Dr Asa H Barber has recently received a three year EPSRC grant for nanomechanical investigations of biomaterials. Dr Barber is a new appointment within the Department of Materials and the grant will provide considerable infrastructure to support Dr Barber’s research interests as well as underpin the general investment made in supporting biomaterials research at Queen Mary over the past few years. The grant award, totalling £248,000, will enable development of world class facilities in scanning probe systems and nano-mechanical testing for soft materials.