Research network
Optical Coherence Tomography
In this page:
Overview
The Manchester Optical Coherence Tomography Network (ManOctNet) is a joint initiative between the PSI, the medical and dentistry schools at The University of Manchester, the Manchester Royal Infirmary, and Hope Hospital. In addition to the development of bespoke equipment and of techniques for application in the medical and biological fields, the network aims to increase the awareness of optical methods and capabilities and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.
Aims
ManOctNet aims to:
- develop the next generation of OCT with improvements in light sources, detectors, scanning, delivery systems, image construction and optical contrast agents
- apply OCT to experimental models including biomaterials, tissue and organ engineering, surface coatings, conservational biology
- develop clinical imaging of the microvasculature to provide in vivo correlates of fibrosis, angiogenesis, calcification and tissue perfusion.
Advances in this application will have a significant impact on major healthcare areas including cardiovascular disease, cancer, renal dialysis, diabetes, rheumatology, dermatology, wound healing and ulceration.
Why use OCT?
Optical Coherence Tomography uses partially coherent light to illuminate tissue. It produces sub-surface cross-sectional images with micron level resolution by mixing the backscattered light from internal tissue microstructures with reference light within an interferometer to construct a real time image. Current technology allows interrogation of 3-4 mm depth of tissue at a resolution below 10 microns. Doppler OCT (D-OCT) is a variation of OCT allowing measurement of blood flow from the Doppler shift exhibited by the moving blood cells within the tissue.
Advantages over other imaging modalities include:
- tissue images at micron scale in situ in real time
- no biopsy or damage to tissue allows repeat imaging at same site
- allows non-invasive examination of surface tissues (multiple sites with reduction in sampling error) and minimally invasive examination using endoscopic/fibre optics
Grants
ManOCTNet has already attracted significant resources, including:
- Stepping Stone postdoctoral fellowship and grant (£200K) for 4 years to develop hardware for Doppler OCT for clinical applications.
- Baxter Healthcare USA grant (£52K) and an EPSRC PhD Studentship (£46K) for 3 years to investigate OCT imaging in experimental models of peritoneal scarring. Grant from Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association grant (£70K) to support studies of perfusion imaging.
- Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility grant (£70K) to purchase new OCT equipment for clinical studies. This will be housed in the WTCRF and will be available for clinical trials by network members.
- Zochonis grant (£50K) to support OCT renal studies.
Contact us
For further information contact one of the network leads:
Leads:
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Prof Paul Brenchley
0161-276-6323
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Dr Mark Dickinson
0161-275-4215