Also samples with both FMs will be tested as this might show that the blend is then working in "all" regions. The influence of friction modifiers on the antiwear film - effect of aged oils II - will also be investigated using nanoindention and AFM to analyse the surfaces. This work will then cover the mechanical properties of the film as well as distribution and local friction and finally the influence of roughness.
Funding Agency
EU Framework 6
Programme
Marie Curie Fellowship
Project Type
Applied research
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Scale effects in nano-indentation fracture toughness measurements of brittle ceramics arising from crack-microstructure interactions
From
September 2006
To
September 2009
Summary
The work will develop fracture toughness models relevant to small scale micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) by quantifying the the interaction between microstructure and fracture process in real ceramic systems. This will have significant benefit for design in MEMS applications. This work proposes to develop a model for nano-indentation fracture based on the 3D morphology of cracks and the stress fields arising in materials of varying microstructural complexity. This work will carry out experimental and numerical work to investigate the stress fields and cracks generated by different indenter geometries in materials of varying microstructural complexity. The approach is based on preliminary work carried out independently by the TCD and the UNSW groups as well as collaborative work carried out while Dr. O'Kelly was a Visiting Resarch Fellow in UNSW.
Funding Agency
SFI
Programme
Research Frontiers Programme
Project Type
Fundamental research
Person Months
72
Project Title
 Mechanical Integrity and Archticture of Bone
From
2000
To
2003
Summary
The work programma assessed the effects of osteoporosis, drug-treatment, and normal ageing on the mechanical integrity and architecture of bone. It involved a 52 week longitudinal study of Wistar rats.
Funding Agency
EU
Programme
5th Framework

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Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Spanish Medium Medium Medium
Details Date From Date To
Chartered Engineer, Institute of Engineers
Fellow, Royal Academy of Medicine of Ireland
Member, Institute of Engineers of Ireland
President, Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland 2010 2012
Secretary, Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland 2008 2010
Frey L., Bandaru P., Zhang Y.S., O'Kelly K., Khademhosseini A., Shin S.R., A Dual-Layered Microfluidic System for Long-Term Controlled In Situ Delivery of Multiple Anti-Inflammatory Factors for Chronic Neural Applications, Advanced Functional Materials, 28, (12), 2018, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Frey, Laura and Shin, Su Ryon and O'Kelly, Kevin and Khademhosseini, Ali, Design of a neural probe using localised cooling and long term delivery of anti-inflammatory factors to reduce glial scar formation and improve the chronic efficacy of therapeutic probes, 2016, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Mealy, J, O'Kelly, K, Cell Response to Hydroxyapatite Surface Topography Modulated by Sintering Temperature, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A, 2015, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Tongfei Wu,Martin Frydrych,Kevin O'Kelly, and Biqiong Chen, Poly(glycerol sebacate urethane)−Cellulose Nanocomposites with 2 Water-Active Shape-Memory Effects, Biomacromolecules, 15, (7), 2014, p2663 - 2671, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Tongfei Wu, Ramin Farnood, Kevin O'Kelly, Biqiong Chen, Mechanical behaviour of transparent nano fibrillar cellulose-chitosan nano composite films in dry and wet conditions, Journal of the Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials, 32, 2014, p279 - 286, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
Tongfei Wu, Kevin O'Kelly & Biqiong Chen, Biomimetic chitosan-treated clay-elastomer composites with water-responsive mechanically dynamic properties, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 52, 2014, p55 - 62, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Frey L, O'Kelly K, PC12 Cell and Primary Cortical Neuronal Response to Surface Composition and Topography of Insulating Materials for Neural Electrodes, European Society of Biomaterials, Madrid, Spain, 8-12 September 2013, 2013, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Tongfei Wu, Kevin O'Kelly, Biqiong Chen, Biomimetic stimuli-responsive composites based on poly(vinyl alcohol) whiskers, 12th Deformation and Fracture of Composites and 6th Structural Integrity, Cambridge, London, 8-11April, 2013, 2013, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Tongfei Wu, Kevin O'Kelly, Biqiong Chen, Poly(methacrylic acid)-grafted clay-thermoplastic elastomer composites with water-induced shape-memory effects, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 51, 2013, p1513 - 1522, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Mealy J, O'Kelly K, Cell Response to Nanoscale Topography of Hydroxyapatite Tissue Engineering Scaffolds, European Society of Biomaterials, Madrid, Spain, 8-12 September 2013, 2013, Poster, PUBLISHED
  

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Buckley C.T. & O'Kelly K.U., Fabrication of a hydroxyapatite scaffold with a tri-modal pore distribution for bone tissue engineering, Proceedings of the 12 Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Galway, edited by McHugh P.E., O'Mahoney, D. and Fitzpatrick D. , 2006, pp89 , Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Buckley C.T., Prina-Mello A., O'Kelly K.U., Development of biodegradable elastomeric scaffolds for mechanobiology investigations, Proceedings of the 11th Annual Conference of the Section of Bio-engineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Galway, edited by FitzPatrick D.P. and Senouci M. , 2005, pp13-, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Buckley C.T. and O'Kelly K.U., A new technique for fabricating regular 3D scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications, Proceedings of the tenth Annual Conference of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Limerick, edited by D.P. Fitzpatrick, B.A.O. McCormack and T.M. McGlouhlin , 2004, pp19-, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
O'Kelly K.U., 16th Annual meeting of the Section of Bioengineering of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Malahide, Co. Dublin, Ireland, Meetings /Conferences Organised, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Newman Scholar (Mech. Eng.), University College Dublin 1993-1996
Materials & Biomaterials: failure mechanisms in cancellous bone: changes in bone mechanical properties due to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis: fracture mechanics of brittle materials: nano-indentation techniques: complex microstructures in ceramics Active implantable neural devices based on cooling.