LECTURER IN CHEMICAL AND BIOPHARMACEUTICAL ENGINEERING

• Email: Sandra.lenihan@mtu.ie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-lenihan-b191135a
• Twitter:  @sandra_lenihan

Sandra graduated with a degree in Industrial Chemistry from UL in 1997 while accumulating industrial experience in Eli Lilly and Astellas.  In 2003, she completed her PhD in Physical Chemistry in UL, on the Oxidation of Ammonia (Environmental Engineering).  Upon completion of her PhD, Sandra worked as a Research Engineer with AMT Ireland, UCC and also in the Industrial Liaison Office, UCC.  In 2005, she joined Gilead Sciences (formerly ALTANA Pharma) as a Technical Support Scientist. She was responsible for the transfer of new solid dosage products from sites in Germany and USA to the facility in Cork. She also held a lead role in co-ordination of R&D activities for this company.

In 2009, Sandra was appointed as a lecturer in the Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering Department.  She lectures the following modules: Process Engineering, Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Applications and Product Design.  She supervises Capstone Final Engineering Research and Design Projects.  Sandra has been involved in Design Simulation which compliments her interest in modelling unit operations such as Mixing, Bioreactor and Filtration (predominantly using Dynochem).  In recent years, she has been proactive in securing Springboard Funding for MTU in the area of Bioprocessing and liaises regularly with NIBRT and Cork Training Centre. Sandra has a proven track record in leading and designing courses tailored to Industrial needs (long term and short term). Sandra was also Placement Manger for the Chemical Engineering Programme (2012- 2020) and was involved in new initiatives which developed engineering competencies within the programme.

Sandra has been involved with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre (PMTC is hosted in University of Limerick) since its inception in 2012. The PMTC is an Enterprise Ireland/IDA funded research group to assist the Irish Pharmaceutical Industry improve its competitiveness.  She has been a principal investigator on significant research projects to date.  She was a Member of the PMTC Steering Committee from 2016 to 2020. 

Sandra’s research interests are developing predictive modelling for solid dosage pharmaceutical processes. Sandra was responsible for setting up and leading an innovative research group, PiERG in MTU Cork (https://www.cit.ie/pierg) and has significant research expertise in industrial-academic pharmaceutical engineering collaborations.   

PiERG Process innovation Engineering Research Group The key objective of PiERG is to provide solutions to the Pharma Engineering sector through it’s combined expertise in the development of predicting models and industrial pharma processing. www.cit.ie

Current Research

Sandra with Dr Alexander Krok Enterprise Ireland IPP s  in Tabletting and Coating  -   Two Postdocs

 

Previous Research

2018-2020

Marie Curie Career - Fit Fellowship
The development of robust computational models for the dry granulation processing of bilayer solid dosages supported by Pfizer Newbridge (Research Fellow).

2019-2017

Sandra and Dr Keith Byran (Mechanical Engineering) were funded by the PMTC (hosted in University of Limerick) for “Powder Modelling for Tablet Processing” (Postdoc and Research Fellow). 

2016-2014

Sandra and Dr Keith Byran were funded under the Enterprise Ireland PMTC for “Powder Modelling for Tablet Processing” – Postdoc.

2014-2012

Sandra and Dr Caroline O’Sullivan were funded under the PMTC, “Enabling and Control of Continuous Processing”. The Project established best practice through Quality by Design (QbD) and Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiatives while achieving a quality product consistently from a continuous dry granulation process in order to support manufacturing.  Led by the School of Pharmacy in UCC, project partners include CIT’s Centre for Advanced Photonic and Process Analysis (CAPPA), and WIT’s Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC). University of Limerick were also joint stakeholders in this project.

2008-2006 FORMULATION

“Development of Taste Masking Technologies” collaboration with The School of Pharmacy, University College Cork and ALTANA Pharma.  Enterprise Ireland and ALTANA Pharma.  This collaboration consisted of two sub-projects namely Taste Evaluation of Pharmaceuticals and Taste Masking Development (formulation based project). The former project was to study the feasibility of using an electronic tongue for taste evaluation of pharmaceuticals and the latter to develop an alternative taste masking technology (two approaches used were microemulsions and solid dispersion) for oral dosage forms. Five full time researchers were employed on this project.

2003-2004 LEAN MANUFACTURING

Food Factory of the Future - Application of lean manufacturing over a variety of Irish industries (e.g. Wyeth Medica, Sensormatic, Musgraves & Lufthansa).

1996-2003 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Supported Heteropoly Acids as Solid Acids in the Beckmann Rearrangement and Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen and Water. The former topic is a proactive approach whereas the latter project is an end of pipe solution but both resolve serious environmental problems through heterogeneous catalysis. To undertake the Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen and Water research, a micro reactor to treat effluent streams was designed.

Awards

Pharma Awards, Partnership Alliance  WINNER, CIT,  PMTC and Pfizer 2018 

Bridge Network Nomination for Invention of the Year, CIT, 2018 

Pharma Awards, 2^nd Place : Education and Training Category Finalist,  CIT , Final Year Chem Eng 2020

Educational Awards, Best Student Experience Category Finalist,  CIT , Chemical Engineering,  2020

Educational Awards, Career Impact Category Finalist,  CIT , Chemical Engineering,  2020

Pharma Awards, Education and Training Category Finalist,  CIT , Biopharma Processing 2017

Sandra Lenihan Publications

Patents

Invention Disclosure Form: K. Bryan, S. Lenihan and K. O Connell IDF-2017-013

Refereed Publications

A.  Krok, P. Peciar, K. Coffey, K. Bryan & S. Lenihan, 2021. A combination of Density-Based Clustering method & DEM to numerically investigate the breakage of bonded pharmaceutical granules in ball milling; Particuology, Vol 58, 153-168. 

“Developing engineering competencies through the integration of professional work placement with an industrial hosted engineering research project for chemical engineering undergraduates” S. Lenihan, R. Foley, W. Carey and N.B. Duffy. Education for Chemical Engineers, 2 (2020) 82–94.

A.Baroutaji, S Lenihan and K. Bryan, 2019. “Compaction analysis and optimisation of convex-faced pharmaceutical tablets using numerical techniques” Particuology, 47, 10-21.

McAuliffe, M; O'Mahony, G.; Blackshields, C; Collins, J.; Egan, D.; Kiernan, L.; O'Neill, E.; Lenihan, S.; Walker, G.; Crean, A.:  "The Use of PAT and Off-line Methods for Monitoring of Roller Compacted Ribbon and Granule Properties with a View to Continuous Processing”. Organic Process Research and Development; American Chemical Society,  2015. 19(1), 158-166.

“The selective oxidation of ammonia using copper-based catalysts. The effects of water.” Catalysis Today, S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, 2009, Vol 145 (1-2) 85-89.  

“Copper exchanged beta zeolites for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, (11), 1280-1281, Chemical Communications, 2003.

 “Selective Oxidation of Ammonia over Copper Based Catalysts” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, New Challenges in Catalysis III; Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, Yugoslavia, 81-92, March 2002.

Books

A. Baroutaji, K. Bryan, M. Sajjia, S. Lenihan,” Mechanics and Computational Modelling of Pharmaceutical Tableting Process”, Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering, Elsevier, 2017.

S. Lenihan and T. Curtin, 2008. “A technology for the destruction of ammonia from gaseous streams” in a book entitled “Recent Research Developments in Environmental Technology”, 2008, Editor: Prof. A. Gill and S.A. Korili, Transworld Research Network.

Conference Proceedings

Krok, A., K. Bryan and S. Lenihan. Development of finite element model to predict the behaviour of bilayer tablets during uniaxial tensile test, 9th International Granulation Workshop, 26-28th June 2019, United Kingdom.

A. Baroutaji, K. Bryan, S. Lenihan, “Determination of density-dependant Drucker-Prager parameters using experimental calibration procedure”, 33rd International Manufacturing Conference (IMC33), Limerick, Ireland, September 2016.

A. Baroutaji, K. Bryan, S. Lenihan, “Calibration of a density-dependant Drucker Prager material model for modelling the die-compaction of pharmaceutical powder”, ACEX-2016, Split, Croatia, July 2016.

A.Baroutaji, K. Bryan & S. Lenihan, “Finite element modelling of pharmaceutical tablet compaction: An overview”, 32nd International Manufacturing Conference (IMC32), Belfast, September 2015.

A.Baroutaji, K. Bryan & S. Lenihan, “Numerical Simulation of Pharmaceutical Powder Compaction using ANSYS”, ANSYS Conference & 2nd CADFEM Ireland Users’ Meeting, Dublin, September 2015.

Near infrared spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of roller-compacted ribbon density, G. E. O’Mahony, M. A. P. McAuliffe, C. Blackshields, Sandra Lenihan, David Egan, John A. Collins, Luke Kiernan, Gavin M. Walker, E. O’Neill and A.M. Crean (2013) EuPAT 6: Sixth pan-European QbD & PAT Science Conference Porto,  Sept 2013.

A study of the effects of roller compaction parameters on ribbon and granule properties by off-line and in-line methods with a view to continuous processing, O’Mahony G, McAuliffe M, Blackshields C, Collins J.A., Egan D, Kiernan L, Crean AM, Lenihan S, Walker GM and O’Neill E.  EuPAT 6: Sixth pan-European QbD & PAT Science Conference, Porto, Sept 2013.

“Selective Oxidation of Ammonia over Copper Based Catalysts.” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, New Challenges in Catalysis III, Belgrade,Yugoslavia, Oct. 2001.

Oxidation of gaseous ammonia as a means for controlling ammonia emissions.”  S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, 13th International Congress on Catalysis, Paris, 2004.

“Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen and Water.” S. Lenihan and T. Curtin, 53rd Irish Universities Research Chemistry Colloquium, University College Dublin, June 2001.

Communications

“The Catalytic Abatement of Gaseous Ammonia.” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, The Irish Scientist, P111a, Nov 2004.

 

Oral Presentations

The importance of capstone project and its’s connection with research project, Innovation Chemical Engineering Education, Paris, EFCE – C. O’Suilleabhain and S. Lenihan.  April 22 

Robust Prediction Models in Pharm Engineering, University College London and Greenwich University, IChemE, UK - Krok, A. , K. Byran and S. Lenihan.  Nov 2019

Krok, Alexander; Keith Bryan & Sandra Lenihan, Thermomechanical aspect in Powder Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia   2018

IChemE EdSIG Dec 18, Cambridge, UK Research Project - N. Duffy, S. Lenihan and R. Foley.

Krok, Alexander; Keith Bryan & Sandra Lenihan, Finite Element Modelling Approach to Predict the behaviour of Powder during Dry granulation process, Rutgers University and Drexel University, USA 2018

PMTC 6th Knowledge Day, Aug 2020; Coffey, K.,  Krok, A. and S. Lenihan.

PMTC 5rd Knowledge Day, Aug 2019;  S. Lenihan

PMTC 3rd Knowledge Day, Aug 2017; Krok, A. and S. Lenihan.

PMTC  2nd Knowledge Day, Aug 2016; S. Lenihan.

PMTC  1st Knowledge Day,  Sept 2015; Baroutaji, A.  and S. Lenihan.

Dynochem Webinar,  2016, Sandra  Lenihan “Incorporating Dynochem® Process Simulation  Software into a Chemical Engineering Programme - An Educators Perspective“

A.Baroutaji, K. Bryan & S. Lenihan, “Numerical Simulation of Pharmaceutical Powder Compaction using ANSYS”, Accepted for presentation in ANSYS Conference & 2nd CADFEM Ireland Users’ Meeting, Dublin, September 2015.

“Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen and Water.” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, 53rd Irish Universities Research Chemistry Colloquium, UCD, 2001.

“Characterisation of copper oxide alumina catalysts for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen.” S. Lenihan and T. Curtin, Materials & Surface Science Institute (MSSI), University of Limerick, Dec. 2000.

 

Poster Presentations

European First Year Experience Conference, CIT June 2019 “Tuning the industrial experience of final year students in CIT’s Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering Programme, R. Foley, S. Lenihan and N. Duffy.

SIMULIA Academic Users“ Science in the Age of Experience™ Global User Conference” May, 2017
 Chicago, USA.

Study of the relationships between the compressibility of roller-compacted granules, the hardness of granule compacts and compact Raman spectra, M.A.P. McAuliffe, C.A. Blackshields, G.E. O’Mahony, D.P. Egan, E. O’Neill, S. Lenihan and A.M. Crean, EuPAT Conference, Tailoring QbD & PAT Science to Pharmaceutical Industry Needs, Porto, Portugal, 23-24 Sept 2013.

A study of the effects of roller compaction, parameter on ribbon and granule properties by offline and in line methods with a view to continuous processing.  McAuliffe, Michael; O'Mahony, Graham; Blackshields, Caroline; Collins, John; Egan, David; Kiernan, Luke; O'Neill, Eamonn; Lenihan, Sandra; Walker, Gavin; Crean, Abina. Presented at the EuPAT Conference, Tailoring QbD & PAT Science to Pharmaceutical Industry Needs, HF Hotel Ipanema Park, Porto 23-24 Sept 2013.

“Oxidation of gaseous ammonia as a means for controlling ammonia emissions.”  S. Lenihan & T. Curtin. 13th International Congress on Catalysis, Paris, 2004.

“The effect of SO2 and H2O on the Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia to Nitrogen and Water.” S. Lenihan and T. Curtin, Europacat 5, University of Limerick, Oct. 2001.

“Selective Oxidation of Ammonia over Copper Based Zeolite Catalysts.” S. Lenihan & T. Curtin, 4th International symposium on supported reagents and catalysts in chemistry, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK, July 2000.

Study of the relationships between the compressibility of roller-compacted granules, the hardness of granule compacts and compact Raman spectra, M.A.P. McAuliffe, C.A. Blackshields, G.E. O’Mahony, D.P. Egan, E. O’Neill, S. Lenihan and A.M. Crean EuPAT Conference, Tailoring QbD & PAT Science to Pharmaceutical Industry Needs, Porto, Portugal, 23-24 Sept 2013

Conference and Seminar Host

2020/21 National Seminar Series (NSS) Jan 2021 –funded by National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education “Developing professional competencies in industry for final year undergraduates through the parallel delivery of placement and a capstone project”

An Innovative Approach to Developing & Enhancing Core Practitioner Competencies,  TLU, S. Lenihan, R. Foley and N. Duffy, Melbourne, CIT.    Jan 2020.

Modelling in Pharmaceutical Engineering May 2019 - Cork Ireland

Enabling Continuous Processing Knowledge Event - PMTC, Jan 2013 Cork Institute of Technology.

Cleaner Food Processing, Kinsale 2003, AMT, UCC and CTC, CIT.