Professor Paul Watton

BSc, MSc, PhD

School of Computer Science

Professor of Computational & Theoretical Modelling

Head of the Complex Systems Modelling research group

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p.watton@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6076

Full contact details

Professor Paul Watton
School of Computer Science
Regent Court (DCS)
211 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
Profile

Paul Watton has a first degree in Pure & Applied Mathematics from the University of Newcastle, an MSc in Mathematical Logic and the Foundations of Computer Science from the University of Manchester, and a PHD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Leeds. Following his PhD he had postdoctoral positions at the University of Glasgow (2003-2006) and the University of Oxford (2006-2013).

The main focus of his research is developing theoretical/computational models for the biomechanics and mechanobiology of soft biological tissues with application to homeostasis, ageing and disease.

Paul was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science in 2013, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017 and Professor of Computational and Theoretical Modelling in 2024. He also holds an adjunct professorship with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh.

Research interests

Mathematical and computational biomechanics and mechanobiology; constitutive modelling of soft biological tissues; theoretical and computational analyses of growth and remodeling; cardiovascular mechanics; arterial mechanics; biofluid mechanics; continuum mechanics; vascular mechanobiology; aneurysms; bladder biomechanics and mechanobiology.

Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Watton P, Cheng F, Kurobe M, Takaoka E-I, Chapple C, Yoshimura N & Robertson AM (2022) A mechanobiological model of the urinary bladder: modelling the adaptive response to outlet obstruction. 9th World Congress of Biomechanics Abstract Book RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rahman M, Watton P, Ost TSE, Neu C & Pierce DM (2022) A CHEMO-MECHANO-BIOLOGICAL MODEL OF EVOLVING OSTEOARTHRITIS. Conference Proceedings 2022 Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (pp 352-353), 20 June 2022 - 23 June 2022. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Teixiera F, Neufeld E & Kuster N (2020) Framework for Realistic Mechanobiological Modelling of Personalised Aneurysm Disease Evolution. VPH2020 24-28 AUGUST BOOK OF ABSTRACTS VPH Institute Building the Virtual Physiological Human (pp 136-137) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cheng F, Watton P, Birder L, Yoshimura N & Robertson AM (2019) Modeling the Multi-stage Remodeling during Bladder Outlet Obstruction. Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Computer Methods on Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (CMBBE2019) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pederzani G, Grytsan A, Bhogal P, Robertson A & Watton P (2019) Application of Theories of Arterial Growth, Remodelling and Damage to Understand Cerebral Vasospasm and its Response to Treatment. Proceeding of the Fourth Soft Tissue Modelling Workshop (pp 40-40), 5 June 2019 - 7 June 2019. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Teixeira F, Neufeld E, Hirsch S & Kuster N (2019) Modelling intracranial aneurysm stability/enlargement: a patient-specific mechanobiological framework. Proceedings of 6th International Conference of Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 718-721). Sendai City, Japan, 10 June 2019 - 12 June 2019. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Robertson A, Cheng F & Birder L (2019) MODELING ADAPTIVE REMODELING OF THE BLADDER WALL DURING AGING. Proceedings of the 2019 Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference June 25 - 28, Seven Springs, PA (pp 415-416) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Mei Y, Evans P & Gundiah N (2018) Intracranial Aneurysms: A Patient-Specific Fluid-Solid-Growth (FSG) Framework with Modelling of Endothelial Response. Proceedings of the Virtual Physiological Human conference (VPH), Zaragoza, Spain, 5-7 September 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Dandapani S, Luo X & Gundiah N (2018) Soft Tissue Growth and Remodelling Framework: Application in Myocardial Infarction. Proceedings of the Virtual Physiological Human conference (VPH), Zaragoza, Spain, 5-7 September 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Pederzani G, Robertson A & Bhogal P (2018) A Mathematical Model of Cerebral Vasospasm and Comparison between Treatment Strategies. Proceedings of the Virtual Physiological Human conference (VPH), Zaragoza, Spain, 5-7 September 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Afaq H, Damian D & Grytsan A (2018) In-Silico Modelling of Oesophageal Tissue for Treatment of Long Gap Oesophageal Atresia. Proceedings of the Virtual Physiological Human conference (VPH), Zaragoza, Spain, 5-7 September 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robertson A, Cheng F, Watton P, Birder L, Thompson M & Kullmann F (2018) A data driven micro-structural model for the bladder wall in health and disease. Proceedings of the World Congress of Biomechanics 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bevan T, Marabet N, Hornsby J, Watton P & Thompson M (2018) A biomechanical model for fibril recruitment: evaluation in tendons and arteries. Proceedings of the World Congress of Biomechanics 2018 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dandapani S, Gundiah N, Luo XY & Watton P (2017) A CONSTRAINED MIXTURE MODEL OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE AND ITS APPLICATION TO SIMULATING MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 1273-1276), 10 April 2017 - 12 April 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mei Y, Chan I, Chen D & Watton P (2017) A NOVEL FLUID-SOLID-GROWTH-TRANSPORT (FSGT) FRAMEWORK FOR MODELLING THE EVOLUTION OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSM DISEASE. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 1271-1272), 10 April 2017 - 12 April 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Aparicio P & Watton P (2017) MODELLING THE CHEMO-MECHANO-BIOLOGY OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSM EVOLUTION: A PATIENT-SPECIFIC FLUID-SOLID-GROWTH SIMULATION. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 251-254), 10 April 2017 - 12 April 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Gasser TC & Grytsan A (2017) ISOTROPIC VERSUS ANISOTROPIC GROWTH DESCRIPTION FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM EVOLUTION. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 127-130) View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cheng F, Robertson AM, Birder L, Kullmann F, Hornsby J, Watton P & Watkins S (2017) AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH FOR UNDERSTANDING THE LAYER DEPENDENT ROLE OF COLLAGEN RECRUITMENT DURING LOADING IN THE RAT BLADDER WALL. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 396-399), 10 April 2017 - 12 April 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Gundiah N, Kulkarni AH, Jaddivada S, Sayani R & Kondaiah P (2016) Regulation of scellular contractility by TGFβ and dynamic stretch in fibroblasts. Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Thompson M, Hornsby J & Bevan T (2016) Fibril Recruitment in Collagenous Tissue. Proceedings of the 22nd Congress of European Society of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Hornsby J, Cheng F, Kullmann A, Afaq H, Robertson A, Birder L & Thompson M (2016) Developing a mechanobiological model of the murine bladder: in vivo, in vitro and in silico modelling. Proceedings of the 7th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P, Gundiah N & Thompson M (2016) Modelling the chemo-mechano-biology of arterial growth and remodelling: a 3-dimensional Fluid-Solid-Growth Simulation. Proceedings of the European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Gondwe C & Li X (2016) skeletal muscle mechanics: modelling the interaction between the microstructure and the environmental mechanical envelope. Proceedings of the 7th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Mandaltsi A, Wong W, Mei Y, Robertson A & Gundiah N (2016) Modelling the mechanobiological evolution of intracranial aneurysms: an integrative in vivo, in vitro and in silico approach. Proceedings of the 7th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P & Thompson M (2016) Vascular cells as dynamic integrators—actuators: A multiscale theoretical framework applied to fibroblast differentiation in aneurysm development. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology and Cardiovascular Disease RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Hornsby J, Thompson M, Robertson AM & Birder L (2015) Multiphoton Imaging and Mechanobiological Modelling of the Urinary Bladder. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Mechanics of Biomaterials and Tissues RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P & Aparicio P (2015) A Chemo-Mechano-Biological Model of Arterial Tissue Growth and Remodeling: Signaling Pathways governing Myofibroblast Persistence underlying Vascular Pathology. Proceedings of Vasculata 2015 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P & Thompson M (2015) A Chemo-Mechano-Biological Model of Arterial Tissue Growth and Remodeling: Signaling Pathways governing Myofibroblast Persistence underlying Vascular Pathology. Proceedings of the 13th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P, Mandaltsi M & Thompson M (2014) Investigating the role of cell-signalling on intracranial aneurysm evolution: A novel chemo-mechanobiological mathematical model. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Grytsan A, Eriksson T & Gasser TC (2014) Fluid-Solid-volumetric Growth Framework of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Evolution. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Mandaltsi A, Chen H, Aparicio P, Hornsby J, Dickinson E, Eriksson T & Ventikos Y (2014) Modelling the mechanobiology of cerebral aneurysm evolution. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Hornsby J, Chen H & Thompson M (2014) A novel mathematical model for the microstructural adaption of collagen fabric during aneurysm evolution. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Chen H, MacDonald A & Luo XY (2013) A Novel Mathematical Model for the Microstructural Adaption of the Collagen Fabric during Aneurysm Evolution. Proceedings of the XXIV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P & Thompson M (2013) A computational model of arterial wall degeneration: Coupling signalling pathways to vascular mechanobiology. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 119-122) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Eriksson T, Luo Y & Ventikos Y (2013) Volumetric growth and remodelling of a fibre composite. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 123-126) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Dickinson E & Mandaltsi A (2013) A novel chemo-mechano-biological mathematical model of intracranial aneurysm evolution. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 111-114) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Chen H & Robertson AM (2013) A novel mathematical model for the microstructural adaptation of the collagen fabric during aneurysm evolution. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (pp 115-118) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Aparicio P, Mandaltsi A, Boamah J & Ventikos Y (2013) Modelling the Influence of Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity on Abdominal Aneurysm Evolution: a Patient-specific Simulation using a novel Fluid-Solid-Growth (FSG) Framework.. Proceedings of the XXIV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Selimovic A, Chen H, Thompson H & Ventikos Y (2011) Patient-Specific Modelling of Cerebral Aneurysm Evolution. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Mathematical and Computational Biomedical Engineering (pp 43-46) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Villa-Uriol M, Selimovic A, Penrose J, Bogunovic H, Holzapfel GA & Ventikos Y (2010) A computational framework to explore the role of pulsatile haemodynamics on cerebral aneurysm development for patient-specific arterial geometries. Proceedings of the 6th World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB 2010). (pp 759-762) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Selimovic A, Penrose J, Bogunovic H, Villa-Uriol MC, Holzapfel GA, Ventikos Y & Watton PN (2010) A computational framework to explore the role of pulsatile haemodynamics on cerebral aneurysm development for patient-specific arterial geometries. IFMBE Proceedings, Vol. 31 IFMBE (pp 759-762) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton PN, Frangi A & Ventikos Y (2009) AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE HEALTHCARE: IT FOR CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS. 2009 IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOMEDICAL IMAGING: FROM NANO TO MACRO, VOLS 1 AND 2 (pp 378-381) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P, Hill NA & Dodds S (2003) Modelling the Growth and Stress in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Proceedings of Summer Bioeingeering Conference RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton P & Hill NA (2002) Remodelling and Deformation of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. 4th World Congress of Biomechanics: Proceedings RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watton PN & Hill NA (2001) Abdominal aortic aneurysms a new mathematical model. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Bioengineering Division (Publication) BED, Vol. 50 (pp 513-514) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rahman MM, Watton P, Neu CP & Pierce DM () A CHEMO-MECHANO-BIOLOGICAL MODEL OF CARTILAGE IN FEBIO: STUDIES OF PATHOLOGICAL LOADING, HOMEOSTATIC ADAPTATION AND BIO-CHEMICAL TREATMENTS. Proceedings of the Proceedings of the 2023 Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rahman MM, Watton P, Neu CP & Pierce DM () A Coupled Chemo-Mechano-Biological Model of Cartilage in 3-D Nonlinear Finite Elements using FEBio. Proceedings of 17th U. S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics (USNCCM) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rahman MM, Watton P, Neu CP & Pierce DM () COUPLED CHEMO-MECHANO-BIOLOGICAL SIMULATIONS OF EVOLVING OSTEOARTHRITIS: THEORY AND 3-D SIMULATIONS. Proceedings of 18th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Grants

Current grants

  • BOOM: A Digital Twin for Designing Bladder Treatment Informed By Bladder Outlet Obstruction Mechanobiology, NIH, 08/2023 - 08/2028, £408,226, as PI
  • Capacity Building and Computing Technologies for Healthcare: An Application in Transforming Mental Health Research and Services in Vietnam, Academy of Medical Sciences, 03/2024 - 03/2025, £45,431. as Co-I.
  • Modelling Cartilage Chemo-Mechanobiology with Application to Predicting Osteoarthritis Progression and Treatment, Royal Society, 03.2024 - 03.2026, £12,000, as PI
  • The SofTMech Statistical Emulation and Translation Hub, EPSRC, 03/2021 - 02/2025, £207,617, as Co-PI
  • SANO: Centre for New Methods in Computational Diagnostics and Personalised Therapy, EC H2020, 08/2019 - 07/2026, £2,497,386, as Co-PI

Previous grants

  • EPSRC Centre for Multiscale soft tissue mechanics with application to heart & cancer, EPSRC, 04/2016 to 03/2020, £131,726, as PI
  • Development of a novel diagnostic model of urinary dysfunction, Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust, 03/2014 to 08/2014, £15,715, as PI
  • Integrative In vitro and In silico Modelling of Arterial Mechanobiology for Health and Disease, The British Council, 03/2014 to 08/2016, £30,720, as PI
Professional activities and memberships
  • Watton PN (with Robertson A) Organiser for Mini-Symposium on Modelling and Simulation of Aneurysms, European Solid Mechanics Conference, Madrid, Spain, July 6-10, 2015.
  • Watton PN (with Cebral J & Meng H & Raghavan M & Robertson A & Steinmann D ) Organiser for Mini-Symposium on Intracranial Aneurysms, 7th World Congress of Biomechanics, Boston, USA, July 6-11, 2014.
  • Watton PN (with Cebral J & Robertson A) Organiser for Mini-Symposium Aneurysm Modelling: from basic science to clinical translation, 3rd International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong, Dec 16-18, 2013.
  • Watton PN (with Robertson A) Organiser for Mini-Symposium on Modelling and Simulation of Aneurysms, European Solid Mechanics Conference, Graz University of Technology, Austria, July 9-13, 2012.