Dr Liku Bekele Tezera is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton.

He co-developed a 3D bioengineered cell culture system that uses bioelectrospray technology to study TB in “droplets”. This allows scientists to observe host-pathogen interactions more accurately than traditional 2D plastic dish methods.

His current research focuses on how physical changes in lung tissue, such as stiffness, influence the behaviour of immune cells and TB bacteria.

He was awarded the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award to further his study of mechanoregulation in TB.