Developing optics-based diagnostic technology for musculoskeletal tissues

With the increasing interest in treating osteoarthritis at its earliest stages, and the development of new treatment procedures targeting this early degradation, comes a need to diagnose and characterise tissue beyond what is currently possible with arthroscopic and radiographic methods. The proposed project aims to fulfil this need, providing tools for characterising musculoskeletal tissue both in clinical practice to aid treatment decisions, and in the laboratory to aid the development of new treatments.

In a series of recent studies, we have found that near infrared spectroscopy and nonlinear optical microscopy are sensitive to tissue structure. This studentship will:
1. Establish the spectral and optical ‘signatures’ of human tissue in its normal and degraded states; and
2. Develop models to distinguish between different stages/types of degradation, which can be used to underpin clinical translation.

Training Opportunities:
This project will be undertaken in the ARUK Experimental Osteoarthritis Treatment Centre at the Botnar Research Centre. In addition to standard training provided by the Department, the student will have access to supervision and support from clinicians, engineers and biologists. This will facilitate the development of the skills required to undertake research at the interface between the medical and physical sciences, and opportunities to develop expertise in optics, histology, diagnostics and characterisation.