I am delighted to have been awarded a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship. Starting in July 2020, I will be conducting my own research to develop into nanoparticle biosensors to non-invasively measure oxygen levels within cells and tissue, even through thick overlying tissue.
Above: upconversion nanoparticles can absorb multiple near-infra red photons and emit a single red photon. They are an ideal platform for imaging through the near infra-red biological window.
This nanosensor technology will exploit the near infra-red biological window, to enable oxygen sensing through deep-tissue. It holds the potential to reduce the current reliance on lethal oxygen-measurement techniques used in many biomedical studies. Thereby reducing animal sacrifice in research (in line with UK government strategy/goals) and delivering further benefits in terms of reduced cost, improved research efficiency, and improvements in long-term research sustainability.
This work was inspired by my experiences during my PhD, where I witnessed first-hand the challenges of my collaborators trying to measure oxygen (or lack thereof) in the deep tissue of the spinal cord of rats in vivo. Even with a custom-built multispectral microscope, lethal surgical intervention was still required. This experience has stuck with me, because it was rather frustrating to say the least.
Above: a generic stock photo of blood samples to add some colour to this blog post.
Whilst working on nanoparticle sensors for blood test applications at the University of Leeds in 2017, I figured out a new approach to this problem whilst at the pub of all places. In just under a month I submitted a rather rushed BBSRC Discovery Fellowship application; despite favourable (and very helpful) reviews, I was not funded. However, it was a great learning experience. Over the next couple of years, whilst working at Durham University, I continued to refine the science concepts, but most importantly, I figured out how to communicate the potential impact these deep tissue oxygen nanosensors could have. With the encouragement and support from mentors, this culminated in a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship application in May 2019, and a final-stage interview in November 2019. I got the good news about being awarded a fellowship just a few days before the 2019 Christmas break, setting up 2020 to be an excellent year!
Above: a generic stock photo of a microscope, because all the Pal lab microscopes are top secret.
For the duration of my BBSRC Discovery fellowship, I’ll be hosted by the group of Dr Robert Pal. I’m delighted to continue to work with this group because of the excellent working environment and world-leading research impact focus. Also, I get to take advantage of the Pal group’s excellent chemistry, microscopy, optics, and cell lab facilities. It feels a bit like being a teenager who has just been given the keys to the car and the house, but doesn’t have to move out.
I am really looking forward to conducting my own research because it will combine and build upon all the expertise I’ve gained from my PhD and postdoc experiences, whilst also enabling me to develop new practical scientific and managerial skills. Not just developing the technology, but securing intellectual property, realizing impact, and communicating it to the public. Expect further updates as I go along…. safe to say I will be spending lots of time in the fume hood in 2020!