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Royal societyscience exhibition

2024

We are investigating short wavelength UV light to cut away unwanted cells like tumours, and remove infections, without harming the surrounding healthy tissues.

Our goal? To deliver this light precisely using optical fibres without invasive procedures, using a compact, affordable light source.

FOCUS 1: PRECISION SURGERY

To cut away harmful tissue without damaging the surrounding area. An example of this is brain tumour removal.

Increased antibioticresistance seen in treatments

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Focus 2: MIcrobial keratitis

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Infection of the eye

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Can be bacterial or fungal

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The cause of 5% of global blindness

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats. By 2050, up to 10 million deaths could occur annually.

AMR is a problem for all countries at all income levels. Its spread does not recognise country borders.

It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

using uv light for clinical applications

UV light is a form of radiation that is emitted from the sun.

UV light has both positive and negative effects.

It can be split into 3 categories, UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC light is known to kill bacteria.

How do we transport UV light to areas of the body non-invasively?

Deep UV light cannot be transmitted through a normal solid glass optical fibre.

our optical fibre based technology

Normal optical fibres are long strands of solid glass which transmit light.

our optical fibre based technology

We have solved these problems in u-Care by making specially designed fibres which transmit light through a hollow core, essential for guiding light at deep UV wavelengths.

2. Is it safe for humans?

Our biology team must answer two essential questions about our deep UV light sources

1. Does it kill bacteria?

The Royal Society 2-7 July London

Come and meet our team

And see how far our research has come

Deep ultraviolet light therapies

A collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of Bath

For more information or resources please visit our website

https://www.u-care.ac.uk/