Professor Santin's research interests are in the field of Regenerative Medicine.

He has been involved in many research projects with a focus ranging from bone and cartilage regeneration, cardiovascular devices, control of angiogenesis to inhibit it in cartilage regeneration and stimulating it in ischaemia and neurodegenerative diseases. Prof Santin's multidisciplinary research group has been developing natural biomaterials (for example, soybean-based biomaterials) and synthetic biomimetic nano-structured biomaterials (such as, hyperbranched polymers) able to control tissue regeneration as well as establishing in vitro clinically-reflective models for the testing of biomaterials, drugs and tissue engineering constructs. Through the use of these biomaterials as substrates for cell culturing, he has been able to unveil the mechanisms of formation of stem cell spheroids and to develop organoids for the testing of drugs and nanomedicines.

Professor Matteo Santin is the leader of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices. He is also academic lead for Healthy Futures, one of five themes for cross-cutting research and enterprise across the University.

Professor Santin has over 25 years’ experience in the field of Biomaterials for Medical Devices and Tissue Engineering for a wide range of clinical applications. He has founded two start-up companies, Tissue Click Ltd. and Brighton Wound Care Ltd.

Professor Santin was the President of the European Society for Biomaterials (2013-2017) and he is Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, Springer Nature Publishing Group and member of several scientific boards of research organisations and charities.

"My career in biomedical research and teaching spans over 25 years and it has been marked by significant achievements that were internationally recognised in 2005 by the European Society for Biomaterials who conferred on me the prestigious Jean Leary Award. My research started as an undergraduate and postgraduate student at the University of Naples (1987-1990) in the field of mammals thermogenesis. Later (1990-1992), I was involved in research projects focusing on protein biochemistry and enzymology in marine organisms and thermophilic bacteria at the Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology (IBPE), CNR in Naples, Italy. I started working in the field of biomaterials for medical devices and tissue regeneration in 1992 at IBPE. In the same year, I was a visiting scientist at the Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut in the USA, developing biomaterials for soft connective tissue regeneration. From 1994 to 1996, I was supported by an EC fellowship for Human Mobility (now knows as the Marie Slodowska-Curie fellowship) at the University of Brighton where I also achieved my PhD in Biomaterials Science. In 1996, I moved to the University of Turin, Italy where I achieved another PhD in Biomaterials. I moved back to the University of Brighton in October 1998 as research fellow in an EC-funded project on bone implants. In 2003, I became Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton and in 2005 I received the title of Reader in Tissue Regeneration. In 2010, I was granted the title of Professor of Tissue Regeneration.

"In 2013, the University of Brighton gave me the mandate to establish the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, a multi-disciplinary centre including over 30 members of the staff across the University campuses and a number of early career researchers and postgraduate students. In 2017, I was appointed as academic lead for Healthy Futures, one of five themes for cross-cutting research and enterprise across the University.

"From 2008 to 2015, I was the Associate Editor (2008-2014) and Editor-in-Chief (2014-2015) of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, the official journal of the European Society for Biomaterials. Currently, I have the title of Emeritus Editor for this journal.

"In 2009, I was elected as a member of the Council of the European Society for Biomaterials and re-elected for another mandate in 2013 when the Council bestowed on me the prestigious role of President of the European Society for Biomaterials. I am the vice-chair of the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine, Regenerative Medicine Working Group and a member of various scientific advisory groups for the European Commission, public and charitable organisations in the UK and across Europe. I am the founder and director of two start-up companies with a mission in biomaterials for biomedical applications and pre-clinical handling of transplantable cells – Brighton Wound Care Ltd and Tissue Click Ltd. Since 2011, the two companies have achieved grants and capital funding exceeding £500,000. In 2019 I have become a member of the scientific advisory committee of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity "

I do believe that the best pathway to learning is to challenge mainstream concepts as long as arguments are based on scientific evidences. For this reason, my teaching is interactive with students being encouraged to intervene, argue, suggest and in so doing have the opportunity to learn as a team. My lectures on regenerative medicine and devices aim to drive the students' attention to the relationship between the structure of tissues and organs to their functions. On these bases, students can learn how medical implants, cell-based therapy and tissue engineering can either replace or regenerate the damaged tissues thus restoring their function. Through vibrant reasoning knowledge is consolidated and exam revision becomes easier.

Throughout my career I had the priviledge of supervision undergraduates and post-graduate student with a range of backgrounds; from biologist to biomedical scientists, from engineers to students with a pharmaceutical and clinical background. I have been introducing them to my widespread UK and international network and proud to see many of them flourishing in their academic, clinical or industrial career.

In my role of Academic Lead for the Healthy Futures I have launched a number of initiatives enhancing the visibility of the research and enterprise of many of my colleagues at the University of Brighton. I have established the Healthy Futures Entrepreneurs' Network including over 60 organisations with a mission in healthcare ranging from micro-companies to social partnerships to large multinationals based in the Greater Brighton area. The network has been recognised by the Greater Brighton Economic Board in their 5-years strategy and endorsed by the Brighton and Hove City Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership (Coast-to-Capital). Our meetings are regularly attended by representatives of the Knowledge Transfer Network.