DrRichard Kelwick

Extracellular vesicle (EV) research:

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-membrane particles that are shed or secreted by many different cell types. EVs are composed of complex molecular signatures of lipids, small molecules, nucleic acids and proteins that can sometimes elicit physiologically relevant changes in either local or distant cells, tissues and organs. Since exosomes, bacterial outer membrane vesicles, and other types of EVs are emerging as powerful disease biomarkers and as therapeutics they have an enormous potential to transform biomedicine. My research fcouses on developing EV engineering, manufacturing, characterisation and biosensor technologies.

Engineering biology and cell-free synthetic biology

Cell-free systems that are based on cellular extracts were originally developed as experimental systems to understand fundamental aspects of molecular biology, cellular biochemistry and for in vitro protein production. Synthetic biology approaches are enabling the re-purposing of cell-free systems as coupled in vitro transcription–translation characterisation platforms for the prototyping of DNA based parts, devices and systems. Cell-free transcription-translation systems have been employed to rapidly prototype DNA regulatory elements, logic systems, medical biosensor devices and biologicalmaterials.

Recent Publications:

• Kelwick, R.J.R, *Webb, A.J., Heliot, A., Freemont, P.S. (2026). Hollow-fibre biomanufacturing and cell-free engineering of HEK293 extracellular vesicles. Trends In Biotechnology.
• Kelwick, R.J.R., *Webb, A.J., Freemont, P.S. (2024). Accelerating extracellular vesicle research and biotechnological applications using synthetic biology approaches. Extracell Vesicle.
• Kelwick, R.J.R., *Webb, A.J., Freemont, P.S. (2023). Opportunities for engineering outer membrane vesicles using synthetic biology approaches. Extracell Vesicles Circ Nucleic Acids.
• Kelwick, R.J.R., *Webb, A.J., Heliot, A., Tresserras Segura, C., Freemont, P.S. (2023). Opportunities to accelerate extracellular vesicle research with cell-free synthetic biology. J of Extracellular Bio.
• Welsh JA, Goberdhan DCI, O’Driscoll L, ...MISEV Consortium (…Richard JR Kelwick…) ... Théry C, and Witwer KW (2023). Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches. J Extracell Vesicles.
• Kelwick, R. J. R., *Webb, A. J., Wang, Y., Heliot, A., Allan, F., Emery, A. M., et al. (2021). AL-PHA beads: Bioplastic-based protease biosensors for global health applications. Mater. Today.
• Kelwick, R. J. R., Webb, A. J., and Freemont, P. S. (2020). Biological Materials: The Next Frontier for Cell-Free Synthetic Biology. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.