Ruth Tarpey

Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Ruth Tarpey is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and biomedical engineering, with a primary focus on overcoming the foreign body response in implantable drug delivery systems. Her most impactful work, the 2023 study “Soft robot–mediated autonomous adaptation to fibrotic capsule formation for improved drug delivery” (40 citations), introduces the FibroSensing Dynamic Soft Reservoir—a groundbreaking platform that uses soft robotic actuation to sense and mechanically counteract fibrotic encapsulation, thereby maintaining device integration and therapeutic efficacy. This innovation represents a paradigm shift in addressing implant failure caused by fibrotic tissue. In a complementary study (8 citations), Tarpey demonstrated that intermittent actuation attenuates the fibrotic behavior of myofibroblasts, revealing a mechanobiological mechanism that could be leveraged for long-term implant viability. Her contributions are notable for merging robotics with cellular biology to create adaptive, autonomous medical devices. With a growing citation record and a clear trajectory toward clinical translation, Tarpey is establishing herself as a leader in smart implant technology, offering new hope for patients requiring sustained drug delivery.