Staff profile

Dr Alessandro Borghi was awarded my Master of Engineering (Meng) from Politecnico di Milano and was afterwards offered a position as a PhD student at the department of Chemical Engineering of Imperial College London. His PhD project focused on numerical modeling of fluid-solid interaction in pathological arteries. After finishing, he worked as R&D engineer in a medical device company on a project for the design of novel cardiovascular devices for the treatment of heart failure. In 2009 he returned to academia to work as Research Fellow on a Wellcome Trust sponsored project, working on the mechanical optimization of the delivery method of a novel pressure sensor for wireless pressure monitoring. While at Imperial College, he also collaborated with the Heart Science Centre - working on mechanical testing of heart valves to understand the effect of extracellular matrix components on tensile and viscoelastic properties.
In 2013 Dr Borghi joined the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health as Senior Research Associate and moved to a novel field of research such as that of Cranio-maxillofacial surgical procedures and devices.
Dr Alessandro Borghi’s current research focuses on the analysis and design of the devices used in craniofacial surgery: he has applied numerical modelling to understand and predict the outcome of procedures such as spring cranioplasty and fronto-facial distraction, and is currently investigating the use of novel materials, such as shape memory alloys and biodegradable metals, for the design and prototyping of novel devices for distraction osteogenesis.
Dr Borghi’s models for performance prediction of craniofacial distractors have been published in peer reviewed clinical and engineering journals and constitute now a tested in-silico model for trialing new devices before first-in-man application. Such work has been presented at several engineering and clinical conferences, which have served as a platform for me to drive and establish several international collaborations (Boston Children’s Hospital, Italian National Research Centre, University of Bologna, Erasmus Medical Center, Connecticut Children’s Hospital, Laval University). Dr Borghi has been funded by the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.

• Biomechanics
• Finite Element Analysis
• Numerical Modelling
• Biological Tissue Characterisation
• Biomaterials
• Medical Image Processing
• Surgical Planning
• Medical Instrumentation
• Medical Devices
• Statistical Shape Modelling
• Machine Learning

• 0000: Editorial Activity: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology: Associate Editor
  Frontiers on Oral Surgery – Section Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Review Editor
• 0000: Membership: European Society of Biomechanics (ESB) Member (since 2016)
  Virtual Physiological Human Institute (since 2020)
  Member of the Institute of Engineering and Physics in Medicine (since 2020)
  Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (since 2022)
• 0000: Peer-reviewing : Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Journal of Orthodontics, Plastic & Reconstructive Global Open, Bone, Metals, JBiomech, BMMB, CMBB, International Journal of Artificial Organs, Med Eng Phys, Comput in Biol and Medicine, Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, ASME SB3C Conference (Student Paper Competition)

Journal Article

• \c Senyürek, S Aysima, Ajami, Sara, Ruggiero, Federica, Van de Lande, Lara, Caron, Cornelia J J M, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David J, Padwa, Bonnie, Koudstaal, Maarten J & Borghi, Alessandro (2023). The accuracy of computer-assisted surgical planning in predicting soft tissue responses after Le Fort I osteotomy: Retrospective analysis. J. Craniofac. Surg 34(1): 131-138.
• Ramdat Misier, Karan R R, Breakey, Richard W F, van de Lande, Lara S, Biffi, Benedetta, Knoops, Paul G M, Schievano, Silvia, Caron, Cornelia J J M, Dunaway, David J, Koudstaal, Maarten J, Jeelani, N U Owase & Borghi, Alessandro (2022). Correlation between head shape and volumetric changes following spring-assisted posterior vault expansion. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg 50(4): 343-352.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Heutinck, P, Rodriguez-Florez, N, Koudstaal, M, Ruggiero, F, Ajami, S, Schievano, S, Jeelani, N U O & Dunaway, D (2022). The esthetic perception of morphological severity in scaphocephalic patients is correlated with specific head geometrical features. Cleft Palate Craniofac. J 10556656221111307.
• Ajami, Sara, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Ong, Juling, Jeelani, Noor Ul Owase, Dunaway, David, James, Greg, Angullia, Freida, Budden, Curtis, Bozkurt, Selim, Ibrahim, Amel, Ferretti, Patrizia, Schievano, Silvia & Borghi, Alessandro (2022). Mechanical and morphological properties of parietal bone in patients with sagittal craniosynostosis. J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater 125(104929): 104929.
• Goodarzi, Mohammad R, Breakey, William F, van de Lande, Lara S, Borghi, Alessandro, O'Hara, Justine, Ong, Juling, James, Greg, Hayward, Richard, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David J & Jeelani, Nu Owase (2022). Does the mutation type affect the response to cranial vault expansion in children with apert syndrome? J. Craniofac. Surg
• Ruggiero, F, Badiali, G, Bevini, M, Marchetti, C, Ong, J, Bolognesi, F, Schievano, S, Dunaway, D, Bianchi, A & Borghi, A (2022). Parametrizing the genioplasty: a biomechanical virtual study on soft tissue behavior. Int. J. Comput. Assist. Radiol. Surg 17(1): 55-64.
• Breakey, R William F, van de Lande, Lara S, Sidpra, Jai, Knoops, Paul M, Borghi, Alessandro, O'Hara, Justine, Ong, Juling, James, Greg, Hayward, Richard, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David J & Jeelani, N Ul Owase (2021). Spring-assisted posterior vault expansion-a single-centre experience of 200 cases. Childs. Nerv. Syst 37(10): 3189-3197.
• Heutinck, Pam, Knoops, Paul, Florez, Naiara Rodriguez, Biffi, Benedetta, Breakey, William, James, Greg, Koudstaal, Maarten, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David, Jeelani, Owase & Borghi, Alessandro (2021). Statistical shape modelling for the analysis of head shape variations. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg 49(6): 449-455.
• Deliège, Lara, Misier, Karan Ramdat, Bozkurt, Selim, Breakey, William, James, Greg, Ong, Juling, Dunaway, David, Jeelani, N U Owase, Schievano, Silvia & Borghi, Alessandro (2021). Validation of an in-silico modelling platform for outcome prediction in spring assisted posterior vault expansion. Clin. Biomech. (Bristol, Avon) 88(105424): 105424.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Rodriguez Florez, Naiara, Ruggiero, Federica, James, Greg, O'Hara, Justine, Ong, Juling, Jeelani, Owase, Dunaway, David & Schievano, Silvia (2020). A population-specific material model for sagittal craniosynostosis to predict surgical shape outcomes. Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol 19(4): 1319-1329.
• Bozkurt, Selim, Borghi, Alessandro, van de Lande, Lara S, Jeelani, N U Owase, Dunaway, David J & Schievano, Silvia (2020). Computational modelling of patient specific spring assisted lambdoid craniosynostosis correction. Sci. Rep 10(1): 18693.
• Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Borghi, Alessandro, Yauwan, Daniel D, Heuntinck, Pam, Bruse, Jan L, Tenhagen, Maik, Göktekin, Özge K, Angullia, Freida, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David J, Jeelani, Noor Ul Owase & James, Greg (2020). Three-dimensional calvarial growth in spring-assisted cranioplasty for correction of sagittal synostosis. J. Craniofac. Surg 31(7): 2084-2087.
• Ibrahim, Amel, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Gardner, Oliver F W, Zucchelli, Eleonora, New, Sophie E P, Borghi, Alessandro, Dunaway, David, Bulstrode, Neil W & Ferretti, Patrizia (2020). Three-dimensional environment and vascularization induce osteogenic maturation of human adipose-derived stem cells comparable to that of bone-derived progenitors. Stem Cells Transl. Med 9(12): 1651-1666.
• Jeelani, Noor Ul Owase, Borghi, Alessandro, Florez, Naiara Rodriguez, Bozkurt, Selim, Dunaway, David & Schievano, Silvia (2020). The science behind the Springs: Using biomechanics and finite element modeling to predict outcomes in spring-assisted sagittal synostosis surgery. J. Craniofac. Surg 31(7): 2074-2078.
• O'Hara, Justine, Way, Ben, Borghi, Alessandro, Knoops, Paul G M, Chua, Deborah & Hayward, Richard D (2019). The turricephaly index: A validated method for recording turricephaly and its natural history in Apert syndrome. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg 47(3): 414-419.
• Knoops, Paul G M, Papaioannou, Athanasios, Borghi, Alessandro, Breakey, Richard W F, Wilson, Alexander T, Jeelani, Owase, Zafeiriou, Stefanos, Steinbacher, Derek, Padwa, Bonnie L, Dunaway, David J & Schievano, Silvia (2019). A machine learning framework for automated diagnosis and computer-assisted planning in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Sci. Rep 9(1): 13597.
• Knoops, P G M, Borghi, A, Breakey, R W F, Ong, J, Jeelani, N U O, Bruun, R, Schievano, S, Dunaway, D J & Padwa, B L (2019). Three-dimensional soft tissue prediction in orthognathic surgery: a clinical comparison of Dolphin, ProPlan CMF, and probabilistic finite element modelling. Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg 48(4): 511-518.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Rodgers, Will, James, Gregory, Hayward, Richard, Dunaway, David, Jeelani, Owase & Schievano, Silvia (2018). Spring assisted cranioplasty: A patient specific computational model. Med. Eng. Phys 53: 58-65.
• Shelmerdine, Susan C, Simcock, Ian C, Hutchinson, John Ciaran, Aughwane, Rosalind, Melbourne, Andrew, Nikitichev, Daniil I, Ong, Ju-Ling, Borghi, Alessandro, Cole, Garrard, Kingham, Emilia, Calder, Alistair D, Capelli, Claudio, Akhtar, Aadam, Cook, Andrew C, Schievano, Silvia, David, Anna, Ourselin, Sebastian, Sebire, Neil J & Arthurs, Owen J (2018). 3D printing from microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) in human specimens: education and future implications. Br. J. Radiol 91(1088): 20180306.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Rodgers, Will, Schievano, Silvia, Ponniah, Allan, Jeelani, Owase & Dunaway, David (2018). Proof of concept study for the design, manufacturing, and testing of a patient-specific shape memory device for treatment of unicoronal craniosynostosis. J. Craniofac. Surg 29(1): 45-48.
• Knoops, Paul G M, Borghi, Alessandro, Ruggiero, Federica, Badiali, Giovanni, Bianchi, Alberto, Marchetti, Claudio, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Breakey, Richard W F, Jeelani, Owase, Dunaway, David J & Schievano, Silvia (2018). A novel soft tissue prediction methodology for orthognathic surgery based on probabilistic finite element modelling. PLoS One 13(5): e0197209.
• Knoops, Paul G M, Beaumont, Caroline A A, Borghi, Alessandro, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Breakey, Richard W F, Rodgers, William, Angullia, Freida, Jeelani, N U Owase, Schievano, Silvia & Dunaway, David J (2017). Comparison of three-dimensional scanner systems for craniomaxillofacial imaging. J. Plast. Reconstr. Aesthet. Surg 70(4): 441-449.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Schievano, Silvia, Rodriguez Florez, Naiara, McNicholas, Roisin, Rodgers, Will, Ponniah, Allan, James, Greg, Hayward, Richard, Dunaway, David & Jeelani, N U Owase (2017). Assessment of spring cranioplasty biomechanics in sagittal craniosynostosis patients. J. Neurosurg. Pediatr 20(5): 400-409.
• Beaumont, Caroline A A, Knoops, Paul G M, Borghi, Alessandro, Jeelani, N U Owase, Koudstaal, Maarten J, Schievano, Silvia, Dunaway, David J & Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara (2017). Three-dimensional surface scanners compared with standard anthropometric measurements for head shape. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg 45(6): 921-927.
• Breakey, William, Knoops, Paul G M, Borghi, Alessandro, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Dunaway, David J, Schievano, Silvia & Jeelani, Owase N U (2017). Intracranial volume measurement: A systematic review and comparison of different techniques. J. Craniofac. Surg 28(7): 1746-1751.
• Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Ibrahim, Amel, Hutchinson, J Ciaran, Borghi, Alessandro, James, Greg, Arthurs, Owen J, Ferretti, Patrizia, Dunaway, David, Schievano, Silvia & Jeelani, N U Owase (2017). Cranial bone structure in children with sagittal craniosynostosis: Relationship with surgical outcomes. J. Plast. Reconstr. Aesthet. Surg 70(11): 1589-1597.
• Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Bruse, Jan L, Borghi, Alessandro, Vercruysse, Herman, Ong, Juling, James, Greg, Pennec, Xavier, Dunaway, David J, Jeelani, N U Owase & Schievano, Silvia (2017). Statistical shape modelling to aid surgical planning: associations between surgical parameters and head shapes following spring-assisted cranioplasty. Int. J. Comput. Assist. Radiol. Surg 12(10): 1739-1749.
• Rodgers, Will, Glass, Graeme E, Schievano, Silvia, Borghi, Alessandro, Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Tahim, Arpan, Angullia, Freida, Breakey, William, Knoops, Paul, Tenhagen, Maik, O'Hara, Justine, Ponniah, Allan, James, Gregory, Dunaway, David J & Jeelani, N U Owase (2017). Spring-assisted cranioplasty for the correction of nonsyndromic scaphocephaly: A quantitative analysis of 100 consecutive cases. Plast. Reconstr. Surg 140(1): 125-134.
• Rodriguez-Florez, Naiara, Göktekin, Özge K, Bruse, Jan L, Borghi, Alessandro, Angullia, Freida, Knoops, Paul G M, Tenhagen, Maik, O'Hara, Justine L, Koudstaal, Maarten J, Schievano, Silvia, Jeelani, N U Owase, James, Greg & Dunaway, David J (2017). Quantifying the effect of corrective surgery for trigonocephaly: A non-invasive, non-ionizing method using three-dimensional handheld scanning and statistical shape modelling. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg 45(3): 387-394.
• Borghi, Alessandro, Rodgers, Will, Schievano, Silvia, Ponniah, Allan, O'Hara, Justine, Jeelani, Owase & Dunaway, David (2016). Design, manufacturing, and in vitro testing of a patient-specific shape-memory expander for nose reconstruction with forehead flap technique. J. Craniofac. Surg 27(1): 188-190.