Translational Alliance: SMART-Endomicroscopy

Optical 'biopsy' is a concept whereby traditional histology is replaced with non-invasive, real-time imaging techniques such as endomicroscopy. This new probe-based technology provides live microscopy images to the operator, allowing for immediate cellular tissue characterisation in situ and in vivo. With recent advances in endomicroscopy, including the latest technological progress from the EPSRC SMART-Endomicroscopy project, it is timely to address the potential of endomicroscopy for assessing gut dysfunction, particularly given the large burden of enteric disease in all countries and across different age groups. The aim of this project is to form a new translation alliance in collaboration with a leading industrial design SME (Smallfry Ltd) and the Gates Foundation, exploring applications of the new endomicroscopy/robotics technology in global health. In particular, and in line with the Gates Foundation Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases Strategy, it focuses on how low-cost (yet high impact/tech) robotic technologies can provide a practical optical biopsy system for gut disease. This rather unexpected application of our research would complement the planned pathways to impact of the original grant supported by EPSRC, making the technology relevant to both specialised and global health settings, addressing additional challenges imposed by frugal innovation.

The proposed project is in response to the current paradigm shift and clinical demand in healthcare for bringing cellular and molecular imaging modalities to an in vivo, in situ setting to allow for real-time tissue characterisation, functional assessment, and intraoperative guidance. It also aims to deliver the mission of the partners in developing safe, effective, and accessible technologies that are of global relevance. The focus of the endomicroscopy technology on gut dysfunction has significant value on global health, particularly given the large burden of enteric disease in all countries and across different age groups. The ability to provide non-invasive, real-time, large area surveillance, with suitability for long-term follow-up examinations, is attractive, particularly for low and middle income countries where enteric disease in infants is prevalent. These childhood gut infections are known to lead first to malnutrition, and subsequently to long-term developmental problems, including stunted growth and poor response to vaccines. By focussing on how low-cost (yet high tech) robotic technologies can provide a practical optical biopsy system for gut disease, we aim to make SMART-Endomicroscopy relevant to both specialised and global health settings, addressing specific challenges imposed by frugal innovation.

The stakeholders who will benefit from this research include: Academia (both UK and international) in medical imaging, biophotonics, sensing, vision, robotics, general biomedical engineering and global health research; Non-governmental organisations focussed on global health and charities championing improved healthcare provision and disease focussed organisations; Public and private sectors in healthcare provision; Medical devices industry; and more importantly patients and the general public.

The benefit from this research includes potentially significant technological, social, commercial and economic impact. It not only enhances research capacity but also brings tangible knowledge transfer opportunities. The project addresses important research and development challenges related to robotics and frugal innovation, and the end results are likely to transform the innovation pathways of new device designs that are of global value. Robotic technologies are often regarded as expensive and only relevant to the privileged few. The proposed translational alliance aims to challenge this by further advancing SMART-Endomicroscopy under the constraints and principles of frugal innovation, leading to a long-term partnership in addressing some of the unmet global health challenges in future.