Ambulatory microdialysis sampling system
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Henry Wellcome LINE
Abstract
Prof Stafford Lightman (Univ Bristol) has developed a medical device for the minimally invasive automated collection of regular samples from a subject 24 hours a day, including during undisturbed sleep. For the first time, this will enable the detailed study of clinical and biological analytes known to vary over the day. The device has potential applications in basic research, for prognosis and diagnosis of disease in animals and man, in clinical trials and drug development and for therapeutic monitoring. This project will deliver commercial proof of principle by developing a pre-production prototype of the device which is more user-friendly, flexible enough to be used in a range of research scenarios, and robust enough to be used on large animals as well as in man. This will be fully tested and validated, and ready for trials in man and CE marking. Achievement of a CE mark will pave the way for the device to be sold as a research tool, either through a licensee or a spinout company.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Stafford Lightman (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bhake R
(2020)
Continuous Free Cortisol Profiles in Healthy Men.
in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Bhake RC
(2019)
Continuous Free Cortisol Profiles-Circadian Rhythms in Healthy Men.
in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Klaas S
(2025)
Awakening not associated with an increased rate of cortisol secretion
in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Lightman SL
(2024)
Clinical Endocrinology-Time for a Reset?
in Journal of the Endocrine Society
Stirrat LI
(2018)
Pulsatility of glucocorticoid hormones in pregnancy: Changes with gestation and obesity.
in Clinical endocrinology
Upton TJ
(2023)
High-resolution daily profiles of tissue adrenal steroids by portable automated collection.
in Science translational medicine
| Description | We have now been able to move forward from our prototype device to a commercially sound device which has allowed us to spin out a new company, Dynamic therapeutics |
| Exploitation Route | We already have applications from many other research groups to access or buy our device for their own research programmes |
| Sectors | Electronics Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Novel diagnostic methodologies |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Improved diagnostic pathways |
| Description | Use of chronotherapy in glucocorticoid replacement treatment |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Early days! |
| Description | EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare |
| Amount | £2,008,954 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/N014391/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | EU Horizon 2020 grant - Ultradian |
| Amount | € 5,999,381 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | Programme/Call: H2020 - H2020-PHC-2014, Proposal: 633515 - ULTRADIAN |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 08/2015 |
| End | 08/2020 |
| Title | Novel automated sampling system |
| Description | Miniaturized ambulatory microdialysis sampling system |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Currently under international assessment |
| Title | Interstitial cortisol measurements aligned by wake time, healthy volunteers |
| Description | Background: Cortisol is released upon activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, varies across the day, and possesses an underlying diurnal rhythm reactive and responsive to stressors. While the endogenous peak of cortisol occurs in the morning, the observed cortisol rise post-awakening has been named the cortisol awakening response (CAR) based on the belief that the act of waking up stimulates cortisol secretion. However, objective evidence that awakening universally induces cortisol secretion is limited. Methods: We used a mixed effects model with a linear spline fitted to the data to examine tissue free cortisol measurements obtained from 201 healthy volunteers by automated ambulatory microdialysis before and after awakening in their home environments. We also examined rate of change of cortisol depending on sleep duration and relative timing. Results: We found no evidence for a change in the rate of cortisol increase in the hour after waking when compared with the hour prior to waking. We instead observed substantial interindividual variability in absolute concentration and rate of change, and differences in dynamics that may be attributable to duration and relative timing of sleep. Conclusion: Based on these results, we strongly suggest caution is needed when interpreting cortisol measurements solely obtained in the hour after waking. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.2280gb62w |
| Description | Miniaturised ambulatory microdialysis infusion collection device |
| Organisation | Designworks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Industrial partner |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of device to a stage ready for commercial development |
| Impact | EU Horizon 2020 - Dynamic hormone diagnostics (ULTRADIAN) - 5,999,381 EUR - 1.9.15 - 30.8.19 |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Title | The device is protected by a UK patent, titled Fluid Sampling Apparatus and Method, P115838GB, which was filed in September 2012 |
| Description | Automated sampling system |
| IP Reference | P115838GB UK jurisdiction |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | 24 hour sampling in the home is now possible |
| Title | Infusion pump |
| Description | This is an automated pulsatile infusion pump especially made for subcutaneous infusion of hydrocortisone. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Medical Devices |
| Current Stage Of Development | Small-scale adoption |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | Better understanding of the importance of chronotherapy |
| URL | https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2012-001104-37 |
| Company Name | Dynamic Therapeutics |
| Description | Dynamic Therapeutics develops wearable e-health technology aimed at monitoring stress hormones. |
| Year Established | 2023 |
| Impact | The device has already had a marked impact on the endocrinology and chronobiology research communities as it allows 24 hour monitoring of hormones, metabolites and drugs in subjects in their own home/work environments. This will immediately improve patient involvement ( patient support groups from UK, Europe and the US are already in direct communication with us), and will improve both diagnostic procedures and therapeutic strategies . initially in endocrine disease-but in future in hypertension and Diabetes mellitus. |
| Website | http://dynamictherapeutics.net |
| Description | Bristol Neuroscience Festival - Lecture on "The importance of rhythm for stress and the brain" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Part of the University of Bristol's outreach programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Public Lecture held at The Physiological Society in London and streamed world-wide on Facebook Live - The Physiology of Stress - Science of Stress. Lecture on "Mechanisms of stress" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is the first time that The Physiological Society has streamed a public lecture for a world-wide audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal Institution, London - Science of Sleep |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This remains available on the Royal Institution website for all interested parties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk to Bristol Pituitary Support Group at Southmead Hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | An active discussion on recent advances in treating patients with disrupted hormone secretion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | The importance of hormone dynamics in therapies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Presentation followed by discussion about the importance of patterns of hormone replacement for best patient wellbeing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | University of Utrecht - Stress and Disorders of the Brain. Lecture on "Corticosteroid rhythms and replacement strategies" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Part of EU outreach programme |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |