Translational Alliance: SMART-Endomicroscopy

光学“活检”是一种概念，传统的组织学被非侵入性的实时成像技术（如显微内镜）所取代。这种新的基于探针的技术为操作员提供了实时显微图像，允许在原位和体内立即进行细胞组织表征。随着显微内镜的最新进展，包括EPSRC SMART-显微内镜项目的最新技术进展，现在是时候解决显微内镜评估肠道功能障碍的潜力，特别是考虑到所有国家和不同年龄组的肠道疾病负担很大。该项目的目的是与领先的工业设计中小企业（Smallfry Ltd）和盖茨基金会合作，形成一个新的翻译联盟，探索新的显微内镜/机器人技术在全球健康中的应用。特别是，根据盖茨基金会肠道和腹泻疾病战略，它专注于低成本（但高影响/技术）机器人技术如何为肠道疾病提供实用的光学活检系统。我们的研究的这一出人意料的应用将补充EPSRC支持的原始赠款的影响的计划途径，使该技术与专业和全球卫生环境相关，解决节俭创新带来的额外挑战。

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.