I spent my industrial placement year at GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), a global biopharmaceutical company 
known for its focus on innovative medicines and research across a range of therapeutic areas, including 
respiratory conditions, oncology and infectious diseases. Within GSK, I was part of the Respiratory 
Immunology Inflammation Biology Unit (RIIBU), a wonderful team dedicated to understanding the 
mechanisms that drive chronic respiratory diseases. 
My project centered on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and irreversible lung disease 
characterized by the abnormal build-up of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This accumulation leads 
to increased tissue stiffness and significant loss of organ function¹. Available treatments for IPF are 
limited and frequently associated with significant side effects. Because of this, developing new therapies 
to better target or slow fibrosis progression is a key priority for both GSK and IPF patients.  
My project for the year was to quantify mechanical properties of fibrosis in 2D ECM models derived 
from IPF fibroblasts, using a novel technique and a new instrument called the Pavone Nanoindenter 
(Optics11 Life). This technology is based on atomic force microscopy and uses nanoscale indentation 
to measure mechanical properties like stiffness and viscoelasticity². I was one of the first people at GSK 
to learn how to use this new device and played a key role in setting up and refining the protocols needed 
to build capability in this technology. Additionally, my project involved the development of 3D models 
of fibrosis utilizing IPF fibroblast spheroids. These are cell aggregates that mimic the architecture and 
mechanical environment of human tissue, providing a more physiologically relevant model for testing 
anti-fibrotic therapies than generic 2D ECM models. 
This report provides an overview of the scientific background of IPF and explains why mechanical 
properties were selected as the focus of our study, followed by a description of the experimental design 
and execution using the 2D ECM model. I’ll present key findings and discuss their implications, then 
outline the early work on setting up 3D spheroid models and their potential value in translational 
research. Finally, I’ll reflect the next steps for the project beyond my placement and on the impact I was 
able to make during my time at GSK.