Cross-disciplinary resaerch for Discovery Science - St Andrews
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Office of the Principal
Abstract
The funded proposals will build discipline integration and enable adventurous and ambitious curiosity-driven, high-risk and high-reward projects that push the boundaries of Discovery Science. This funding will be a welcome contribution and will help the University of St Andrews build expertise and agility in working across disciplinary boundaries.
Publications
| Description | • Successful Prototype Development - We have developed a non-invasive optical sensor capable of estimating blood microcirculation levels, with two functional prototypes nearing completion. • Progress in Electronics and Software - The hardware components have been assembled and are undergoing testing. The software for data collection, visualization, and analysis is mostly complete, with only minor refinements required. • Collaboration with Clinical Experts - In partnership with Prof. Faisel Khan's team at Dundee University, we have established a framework for initial testing on 20 healthy volunteers to validate the device's accuracy and effectiveness. • Potential for New Diagnostic Methodologies - Early testing suggests that our approach could provide a novel, cost-effective method for assessing vascular health, with applications in both clinical settings and home monitoring. These key findings demonstrate significant progress toward our goal of providing an accessible, real-time vascular health assessment tool, with potential long-term benefits in preventive healthcare and telemedicine. |
| Exploitation Route | • Scalability and Health Impact - The findings indicate strong potential for future commercialization, particularly for remote patient monitoring and early detection of vascular diseases, addressing gaps in current diagnostic tools. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Vascular diseases are a major global health concern, often leading to severe complications such as strokes, heart attacks, and amputations. Early detection and continuous monitoring are crucial for preventing these outcomes, yet current diagnostic methods are often expensive, invasive, and inaccessible to many patients. Our project aims to bridge this gap by developing an affordable, non-invasive, and wearable optical sensor for assessing blood microcirculation. By enabling real-time monitoring of vascular health, this technology has the potential to transform how clinicians and patients detect, track, and manage vascular diseases. In the short term, this project will contribute to medical research by providing novel diagnostic methodologies in collaboration with experts at Dundee University. In the long term, it will empower healthcare professionals with a cost-effective tool for early intervention, reducing hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes. Beyond clinical impact, this project addresses health inequalities by making advanced vascular diagnostics accessible to underserved populations, including rural communities and lower-income patients. It aligns with global healthcare trends toward preventive care and telemedicine, ensuring that life-saving diagnostics are available to those who need them most. The goal of this project was to adapt technology typically used in neuroscience laboratories towards solving problems in environmental sciences. This work catalyzed new lines of environmentally oriented research in the lead PI's (Pulver) neuroscience laboratory (which in turn, have sparked grant applications and attracted investment and interest from both for-profit and non-profit entities. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Title | Experimental setup was built |
| Description | equipment tested in our laboratory conditions. Chemicals to work with bacteria have been ordered and received. LED red light source have been built. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | N/A too early |
| Description | Dr Pedro Jorge Louro Crugeira, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Bragança |
| Organisation | Polytechnic Institute of Bragança |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | N/A too early |
| Collaborator Contribution | N/A too early |
| Impact | N/A too early |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Prof. Faisel Khan's group, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee University |
| Organisation | Ninewells Hospital |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | The goal of this project is to build two fully functional prototypes and deliver them to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee University (Prof. Faisel Khan's group) for initial testing on 20 healthy volunteers. In collaboration with Prof. Faisel Khan, we aim to develop new diagnostic methodologies for accurate assessment and continuous monitoring of vascular health. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SME responsible for building the electronic components of the device is Fifex Ltd. All electronic parts have been ordered, assembled, and are currently undergoing testing. The software for operating the electronics, collecting data, and presenting it in both digital and graphical formats is largely developed, with only minor refinements remaining. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Title | Personal Device for Non-Invasive Vascular Monitoring |
| Description | The SME responsible for building the electronic components of the device is Fifex Ltd. All electronic parts have been ordered, assembled, and are currently undergoing testing. The software for operating the electronics, collecting data, and presenting it in both digital and graphical formats is largely developed, with only minor refinements remaining. We anticipate that by the end of March, our devices will be ready for delivery to Dundee University, where they will be tested on healthy volunteers. This testing phase will play a crucial role in refining the technology and establishing standardized diagnostic methodologies. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | n/a as yet |
| Description | Visited Instituto Politécnico de Bragança |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visited Instituto Politécnico de Bragança to discuss the project and had one day training on work with bacteria handling and process of Xanthan gum producing. LED and Organic LED (OLED) light sources have been delivered for experimental collaborative work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |