Star Trek Medical Know How - One Step Closer in Gloucestershire!
10/04/2008
Scientists and surgeons are developing a technique called Raman Spectroscopy that enables them to shine a light on early cancers.
The invention, reminiscent of the “tricorder” used by Star Trek medics to diagnose problems, avoids the need for biopsies on tissue samples.
Teams from the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Biophotonics Research department and Cranfield University have been developing Raman Spectroscopy over the last decade and it is likely to be some months before the technique will be ready for full clinical trials.
But the idea of using light to detect early cancerous cells and the beneficial impact this would have on patients has led to the head of Biophotonics Research Dr Nick Stone receiving a Career Scientist Fellowship from the National Institute of Health Research and a nomination in the medical diagnostics category of the prestigious NHS National Innovation Awards.
Dr Stone explained that the idea for Raman Spectroscopy grew from discussions back in 1997 between his department and consultant surgeon Professor Hugh Barr on extending the use of lasers to cover diagnosis as well as treatment.
“We had been treating patients for cancer of the oesophagus using photo dynamic therapy which worked especially well on people with pre-cancerous changes in their cells,” he said. “But we realised we were not getting enough patients with an early diagnosis coming through.
“Raman Spectroscopy uses laser light, which is harmless to patients, to illuminate areas that we are interested in. “Molecules or other things within the tissues that relate to the disease will change the laser light in a different way than would be in the case of healthy tissue.
“The main benefit of this technique is that we are able to identify pre-cancerous cells at an earlier stage than we would from carrying out biopsies, or see how far the disease has progressed or is likely to progress.
“It enables us to carry out thorough checks of an area of tissue rather than taking random samples. And in time we think it will be possible to carry out diagnosis and procedures during one appointment rather than putting patients through the stress of waiting for treatments after being diagnosed.
“Raman Spectroscopy is very much a long term study and before we can claim a world first we have to carry out a large number of clinical trials.”
One of the technique’s latest developments has come from work carried out with a group from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxford to enable scientists to shine a light through several centimetres of tissue rather than using the traditional method of examining specific areas through an endoscope.
Raman Spectroscopy takes its name from CV Raman, an Indian scientist who received the Nobel Prize in 1933 for his work with light.
For more information please contact Susan Bradley, Communications Specialist on 08454 223120 or email susan.bradley@glos.nhs.uk
Home
Page
News 
Patients
and Visitors 
Wards
and Departments
Contact Us 
About
Us 
Publications 
Get
Involved
Work
for Us 
Healthcare Professionals
Links
Feedback Form
Foundation Members Area
