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Coupled human erythrocyte velocity field and aggregation measurements at physiological haematocrit levels

This is the first study in which red blood cell aggregation and flow velocity field are measured simultaneously using human blood at physiological haematocrit levels (45%). Optical shearing and microPIV techniques were employed to quantify both cell aggregation and velocities of sheared blood and demonstrated the strong coupling between the two, not considered hitherto in published hemodynamics studies. The work, performed in collaboration with a blood rheologist, was subsequently expanded via a PhD studentship (funded by KCL graduate school) in experimental micro-haemodynamics and resulted in collaboration with modellers both nationally and internationally as well as with cardiovascular biologists.