In vivo THz imaging: Developing the Picobot by Professor Emma MacPherson
NTU MSE Seminar Hosted by Professor Liu Zheng / Co-host: Dr. Ke Lin, Singapore Institute of Technology
Abstract
Terahertz (1012 Hz, THz) light is very sensitive to hydrogen bonds and, due to it also being non-ionising, researchers have been looking how to exploit this unique property for biomedical applications for over 2 decades. The strong attenuation of THz light by water and therefore biological tissues means that in vivo THz imaging needs to be done in a reflection geometry. In this talk I will explain how THz imaging has evolved and how, in my latest project, Terabotics, I have been conducting the first in vivo studies of skin cancer patients in a hospital environment. Terabotics has enabled THz technology to be integrated with robotics to develop a robotically controlled THz probe, which we have called the "Picobot" (as THz light probes processes occurring at picosecond time scales). The Picobot has featured on BBC West Midlands News.
Biography
Professor Emma MacPherson
University of Warwick
Professor Emma Pickwell-MacPherson studied natural sciences for her undergraduate degree at Cambridge University followed by an MSci in Physics where she specialized in semiconductor physics. She started her PhD with the Semiconductor Physics Group at Cambridge University and TeraView Ltd, a company specializing in terahertz imaging in 2002. Her PhD work focused on understanding contrast mechanisms in terahertz images of skin cancer. Having completed her PhD in 2005, she worked for TeraView Ltd as a Medical Scientist until moving to Hong Kong in 2006. Prof MacPherson set up a terahertz laboratory at the Department of Electronic Engineering, CUHK during her post between 2006 and 2009 as an Assistant Professor. She spent 3 years at HKUST as a Visiting Assistant Professor (September 2009 -2012) and returned to the Department of Electronic Engineering, CUHK in Sept 2012. In 2017 she won a Wolfson Merit award to support her return to the UK at Warwick University and joined the Ultrafast Photonics group in the Physics department as a Reader in October 2017 and she was promoted to Professor in 2021. Prof MacPherson is PI of the £8M EPSRC Programme grant, "Terabotics" which is combining advances is THz technology and surgical robotics. Her research has featured on Sky news international TV. Prof MacPherson has been on the International Organising Committee for the Infrared and Millimeter Wave and Terahertz Wave (IRMMW-THz) conference series since 2009. She was the General Conference Chair of the 2015 IRMMW-THz conference held at CUHK and will be the Co-Chair of IRMMW-THz 2028 to be held at Warwick University.