About

We are currently looking for a Ph.D. student to develop the next generation of imaging tools, integrated with ultra-thin robotics, to diagnose and treat bile duct cancer. More info here.

Advanced imaging through optical fibres for cancer detection.
Advanced imaging through optical fibres for cancer detection. (L to R) Hair-thin optical fibre with metasurface stack attached to end; Images of oesophageal tissue reconstructed through a 2 m long 500 micron diameter fibre using phase information to improve contrast between healthy and tumour tissue; Low-cost miniaturised capsule endoscope to enable advanced imaging for screening and triage.

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Nottingham. My research is on optics, photonics and medical imaging. I develop new types of optical endoscopes that improve detection of diseases such as cancer. Prior to this, I was a Henslow Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, where I designed and constructed a prototype holographic fibre endoscope that images optical intensity, phase and polarisation. This improves early detection of oesophageal cancer compared to conventional intensity-only endoscopes, as I demonstrated by imaging real diseased tissue samples. Further, the long (2m) and thin (500um diameter) geometry promises easier integration with existing clinical procedures, and paves the way for future imaging of previously inaccessible areas, e.g. the brain. I am also interested in low-cost imaging and have worked on developing new capsule endoscopes for phase imaging of the oesophagus, and novel plasmonic metasurfaces for low-cost multispectral imaging.

My Ph.D., completed in 2013 at the University of Cambridge, was on wireless and optical fibre telecommunications, areas on which I have published widely. Through my research, I have gained proficiency in programming (MATLAB, C/C++, CUDA, Python), machine learning/data analysis (Monte-Carlo Bayesian inference through STAN, neural networks using Keras and TensorFlow), and optical design (e.g. digital holography, fibre and free-space optics, ZeMax).

Recent publicity:

Major multidisciplinary grant awarded for combining snake-robot with ultrathin imaging for treating bile duct cancer
System for early diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers
Video interview for study on aerosol generation during endoscopy
Cancer Research UK Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Innovation Sandpit: Team ReTHOMS
UKRI Press Release about my Future Leaders Fellowship
University of Nottingham Press Release about my UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
Article in the i about my fellowship
Interview with AZoOptics about my fibre imaging work