EPSRC IRC Proteus - Multiplexed 'Touch and Tell' Optical Molecular Sensing and Imaging - Lifetime and Beyond

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry

Abstract

The EPSRC IRC Proteus is made up of a group of world-leading scientists, engineers and clinicians. Interdisciplinarity is at our heart - we work across traditional boundaries linking together disciplines such as optical physics, chemical biology, biology and engineering to name but a few. The ambition and desire is to translate technologies to help patients - empowering clinicians to "see disease" in front of their eyes at the bedside and help them to make the right decisions and give the right treatments at the right time.

This highly interdisciplinary collaboration driven by clinical need and pull, has led to the design, fabrication and testing in patients of a number of world-leading bedside-based technology platforms. Our technology platform combines advanced fibre optic technology (that can be readily be passed into the lung of patients) and highly sensitive detectors in association with highly sensitive fluorescent chemical reagents to diagnose disease. This allows clinicians to "view" inside the lung to detect bacteria or aberrant disease signatures of disease.

Clinical pull: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients suffer high death and disability rates and are responsible for a disproportionate financial burden on the health service (the equivalent of 1% of USA GDP is spent on patients in intensive care). Potentially fatal lung complications are a common problem in ventilated ICU patients and doctors caring for these patients in the ICU face many challenges, often needing to make snap decisions without the information necessary to properly inform those decisions. The new technology platforms being developed by Proteus are helping doctors in the intensive care unit to make rapid and accurate diagnoses of patients, allowing them to direct and inform therapy and ensure patients get the right treatment, at the right time and quickly. Although our technology platforms have a focus at this time on being used in the intensive care unit, it is widely applicable to a wide range of lung conditions and other healthcare situations, such as bowel or pancreatic cancer.

The next steps for the IRC are to take our technology into a new area in which different flavours of light can be used to diagnose disease - using the teams' highly advanced light sensors (that are able to count a single photon). In addition the proposal moves the IRC towards sustainability, creating a legacy from the EPSRC investment - accelerating the pathways to take new technology into patients, while developing commercial opportunities.

In summary the EPSRC IRC Proteus has generated a new cohort of young interdisciplinary scientists trained in physical and biological sciences and engineering that have a full appreciation and practical experience of clinical translational and commercialisation pathways. They will be able to meet the challenges of converting advances in science and engineering into healthcare benefits with the development of a number of cutting-edge bedside technology platforms which will help doctors make rapid and accurate diagnoses. The team, in association with the partner Universities, have also begun to make major strides towards full sustainability of the IRC - making major impacts in the areas of clinical and commercial translation, with significant academic outputs and public engagement activities.

Planned Impact

Our proposed research programme will generate numerous avenues for the realisation of impact:

Research Areas - The research proposed pushes the technologies that we have developed as part of the original IRC into advanced technology readiness. We have for example developed and fabricated three world-leading detectors. They offer enormous power and potential, but took some 3 years to design/test/evaluate with advanced software having to be written to control and utilize their outputs. They are now ready to be exploited to the full.

Clinical Translation: We have developed a regulatory pathway that has allowed us to carry out first in-human studies (both device and probes). Proteus has, to date, delivered into the clinic a device (VersiColour) and three imaging reagents (Bac-One, Bac-Two and Fib-One) - and the team will deliver into the clinic and into patients at least 2 devices, 3 fibres and 2 chemical probes as part of this "next steps funding". As such the stage is now set with multiple new opportunities that can be grasped and exploited and opened up to other groups.

Communication and Outreach - Through public lectures, open meetings and publication in the scientific and lay press we have engaged in public, scientific and commercial disseminations - e.g. The British Science Festival, Family Weekend Event (Swansea) -September 2016 with a Permanent Proteus Exhibit at Glasgow Science Centre now being constructed. Our interdisciplinary programme will continue to provide multiple opportunities for involvement in public engagement and dissemination in which team members will play a variety of active roles.

Patients: Proteus is providing unique opportunities for clinicians to rapidly monitor events deep in the lungs of critically ill patients in 'real time' at the bedside. This will permit rapid point-of-care diagnosis and informed decision-making in intensive care units and patient stratification. We are actively involving patients in our programme to increase impact and involve patients in our research ideas and plans.

NHS: The economic burden of ICU patients is huge. Rapid and incisive bedside diagnosis, particularly of specific infections would lead to stratification of patient care and tailored prescribing patterns, including the use/non-use of expensive and potentially toxic anti-bacterials. Ultimately this would translate into reduced antibiotic use, reduced ventilator dependency and reduced mortality and morbidity with a proportionate economic benefit.

Interdisciplinarity: A central part of our agenda has been to break down traditional 'barriers' between physical and biomedical sciences. The team have benefitted immensely from the interdisciplinary translational thrust of the programme and the cross-fertilisation derived from the 'Hub'. Moreover, the PhD students provided by the Universities have been specifically engaged in cross-disciplinary projects - thus allowing us to train a cadre of scientists who are multi-skilled and equipped to meet the challenges of applying new technologies to healthcare provision in the new era.

Commercial Translation: The UK must reap the dividend of the current "revolution" in physical sciences. Proteus has generated multiple packages of IP whose commercial opportunities are being explored in areas associated with fibre technology, novel chemical probes, image processing and life-time imaging. Proteus is delivering leading-edge interdisciplinary and translational research in exciting and highly translatable areas of photonics, optics, imaging, data analysis and chemistry - driven by a clear "healthcare pull". The enabling activities through our IRC has created a new generation of scientists, engineers and technologists with a translational agenda and mind-set for the benefit of the UK economy. Building on this, Proteus is also leading the establishment of a UK Healthcare Technology Accelerator Facility.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Visualisation 2.avi 
Description FLIM video of 3D printed targets 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualisation_2_avi/22561045/1
 
Title Visualisation 2.avi 
Description FLIM video of 3D printed targets 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualisation_2_avi/22561045
 
Title Visualisation1.avi 
Description FLIM video of leaves. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualisation1_avi/22561048
 
Title Visualisation1.avi 
Description FLIM video of leaves. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualisation1_avi/22561048/1
 
Title Visualization1.mp4 
Description A video of automated emission of light from 91 points in a multicore fibre. The pitch of the emission points is 1 cm. The automated coupling is achieved using a laser coupled 2D Galvo-mirror system. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualization1_mp4/14192882
 
Title Visualization1.mp4 
Description A video of automated emission of light from 91 points in a multicore fibre. The pitch of the emission points is 1 cm. The automated coupling is achieved using a laser coupled 2D Galvo-mirror system. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualization1_mp4/14192882/1
 
Title Visualization2.mp4 
Description Different side image intensity distributions in one coupling condition for an emission point. Light is coupled to one emission point and images of the ping-pong ball is taken at different angles with respect to the emission point. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualization2_mp4/14192903
 
Title Visualization2.mp4 
Description Different side image intensity distributions in one coupling condition for an emission point. Light is coupled to one emission point and images of the ping-pong ball is taken at different angles with respect to the emission point. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://opticapublishing.figshare.com/articles/media/Visualization2_mp4/14192903/1
 
Description We have:
(i). Designed new detectors (imagine super versions of the detectors/cameras that are found in your phone) that allow a type of 3D imaging - with the ability to do this in vivo. We have published the use of these cameras in a high-profile journal.
(ii). We used these new cameras to image cancer in totally new ways - can we detect the edges of a tumour - this could allow surgeons to remove the cancerous tissue without needing a label. .
(ii). Designed and built a whole new series of new chemical probes that are able to detect disease (bacteria/cancer etc..). They have been used to detect bacteria in urine or in eyes and these are under active exploration at this time. We have developed new molecules that kill bacterial when we shine light on them. We have developed molecules that light up various proteases of biomedical relevance in a number of settings.
(iii). We designed new optical fibres that could be used in humans to detect/monitor disease.
(iv). Engaged with patients to allow them to help direct our research - many patient engagement activities to the end of the project.
(v). Continuing the commercialisation of the research in the area of the detectors - working with a major USA player in this space.
(vi). Worked with collaborators in Tydell to package the small life-time detectors (1.5 mm x 1.5 mm) for direct in vivo applications in the lung.
Exploitation Route The technology could be taken forwards by medical companies, academics (optical physicists, engineers) and used by clinicians. We are pursuing the detectors commercially (with broad application within life sciences and beyond). This is possible within the area of fluorescence, fluorescent life-time and Raman.
Sectors Chemicals

Education

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

URL http://www.proteus.ac.uk
 
Description Public engagement activities leading to a new undergraduate course. Spinout/commercial activities. Compounds being used in clinical studies in eye infection in India
First Year Of Impact 2020
Sector Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical diagnostic technoliogieS for Tuberculosis
Amount € 4,400,000 (EUR)
Funding ID 825931 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2022
 
Description Bicentenial Research Leader Fellowship, Heriot-Watt University - MARTA Vallejo
Amount £125,000 (GBP)
Organisation Heriot-Watt University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2019 
 
Description Bicentenial Research Leader Fellowship, Heriot-Watt University - MIKE TANNER
Amount £125,000 (GBP)
Organisation Heriot-Watt University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
 
Description EPSRC IRC Proteus - Multiplexed 'Touch and Tell' Optical Molecular Sensing and Imaging - Lifetime and Beyond
Amount £3,852,991 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/R005257/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2019 
End 12/2023
 
Description IRC Next Steps Plus: Photonic Pathogen Theranostics - Point-of-care image guided photonic therapy of bacterial and fungal infection
Amount £1,100,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/R018669/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 03/2022
 
Description IRC Next steps funding
Amount £3,900,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/R005257/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 02/2023
 
Description Lighting the Way to a Healthy Nation - Optical 'X-rays' for Walk Through Diagnosis & Therapy
Amount £5,577,754 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T020997/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2020 
End 05/2023
 
Description Next-Generation Sensing For Human In Vivo Pharmacology- Accelerating Drug Development In Inflammatory Diseases
Amount £1,463,801 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/S025987/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2019 
End 04/2023
 
Description Single Photons - Expanding the Spectrum (SPEXS)
Amount £5,265,567 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/S026428/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2020 
End 09/2025
 
Description Through-body TCSPC based real-time tracking to guide interventional medical procedures
Amount £315,108 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/S000763/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 03/2022
 
Title Fluorescent life-time video rate CMOS SPAD detectors 
Description Fluorescent life-time video rate CMOS SPAD detectors have been developed across the team. They are being evaluated by other groups and organisations in a number of scenarios. There is no a spinout that is pursuing these detectors and the new capabilities developed during the next steps project. 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Possible use in analysis of histology samples, real-time detection of cancer margins etc.. rapid life-time microscopy. 
 
Description Collaboration with Dundee Univ 
Organisation University of Dundee
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaboration, mentorship and supervision
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration, mentorship and supervision
Impact Activities on going
Start Year 2019
 
Description Collaboration with Tyndall Institute 
Organisation University College Cork
Department Tyndall National Institute
Country Ireland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provision of endocam camera
Collaborator Contribution packaging and evaluation and development
Impact To early
Start Year 2021
 
Description Collaboration with industrial partners 
Organisation Renishaw PLC
Department Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Detectors or Raman
Collaborator Contribution Use of the detectors
Impact Confidential Multi-disiplionary
Start Year 2019
 
Description Collaborations with multiple universities 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Detectors and software
Collaborator Contribution Use in histology analysis
Impact use of our detectors to support new applications and uses
Start Year 2019
 
Description Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya - India 
Organisation Sankara Nethralaya
Country India 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Provision of novel bacterial imaging molecules
Collaborator Contribution Validation ion clinical samples
Impact Sens. Diagn. 2022, DOI10.1039/D2SD00061J
Start Year 2022
 
Description Ra-II Detectors being used in other areas 
Organisation University of Southampton
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution provision of Ra-II Detectors
Collaborator Contribution Dual modalities in imaging
Impact Too early
Start Year 2021
 
Description This is an IRC - it is by definition a collaboration 
Organisation Durham University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The IRC team comprises the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Bath.
Collaborator Contribution Massive collaborations (please see the web site www.proteus.ac.uk)
Impact Please see list of publications/patents/engagement activities on the Proteus web site.
Start Year 2013
 
Description This is an IRC - it is by definition a collaboration 
Organisation Heriot-Watt University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The IRC team comprises the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Bath.
Collaborator Contribution Massive collaborations (please see the web site www.proteus.ac.uk)
Impact Please see list of publications/patents/engagement activities on the Proteus web site.
Start Year 2013
 
Description This is an IRC - it is by definition a collaboration 
Organisation University of Bath
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The IRC team comprises the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Bath.
Collaborator Contribution Massive collaborations (please see the web site www.proteus.ac.uk)
Impact Please see list of publications/patents/engagement activities on the Proteus web site.
Start Year 2013
 
Description This is an IRC - it is by definition a collaboration 
Organisation University of Dundee
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The IRC team comprises the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Bath.
Collaborator Contribution Massive collaborations (please see the web site www.proteus.ac.uk)
Impact Please see list of publications/patents/engagement activities on the Proteus web site.
Start Year 2013
 
Title A SENSING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING A SENSING STRUCTURE 
Description A method for forming a sensing structure on a distal end of a multicore optical fibre, the method comprises contacting at least part of the distal end of the multicore optical fibre with a polymerisation material, coupling light from a light source to a proximal end of a selected one of the cores of the multicore optical fibre, and photo-polymerising, using the light from the light source transmitted through the selected core, a region of the polymerisation material adjacent to a distal face of the selected core to form said sensing structure such that the sensing structure substantially does not overlap any of the other cores of the multicore optical fibre. 
IP Reference WO2017203272 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Confidential
 
Title ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD 
Description An endoscopic imaging apparatus comprises at least one light source (1, 2, 3) configured to provide excitation signals to an imaging region via a common transmission path. Each excitation signal has one of a plurality of different colours. A controller (100) is configured to control the at least one light source (1, 2, 3) to provide the excitation signals as a repeating time-interleaved sequence that comprises at least an excitation signal of a first one of the colours and a subsequent excitation signal of a second one of the colours. A monochrome detector (80) is configured, for each of at least some of the excitation signals, to receive at least part of a respective response signal emitted from the imaging region in response to the excitation signal and to generate image data based on the at least part of the response signal. 
IP Reference WO2017174998 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Confidentail
 
Title FRAME SELECTION IN MEDICAL IMAGE DATA 
Description A method comprises receiving a sequence of frames comprising optical endomicroscopy image data, determining for each frame in the sequence of frames a value of at least one image measure, for each frame in the sequence of frames, determining based on said value of the at least one image measure whether the frame meets a criterion, thereby to select a plurality of frames of the frame sequence, and providing an output representative of the selected plurality of frames for display. 
IP Reference WO2017149310 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Confidential
 
Title OPTICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD 
Description A system comprises a waveguide apparatus comprising a plurality of input waveguides, a multimode waveguide, and a guided-wave transition coupling the plurality of input waveguides to the multimode waveguide. The system further comprises at least one light source configured to excite in turn each of a plurality of the input waveguides, or each of a plurality of combinations of the input waveguides, thereby generating a plurality of different light patterns in turn at an output of the waveguide apparatus. The waveguide apparatus is configured to direct each of the plurality of different light patterns to a target region. The system further comprises at least one detector configured to detect light transmitted, reflected or emitted from the target region in response to each of the different light patterns, and to output signals representing the detected light. 
IP Reference WO2018203088 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Confidential
 
Title Photon Sensor Apparatus 
Description A sensor apparatus for photon sensing comprises a plurality of pixel devices, each pixel device comprising: a plurality of photon detectors arranged to produce photon detection signals in response to photon detection events; a processing resource configured to process photon detection signals to produce photon detection event signals, wherein each photon detection event signal comprises time data representative of a photon detection time at which a respective photon detection event occurred; a pixel memory; a further processing resource configured to process the photon detection event signals to obtain detection data representative of photon detection events over a detection period; a communication resource for transmitting the detection data from the pixel device, wherein the processing of the photon detection event signals is such that storing and/or transmission of the detection data uses less storage capacity and/or communication capacity than would be used by storage and/or transmission of the photon detection event signals directly. 
IP Reference US2020116838 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2020
Licensed Yes
Impact Spinout SENSE PHOTONICS INC pursuing multiple angles and commercialisation with additional patent filings.
 
Title SERS PROBE COMPRISING A DUAL-CORE OPTICAL FIBER AND A SPACER ONTO WHICH SERS-ACTIVE NANOPARTICLES ARE ATTACHED 
Description A spectroscopy probe apparatus comprising an excitation path configured to transmit excitation light for exciting a response; a collection path different from the excitation path and configured to transmit signal light comprising a response signal, wherein at least one of the excitation path or collection path comprises or is formed in at least one optical fibre; and a light guide having a proximal end coupled to the excitation path and to the collection path, wherein the guide is configured to pass the excitation light from the excitation path to a target region to generate the response signal, and to pass the signal light comprising the response signal from the target region to the collection path. 
IP Reference WO2017158331 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Confidential
 
Title Diagnosis of eye infections 
Description Chemical probes to detect bacterial infection in the eye via means of fluorescence. Paper published (Rapid detection of major Gram-positive pathogens in ocular specimens using a novel fluorescent vancomycin-based probe) on first studies now looking at 400 patients and analysis/validation. 
Type Diagnostic Tool - Imaging
Current Stage Of Development Early clinical assessment
Year Development Stage Completed 2022
Development Status Actively seeking support
Impact Chemical probes to detect bacterial infection in the eye via means of fluorescence. Paper published (Rapid detection of major Gram-positive pathogens in ocular specimens using a novel fluorescent vancomycin-based probe) on first studies now looking at 400 patients and analysis/validation. Will lead to more rapid decision making - for example allowing the clinician to use the correct/specific antibacterial agent. 
 
Title iSPY study re Proteus technologies 
Description Proteus technologies will be evaluated in initial first in human study (fibre/device/probes) 
Type Diagnostic Tool - Imaging
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Non-clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2020
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Impact Initial study to evaluate fluoresce lifetime capability in humans 
 
Description AAAS Meeting 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact AAAS Meeting 2019 - Invited to the meeting as a Flagship EPSRC project representing UK science on the main exhibition stage as well as the International Reception.
Feb 2019
Audience: American Academics, Members of Congress, American Industries, RIUK team lead by Sir Mark Walport (CEO) World Media Teams, Global stakeholders (academics, policy makers) students and wider publics
Engagement methods: Proteus Technology Versicolour
Impact: Raised awareness of EPSRC Proteus with UKRI CEO and wider RIUK team. Networked with senior academics, policy makers and US industries. Created new collaborations with industrial partners
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.ukri.org/aaas/
 
Description Academic paper published journal - Sensors. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Circuits! project published in academic journal - Sensors. Audience: International academic community
Engagement methods: PE/Engineering academic paper. Impact: Raising the profile of PE with research within the academic community. Demonstrating the quality of the work to be accepted in a peer reviewed academic journal. Creating a jubilant 'can do' attitude amongst researchers and community partners that motivates more high quality PE activity and future funding applications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/2/402
 
Description EPSRC Our Health - A model of community-based engagement - Teaching and Learning Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact EPSRC Our Health - A model of community-based engagement - The University of Edinburgh, Teaching and Learning Conference. Our Health was asked to present as an example of best practice in engaged- community based research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-sciences/our-health
 
Description EPSRC Our Health - Awarded the Principals Teaching Award 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact EPSRC Our Health - Awarded the Principals Teaching Award. Audience: Senior university colleagues. Engagement methods: Written proposal including case studies
Impact: EPSRC Our Health was awarded funding to pay a salary to a new Our Health staff member (capacity building). The Our Health Research Assistant will carry out a full evaluation of the Our Health programme which will improve the quality of our community based research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description EPSRC Our Health - Develops new partnership with NHS Lothian as part of COVID response. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact EPSRC Our Health - Develops new partnership with NHS Lothian as part of COVID response. New community- engagement project developed and networks created. Secured NHS Lothian funding (£8K) as part of the partnership.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description EPSRC Our Health - Led COVID response with partners in India (NIRT) to collaborate with Indian TB clinicians 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact EPSRC Our Health - Led COVID response with partners in India (NIRT) to collaborate with Indian TB clinicians to investigate the impact of COVID on TB doctors and patients.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description EPSRC Transforming Healthcare Showcase - House of Lords (became virtual due to COVID) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact EPSRC Transforming Healthcare Showcase in the House of Lords hosted by Lord Darzi of Denham to highlight the technology being developed by the team with EPSRC support.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description European Science Shop Conference 2019 
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 European Science Shop Conference 2019 - Invited as a speaker to (Cyprus) to present EPSRC Our Health and share best practice around this new Interdisciplinary model of a science shop with the new science shops (10 sci shops funded by Horizon 2020) Audience: European Science Shops Engagement methods: Workshops, presentations and discussion groups. Impact: EPSRC Our Health is more firmly established within the European community and is part of a wider network that collaborates closely with 1 of the new science shops to create an exchange (student/staff) programmme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.scishops.eu/
 
Description Organised International SPAD Sensor Workshop (held virtually but organised from Edinburgh). 350 attendees (70% industry!). 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact ISSW 2020
The International SPAD Sensor Workshop. Focused on the study, modeling, design, fabrication, and characterization of SPAD sensors. Edinburgh, Scotland (UK) June 2020
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Radio chat with Maria Rodriguez-Rios 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk show in Spain
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.twitch.tv/cienciaetal
 
Description The Craigmilliar Community Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The Craigmilliar Community Festival. Local community, primary school children, families and young adults (20 - 30 years olds)
Engagement methods: Hands on demonstrations, storytelling by primary school children around community based research.
Impact: Formed new community partners (Castleview school teachers/and pupils) new community based research activities designed with new partners
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.crm.ed.ac.uk/community-science-engagement
 
Description The International Edinburgh Book Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The International Edinburgh Book Festival. Audience: Wider Public. Engagement methods: Hands on demonstrations storytelling and poetry
Impact: Formed an Our Health/Citizen collaboration which will allow more community-based research activity supported by the International Edinburgh Book Festival in the future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description UKRI Festival of Tomorrow 
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 UKRI Festival of Tomorrow - to showcase EPSRC-UKRI research. Created a virtual booth for public audience to view aspects of IRC Proteus research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.scienceswindon.com/festival-of-tomorrow
 
Description Undergraduate course with patient groups developed based on our research 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact sensing in the community interdisciplinary community-based research projects
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023