![James Bell](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7555?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
Teaching
I lead the second year Physics undergraduate module PX2131 "The Physics of Fields and Flows". I also teach on the Physics undergraduate module PX2241 "Physics in Action".
Research
I work across the fields of physics, biology, engineering and medicine. My research interest is the hierarchical structure of the tissues in our bodies, how it facilitates function, how it is changed in pathology and how we can use this information to develop targeted therapies. I use a range of imaging techniques to visualise the hierarchical structure of tissue and how it responds to mechanical stimuli that mimics the physiological environment. I fit my data to mechanical models to derive structure-function relationships that can be used in meaningful ways by clinicians and other stakeholders.
Gender Equity
I am a founding member of EMPOWER, a network supporting academics at Cardiff University that identify as female. The network has three primary aims:
- Bringing people together
- Arranging in-person and virtual events to connect female academics, develop professional relationships and facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborative project opportunities. We also provide themed workshops on career progression and personal effectiveness, as well as feedback sessions to learn about and share lived experiences.
- Facilitate peer mentoring
- We provide training and a platform for our members to support each other, signpost opportunities and offer informal advice
- Representing our members
- We canvas our members for feedback on their lived experiences as female academics, and feed this back to the university management through direct interaction (e.g. with the EDI Hub) and embedding into relevant administrative structures. Our work is helping inform Cardiff's Strategic Equality Plan, which will launch in 2024.
If you would like to join the network or learn more about it, please contact [email protected].
Publication
2025
- Bell, J. et al. 2025. Hierarchical biomechanical characterisation of riboflavin-UVA crosslinking and decorin treatment in the porcine cornea. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 13 1603679. (10.3389/fbioe.2025.1603679)
- Ma, Q. et al. 2025. Ultrastructural aspects of corneal functional recovery in rats following intrastromal keratocyte injection. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 66 (2) 45. (10.1167/iovs.66.2.45)
2024
- Zheng, K. et al., 2024. Effects of mineralization on the hierarchical organization of collagen—a synchrotron X-ray scattering and polarized second harmonic generation study. Interface Focus 14 (3) 20230046. (10.1098/rsfs.2023.0046)
2022
- Bell, J. et al. 2022. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to controlled inflation. Presented at: 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting Denver, CO, USA 1-4 May 2022. Vol. 63.Vol. 7. IOVS. , pp.2392.
- Bell, J. et al. 2022. X-ray scattering imaging of intervertebral discs under load. Presented at: The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) Annual General Meeting Coventry 30 June 2022. Orthopaedic Proceedings. Vol. 104-B.Vol. Supp 9. , pp.26-26. (10.1302/1358-992X.2022.9.026)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2022. Microstructural characterisation of resistance artery remodelling in diabetes mellitus. Journal of Vascular Research 59 , pp.50-60. (10.1159/000517856)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2022. Tropocollagen springs allow collagen fibrils to stretch elastically. Acta Biomaterialia 142 , pp.185-193. (10.1016/j.actbio.2022.01.041)
2021
- Winlove, P. et al., 2021. Synergies between microstructure imaging modalities. Presented at: 2021 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis Virtual 29 April - 01 May 2021. Vol. 29.Vol. Supple. Elsevier. , pp.S7. (10.1016/j.joca.2021.02.017)
2020
- Hayes, S. et al. 2020. The effect of bacteriochlorophyll derivative WST-D and near infrared light on the molecular and fibrillar architecture of the corneal stroma. Scientific Reports 10 9836. (10.1038/s41598-020-66869-y)
- Meek, K. M. et al. 2020. X-ray diffraction imaging of corneal ultrastructure. In: Ahearne, M. ed. Corneal Regeneration: Methods and Protocols. Vol. 2145, Methods in Molecular Biology New York, NY, USA: Humana. , pp.231-247. (10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_16)
2019
- Al-Rawachy, A. et al. 2019. Cardiff behavioural model analysis using a two-tone stimulus. Presented at: 2019 IEEE Topical Conference on RF/Microwave Power Amplifiers for Radio and Wireless Applications (PAWR) Orlando, FL, USA 20-23 January 2019. 2019 IEEE Topical Conference on RF/Microwave Power Amplifiers for Radio and Wireless Applications (PAWR). IEEE. , pp.5-8. (10.1109/PAWR.2019.8708726)
2018
- Bates, D. O. et al., 2018. Bowman's capsule corrected: undiscovered vascular chambers in the renal glomerulus. FASEB Journal 32 (S1) 721.22. (10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.721.22)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2018. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to load. Acta Biomaterialia 65 , pp.216-225. (10.1016/j.actbio.2017.11.015)
- Bell, J. et al. 2018. A subfibrillar deformation mechanism in corneal collagen that affords flexibility. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2018 Honolulu April 29 - May 3, 2018. Vol. 59.Vol. 9. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
- Neal, C. et al., 2018. Novel haemodynamic structures in the human glomerulus. American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology 315 (5), pp.F1370-F1384. (10.1152/ajprenal.00566.2017)
2017
- Abass, A. et al., 2017. SAXS4COLL: an integrated software tool for analysing fibrous collagen-based tissues. Journal of Applied Crystallography 50 , pp.1235-1240. (10.1107/S1600576717007877)
- Al-Atawi, S. et al., 2017. Changes in the X-ray diffraction pattern of porcine lens before and after simulated accommodation. Acta Ophthalmologica 95 S259. (10.1111/j.1755-3768.2017.0S074)
- Hayes, S. et al. 2017. The structural response of the cornea to changes in stromal hydration. Interface 14 (131)(10.1098/rsif.2017.0062)
- White, T. et al. 2017. The structural role of elastic fibres in the cornea investigated using a mouse model for Marfan syndrome. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 58 (4), pp.2106-2116. (10.1167/iovs.16-21358)
2016
- Bell, J. 2016. Visualising the dynamic behaviour of corneal collagen. Diamond News
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2016. Microstructure and mechanics of human resistance arteries. American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology 311 (6), pp.H1560-H1568. (10.1152/ajpheart.00002.2016)
- Lewis, P. et al. 2016. Three-dimensional arrangement of elastic fibers in the human corneal stroma. Experimental Eye Research 146 , pp.43-53. (10.1016/j.exer.2015.12.006)
- Smith, C. W. et al., 2016. Elastic behaviour of biological materials. In: Hashmi, S. ed. Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering. Elsevier. , pp.1-6. (10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.02934-9)
2015
- Bell, J. , Mandalia, V. and Winlove, P. 2015. Changes in human articular cartilage following radiofrequency coblation chondroplasty. Presented at: Indian Orthopaedic Society Liverpool 3 July 2015. Vol. 97-B.Vol. SUPP_1. British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery.
- Mansfield, J. C. , Bell, J. S. and Winlove, C. P. 2015. The micromechanics of the superficial zone of articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 23 (10), pp.1806-1816. (10.1016/j.joca.2015.05.030)
2014
- Bell, J. , Mandalia, V. and Winlove, P. 2014. Characterising changes in articular cartilage followingelectrothermal chondroplasty. Presented at: British Society for Matrix Biology Cardiff 2nd September 2013. Vol. 95.Wiley. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2014. Micromechanical response of articular cartilage to tensile load measured using nonlinear microscopy. Acta Biomaterialia 10 (6), pp.2574-2581. (10.1016/j.actbio.2014.02.008)
- Christmas, J. et al., 2014. Inexact Bayesian point pattern matching for linear transformations. Pattern Recognition 47 (10), pp.3265-3275. (10.1016/j.patcog.2014.04.022)
- Green, E. M. et al., 2014. The structure and micromechanics of elastic tissue. Interface Focus 4 (2) 20130058. (10.1098/rsfs.2013.0058)
- Mansfield, J. C. et al., 2014. Nonlinear optical microscopy in biomechanics. In: Neu, C. and Genin, G. eds. Handbook of Imaging in Biological Mechanics. CRC Press. , pp.251-260.
- Mansfield, J. et al., 2014. Micromechanics of the superficial zone of articularcartilage studied using multi-photon microscopy. Presented at: British Society for Matrix Biology Cardiff 2nd September 2013. Vol. 95.Vol. 3. Wiley. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- White, T. et al., 2014. 3D structural studies of the cornea. Presented at: British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science Cardiff 01 November 2014. (10.1111/opo.12160)
2013
- Alkhouli, N. et al., 2013. The mechanical properties of human adipose tissues and their relationships to the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 305 (12), pp.E1427-E1435. (10.1152/ajpendo.00111.2013)
- Neal, C. et al., 2013. Novel vascular morphology in human glomeruli. Presented at: 37th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences Birmingham 21st July 2013. Vol. PCC349.
2012
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2012. Low acoustic transmittance through a holey structure. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 85 (21) 214305. (10.1103/PhysRevB.85.214305)
- Murray, A. et al., 2012. Control of sonic metamaterial stopband. Presented at: META'12 Paris 19-22 April 2012.
2009
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2009. Modeling the steady-state deformation of the solid phase of articular cartilage. Biomaterials 30 (31), pp.6394-6401. (10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.08.026)
Articles
- Abass, A. et al., 2017. SAXS4COLL: an integrated software tool for analysing fibrous collagen-based tissues. Journal of Applied Crystallography 50 , pp.1235-1240. (10.1107/S1600576717007877)
- Al-Atawi, S. et al., 2017. Changes in the X-ray diffraction pattern of porcine lens before and after simulated accommodation. Acta Ophthalmologica 95 S259. (10.1111/j.1755-3768.2017.0S074)
- Alkhouli, N. et al., 2013. The mechanical properties of human adipose tissues and their relationships to the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 305 (12), pp.E1427-E1435. (10.1152/ajpendo.00111.2013)
- Bates, D. O. et al., 2018. Bowman's capsule corrected: undiscovered vascular chambers in the renal glomerulus. FASEB Journal 32 (S1) 721.22. (10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.721.22)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2018. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to load. Acta Biomaterialia 65 , pp.216-225. (10.1016/j.actbio.2017.11.015)
- Bell, J. 2016. Visualising the dynamic behaviour of corneal collagen. Diamond News
- Bell, J. et al. 2025. Hierarchical biomechanical characterisation of riboflavin-UVA crosslinking and decorin treatment in the porcine cornea. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 13 1603679. (10.3389/fbioe.2025.1603679)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2022. Microstructural characterisation of resistance artery remodelling in diabetes mellitus. Journal of Vascular Research 59 , pp.50-60. (10.1159/000517856)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2022. Tropocollagen springs allow collagen fibrils to stretch elastically. Acta Biomaterialia 142 , pp.185-193. (10.1016/j.actbio.2022.01.041)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2016. Microstructure and mechanics of human resistance arteries. American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology 311 (6), pp.H1560-H1568. (10.1152/ajpheart.00002.2016)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2014. Micromechanical response of articular cartilage to tensile load measured using nonlinear microscopy. Acta Biomaterialia 10 (6), pp.2574-2581. (10.1016/j.actbio.2014.02.008)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2012. Low acoustic transmittance through a holey structure. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 85 (21) 214305. (10.1103/PhysRevB.85.214305)
- Bell, J. S. et al. 2009. Modeling the steady-state deformation of the solid phase of articular cartilage. Biomaterials 30 (31), pp.6394-6401. (10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.08.026)
- Christmas, J. et al., 2014. Inexact Bayesian point pattern matching for linear transformations. Pattern Recognition 47 (10), pp.3265-3275. (10.1016/j.patcog.2014.04.022)
- Green, E. M. et al., 2014. The structure and micromechanics of elastic tissue. Interface Focus 4 (2) 20130058. (10.1098/rsfs.2013.0058)
- Hayes, S. et al. 2020. The effect of bacteriochlorophyll derivative WST-D and near infrared light on the molecular and fibrillar architecture of the corneal stroma. Scientific Reports 10 9836. (10.1038/s41598-020-66869-y)
- Hayes, S. et al. 2017. The structural response of the cornea to changes in stromal hydration. Interface 14 (131)(10.1098/rsif.2017.0062)
- Lewis, P. et al. 2016. Three-dimensional arrangement of elastic fibers in the human corneal stroma. Experimental Eye Research 146 , pp.43-53. (10.1016/j.exer.2015.12.006)
- Ma, Q. et al. 2025. Ultrastructural aspects of corneal functional recovery in rats following intrastromal keratocyte injection. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 66 (2) 45. (10.1167/iovs.66.2.45)
- Mansfield, J. C. , Bell, J. S. and Winlove, C. P. 2015. The micromechanics of the superficial zone of articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 23 (10), pp.1806-1816. (10.1016/j.joca.2015.05.030)
- Neal, C. et al., 2018. Novel haemodynamic structures in the human glomerulus. American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology 315 (5), pp.F1370-F1384. (10.1152/ajprenal.00566.2017)
- White, T. et al. 2017. The structural role of elastic fibres in the cornea investigated using a mouse model for Marfan syndrome. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 58 (4), pp.2106-2116. (10.1167/iovs.16-21358)
- Zheng, K. et al., 2024. Effects of mineralization on the hierarchical organization of collagen—a synchrotron X-ray scattering and polarized second harmonic generation study. Interface Focus 14 (3) 20230046. (10.1098/rsfs.2023.0046)
Book sections
- Mansfield, J. C. et al., 2014. Nonlinear optical microscopy in biomechanics. In: Neu, C. and Genin, G. eds. Handbook of Imaging in Biological Mechanics. CRC Press. , pp.251-260.
- Meek, K. M. et al. 2020. X-ray diffraction imaging of corneal ultrastructure. In: Ahearne, M. ed. Corneal Regeneration: Methods and Protocols. Vol. 2145, Methods in Molecular Biology New York, NY, USA: Humana. , pp.231-247. (10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_16)
- Smith, C. W. et al., 2016. Elastic behaviour of biological materials. In: Hashmi, S. ed. Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering. Elsevier. , pp.1-6. (10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.02934-9)
Conferences
- Al-Rawachy, A. et al. 2019. Cardiff behavioural model analysis using a two-tone stimulus. Presented at: 2019 IEEE Topical Conference on RF/Microwave Power Amplifiers for Radio and Wireless Applications (PAWR) Orlando, FL, USA 20-23 January 2019. 2019 IEEE Topical Conference on RF/Microwave Power Amplifiers for Radio and Wireless Applications (PAWR). IEEE. , pp.5-8. (10.1109/PAWR.2019.8708726)
- Bell, J. et al. 2018. A subfibrillar deformation mechanism in corneal collagen that affords flexibility. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2018 Honolulu April 29 - May 3, 2018. Vol. 59.Vol. 9. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
- Bell, J. , Mandalia, V. and Winlove, P. 2015. Changes in human articular cartilage following radiofrequency coblation chondroplasty. Presented at: Indian Orthopaedic Society Liverpool 3 July 2015. Vol. 97-B.Vol. SUPP_1. British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery.
- Bell, J. , Mandalia, V. and Winlove, P. 2014. Characterising changes in articular cartilage followingelectrothermal chondroplasty. Presented at: British Society for Matrix Biology Cardiff 2nd September 2013. Vol. 95.Wiley. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Bell, J. et al. 2022. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to controlled inflation. Presented at: 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting Denver, CO, USA 1-4 May 2022. Vol. 63.Vol. 7. IOVS. , pp.2392.
- Bell, J. et al. 2022. X-ray scattering imaging of intervertebral discs under load. Presented at: The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) Annual General Meeting Coventry 30 June 2022. Orthopaedic Proceedings. Vol. 104-B.Vol. Supp 9. , pp.26-26. (10.1302/1358-992X.2022.9.026)
- Mansfield, J. et al., 2014. Micromechanics of the superficial zone of articularcartilage studied using multi-photon microscopy. Presented at: British Society for Matrix Biology Cardiff 2nd September 2013. Vol. 95.Vol. 3. Wiley. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Murray, A. et al., 2012. Control of sonic metamaterial stopband. Presented at: META'12 Paris 19-22 April 2012.
- Neal, C. et al., 2013. Novel vascular morphology in human glomeruli. Presented at: 37th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences Birmingham 21st July 2013. Vol. PCC349.
- White, T. et al., 2014. 3D structural studies of the cornea. Presented at: British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science Cardiff 01 November 2014. (10.1111/opo.12160)
- Winlove, P. et al., 2021. Synergies between microstructure imaging modalities. Presented at: 2021 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis Virtual 29 April - 01 May 2021. Vol. 29.Vol. Supple. Elsevier. , pp.S7. (10.1016/j.joca.2021.02.017)
Research
Overview
My research involves quantifying the mechanical properties of tissue, and relating my findings to the micro- and nano-structure. Most tissues derive their mechanical properties from collagen, which forms an extracellular matrix tailored to the tissue function through interactions with proteoglycan, elastic fibres and interstitial fluid. An excellent paper on the role of collagen in the cornea can be found here. I use techniques such as multiphoton microscopy and X-ray scattering (predominantly at Diamond Light Source, the UK synchrotron) to obtain structural information about tissue that ranges in scale from molecular all the way up to whole tissues. I combine these techniques with mechanical tests that mimic the physiological environment using bespoke apparatus to visualise how the structures I see respond to stress.
Tropocollagen springs
My work in hierarchical biomechanics led to a breakthrough in the understanding of strain mechanisms in collagen. In this paper I showed that some collagen fibrils are able to stretch significantly under relatively small stresses, due to a spring-like straightening of their supramolecular structure. I then showed in this paper that the spring-like mechanism is highly elastic, and accounts for the majority of tissue-scale strain in most non-weightbearing tissues (the rest accounted for by straightening of fibril-scale crimp). This could have profound implications for our biomechanical understanding of a wide range of tissues, including blood vessels, skin, cornea and many other tissues that exhibit this spring-like architecture (see an excellent paper by Ottani et al. for an overview).
Microvascular remodelling in diabetes
I worked on a British Heart Foundation sponsored project that investigated changes in our small arteries caused by diabetes. Our small arteries (approx 100 - 400 μm in diameter) are extremely important, because they are the primary means by which our bodies control organ perfusion. I carried out a multiphoton study in healthy arteries that illustrated the different stress transfer mechanisms present that control the response to pressure changes, as well as the highly heterogeneous distribution of stress through the vessel wall. I followed this up with an article investigating the changes associated with diabetes, which found arteries less able to distend and morphologically distorted due to the presence of pathologically thick taut bundles of collagen constraining the outer edge of the vessel.
Funding
- 2023: Vice Chancellor's strategic fund - support for EMPOWER network, £5,000, Co-I
- 2023: Rapid Access Beamtime Grant for beamline K11 (DIAD) "Feasibility study for imaging the lamina cribrosa in DIAD", £8115 (equivalent value for REF), Diamond Light Source, PI.
- 2022: Vice Chancellor's strategic fund - support for EMPOWER network, £5,000, Co-I
- 2021: Cardiff Futures project funding, £3,000, Co-I
- 2021: Commissioning Beamtime Grant for beamline VMXi "Hierarchical effects of mineralisation on collagen structure and biomechanics", £25,416 (equivalent value for REF), Diamond Light Source, PI.
- 2021: Proof of Concept Award "Hierarchical effects of mineralisation on collagen structure and biomechanics", £20,151, ImagingBioPro, Co-I.
- 2019: Proof of Concept Award "Hierarchical morphometric analysis of normal and degenerate intervertebral disc under physiological load" £20,144, ImagingBioPro, Co-I.
- 2019: Commissioning Beamtime Grant for beamline I22 "Hierarchical morphometric analysis of normal and degenerate intervertebral disc under physiological load" £38,124 (equivalent value for REF), Diamond Light Source, PI.
- 2019: Long Term Access Grant for beamline I22: A mechanistic understanding of corneal pathobiology and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of connective tissue disorders", £114,372 (equivalent value for REF), Diamond Light Source, Co-I.
- 2019: Programme Grant "A mechanistic understanding of corneal pathobiology and the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of connective tissue disorders", £2,379,357, Medical Research Council, Research Co-Lead.
- 2019: Standard Access Beamtime Grant for beamline I22 "Microfibrillar architecture of corneal collagen" £5,887 (equivalent value for REF), Diamond Light Source, PI.
- 2019: RESCOM External Grant Application Support Fund "Towards in vivo nanomechanical characterisation of ocular tissue". £2,686, PI.
Biography
Qualifications
- 2006: BSc Mathematics and Physics, Class I, University of Exeter
- 2010: PhD Physics, 'The relationship between the structure and mechanical properties of articular cartilage'.
Career overview
- 2025 - present Lecturer, Cardiff University
- 2023 - present Research Fellow, Cardiff University
- 2019 - 2024: Research Associate, Cardiff University.
- 2018 - 2019: Teacher, Cardiff University.
- 2015 - 2018: Research Associate, Cardiff University.
- 2010 - 2015: Associate Research Fellow / Research Fellow, University of Exeter
Honorary appointments
- 2019 - 2024: Visiting Scientist, Diamond Light Source
- 2018: Visiting Lecturer, Universite Grenoble-Alpes, France.
- 2015 - present: Visiting Scientist, Exeter University
Honours and awards
- 2023: "Best Paper" award, Journal of Vascular Research.
- 2023: "The Honorary Member's Award", Society for Back Pain Research
- 2022: "Editor's Choice Award", Journal of Vascular Research
- 2021: Awarded place on Cardiff Futures training scheme
- 2021: Awarded place on GW4 BBSRC Mock Panel
- 2020: Awarded place on Welsh Crucible future leaders training scheme.
- 2019: STEM Ambassador - 50 hours volunteered in a year
- 2018: Cover Feature, Americal Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Committees and reviewing
School committees
- Chair the Green Impact team
- Environment representative on the Health and Safety committee
- Member and "local champion" on IT committee
Reviewing
- Regular reviewer for Acta Biomaterialia
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Biomechanics
- Biophysics
- Biomedical imaging
- Nonlinear optics and spectroscopy
- X-ray diffraction
