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Distinguished Lectures

The Distinguished Lecture Series invites leading researchers in the fields of medical robotics, imaging and sensing from around the world as well as from the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery to present their work at Imperial College London.

Lighting up the operating theatre

Professor Daniel Elson
Professor of Surgical Imaging and Biophotonics

Date: Wednesday 12 September 2018
Time: 17.30
Venue: Lecture Theatre 200, City and Guilds Building,
Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ (building no 28 on the map).

The lecture is free to attend and open to all, but registration is required in advance - book your ticket on Eventbrite
A drinks reception will follow the lecture at 18.30 on the Level 2 Concourse outside the lecture theatre.

This lecture is now available to review online.

Video: Lighting Up The Operating Theatre

Abstract:

Daniel Elson lecture-1 From the landmark breakthroughs in keyhole surgery to advances in operating theatre robotics, imaging and optics have proved key to equipping today’s surgeons with the information and tools to perform more precise, effective surgery. Light-based technologies such as fluorescence, multispectral and polarisation resolved imaging are opening up the possibility for in-vivo tissue characterisation and image-guided surgery using live information feedback. Rather than relying on the naked eye or preoperative MRI or CT scan data, surgeons in the future operating theatre will see an augmented reality view of the margins of diseased tissues or tumours at the time of the surgery. However, there are challenges, particularly in getting devices in patients, obtaining regulatory approval and analysing the output data.

In his inaugural lecture, Daniel Elson will talk through a career that has mirrored the typical innovation translation pathway - from a PhD in laser physics, and time spent in the Faculty of Engineering developing imaging tools for key hole surgery, a move to the Division of Surgery saw him work directly with surgeons to begin translating those technologies into image guidance tools. He will discuss progress made developing diagnostic methods and technologies, and the value of adopting a clinical, rather than purely technological driven, approach to innovation and problem solving, working with surgeons to identify challenges today and tomorrow.

Biography:

Daniel Elson is a Professor of Surgical Imaging and Biophotonics in the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Institute of Global Health Innovation and Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London. He completed an MSci and PhD in Physics at Imperial in 1999 and 2003 and became a Lecturer in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in 2005.

His research interests are based around the development and application of photonics technology with endoscopy for surgical imaging applications, including multispectral imaging, polarization-resolved imaging, fluorescence imaging, and the use of fluorescently labelled gold nanorods for theranostics. Further projects include work on the development of illumination and vision systems for endoscopy combining miniature light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes with computer vision techniques for structured lighting and tissue surface reconstruction as well as the use of robotic guidance of optical probes. These devices are finding application in minimally invasive surgery and in the development of new flexible robotic assisted surgery systems. These projects are funded by sources including EPSRC, ERC, H2020, NIHR, SBRI and the Wellcome Trust. He has published over ninety-five peer reviewed journal articles, one edited book, twelve book chapters and has contributed to over three hundred conferences.

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15th November 2016: Imaging the Malnourished Gut

13th May 2016: Biomechanical Tissue Modelling

Paradigm shift in biomechanics: no more research on mechanical properties of tissues!

Professor Karol Miller
Winthrop Professor
School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
The University of Western Australia
12:00 - 13:00 Friday 13 May 2016
ChemEng LT 3, ACE Extension
South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London

Abstract: It is now recognised that the most urgent task of biomechanists is to devise methods for clinically-relevant patient-specific modelling. A large proportion of the biomechanics community believes that the main obstacle in creating patient-specific models is the difficulty (or impossibility?) of measuring patient-specific properties of tissues to be used in biomechanical models.

For about ten years ISML has advocated a complete refocus of biomechanical research away from describing mechanical properties of tissues. We postulate that instead we need to reformulate computational mechanics problems in such a way that the results are weakly sensitive to the variation in mechanical properties of simulated continua. This suggestion constitutes a paradigm shift in the field and has encountered strong resistance of the more traditionally inclined members of the biomechanics community.

In this seminar I will describe briefly how ISML members’ thinking on this completely new approach to biomechanics has evolved over the years. I will also demonstrate the success of our new approach using examples from the fields of image-guided neurosurgery and vascular biomechanics.

Bio: Karol Miller studied Applied Mechanics and received a PhD in Robotics from Warsaw University of Technology in 1994, and Doctorate of Science (Habilitation) in Biomechanics from the Polish Academy of Sciences in 2003. He has been with UWA for twenty years. In 2002 he established the Intelligent Systems for Medicine Laboratory. ISML’s mission is to work towards improving clinical outcomes through appropriate use of technology. It runs exciting research projects funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), the National Institute of Health (USA) and other national and international agencies. The overall objective of his research is to help creating methods and tools which will enable a new exciting era of personalised medicine. He is best known for his work on biomechanics of soft tissues. His current research interests include computational biomechanics for medicine and numerical methods, with applications to surgical simulation, image-guided surgery and, surprise, geomechanics. His research and teaching have been recognised by multiple awards, including the Humboldt Research Award, NVIDIA GPU Computing Champion Award, the Simulation Industry Association Australia Award, the Sir Charles Julius Award, the Polish Prime Minister Award, the UWA Faculty of Engineering Computing and Mathematics Teaching Award and the UWA Student Guild Choice Award.

23rd March 2016: Intra-articular BCP Crystals in Osteoarthritis

How can we identify and quantify intra-articular basic calcium phosphate crystals, a potential therapeutic target in human osteoarthritis?

Geraldine McCarthy MD, FRCPI

Consultant Rheumatologist and Clinical Professor of Medicine

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin and University College Dublin

13:00 -14:00 Wednesday 23 March 2016

B426, Level 4, Bessemer Building

South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common human form of arthritis occurring in humans. Its complex pathogenesis remains poorly understood but appears multifactorial. Its prevalence is steadily increasing as populations age but no specific treatment exists. Calcification of articular cartilage is a hallmark of OA and evidence suggests it contributes directly to joint degeneration. Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) (predominantly hydroxyapatite) crystals are the predominant crystal type found in OA and current data indicate a pathogenic role for these crystals in OA as they have multiple, robust biological effects in vitro and in vivo. However, information on the exact frequency and distribution of intra-articular BCP crystals varies considerably, mainly due to the lack of simple and reliable methods of detection and quantification. This limitation in turn diminishes the enthusiasm for drug development. Improved and simplified methods of detection and quantification of BCP crystals in the joint could potentially aid the diagnosis of OA and the development of novel therapies. The purpose of this presentation is to facilitate discussion and exploration of novel technologies in identifying and quantifying intra-articular BCP crystals. The ability to measure BCP crystal deposition in the joint would encourage appropriate drug development. This is an area in health and medicine where interest is rapidly emerging but which remains poorly developed despite its importance for society.

Bio: Geraldine McCarthy graduated in Medicine from University College Dublin, National University of Ireland. She received her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin where she developed her interest in calcium crystal deposition diseases. Her research has focused on the biological effects of calcium-containing crystals in degenerative joint disease as well as in atherosclerosis and breast cancer and has been funded by many sources including the National Institutes of Health, Arthritis Foundation, American Federation for Aging Research, US Department of Defence and the WellcomeTrust. She was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1996 where she remained until her return to Dublin, Ireland. She was appointed Consultant in Rheumatology at the Mater MisericordiaeUniversity Hospital, Dublin in 1999 where she runs a busy clinical practice and a clinical research program. She teaches as part of the University College Dublin Faculty of Medicine where she has been appointed Clinical Professor of Medicine. She is the author of over 100 publications and has spoken at many national and international meetings. She has been winner of several research and teaching awards and has mentored medicine and science graduates in clinical practice and in research. She will present a State-of-the-Art lecture on the topic of calcium crystal deposition diseases at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting 2016 in Washington DC.

5th November 2015: Biomimetic Microfluidics

Biomimetic Microfluidics – The Key to Revolutionising the Performance of Autonomous Chem/Bio-Sensing Platforms

Prof Dermot Diamond
Director of the National Centre for Sensor Research at Dublin City University

14:00 Thursday 5th November 2015
Meeting Rooms 1 & 2 (B402 & B403), Level 4 Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London

Abstract:
Imagine a world in which issues related to long-term (months to years) reliability of chem/bio-sensing platforms have been solved, and devices capable of carrying out complex chem/bio-functions in an autonomous manner are ubiquitously available. The potential impact of these technologies socially and economically is enormous, and the demand will be universal, driven by an infinite range of applications. Devices will perform complex analytical measurements while located in remote and environmentally hostile locations, such as the deep oceans, or inside the human body. Their capabilities will go far beyond those of existing devices; chemical sensors, biosensors, lab-on-chip (LOC) systems or autonomous analysers, that cannot deliver the price-performance required for reliable long-term (years) autonomous in-situ operation. Revolutionary device improvements are required to meet this vision, and it is becoming clear that these improvements require a fundamental move towards devices based on bio-inspired approaches. For example, future instrument fluidics will have a much more active role beyond the current tasks of transporting samples, mixing reagents, and cleaning. Much like the circulation systems in living entities, these circulation systems will perform advanced functions, like using mobile micro-scaled biomimetic agents to detect, spontaneously migrate to, and repair damaged channels or fluidic components in order to maintain functional integrity of the device. These strategies, if successful, will be broadly disruptive across many application domains, from chronic disease management to environmental monitoring. In this paper, I will present ideas and strategies through which this exciting vision might be advanced via an exciting combination of stimuli-responsive materials, emerging technologies for precise control of 3D materials morphology (to nanoscale dimensions), and state of the art characterization and visualization techniques.

Biography:
Dermot Diamond received his Ph.D. and D.Sc. from Queen’s University Belfast (Chemical Sensors, 1987, Internet Scale Sensing, 2002), and was Vice-President for Research at Dublin City University (2002-2004). He has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, is a named inventor in 19 patents, and is co-author and editor of five books. He was director (2007-2015) and founding member of the National Centre for Sensor Research (www.ncsr.ie) at Dublin City University, and an SFI-funded investigator in the INSIGHT Centre (http://www.insight-centre.org). In 2002, he was awarded the inaugural silver medal for Sensor Research by the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, and in 2006 he received the DCU President’s Award for research excellence, and in 2015 he was received the president’s award for innovation. In May 2014, in recognition of his academic contributions and achievements, he was admitted to Membership of the Royal Irish Academy. In April 2015 he was awarded the Boyle Higgins Gold Medal by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland in recognition of his research achievements. His research is focused on the fundamental science of stimuli responsive polymers, the development of futuristic autonomous chemical sensing platforms, and the use of analytical devices and sensors as information providers for wireless networked systems i.e. building a continuum between the digital and molecular worlds.

Further details of his research can be found at www.dcu.ie/chemistry/asg.