“One Probe: A new device for non-penetrative monitoring of the injured brain”

In my PhD, I fabricated a novel probe that combines chemical and electrical modalities for monitoring the injured brain. The development of this device builds upon the work of Aristedes Leao, who first discovered the phenomenon of Spreading Depression whilst stimulating the cortices of rabbits. This finding became the subject of intense debate in the resulting decades until the work of Professor Anthony Strong and later the research of COSBID which showed Spreading depolarisations to be the principle mechanism of spread of secondary brain injury in cases of stroke and trauma.

Further understanding of these waves and their impact on brain health has been elucidated by the work of Professor Martyn Boutelle, whose techniques of rapid sampling microdialysis (rsMD), followed by continuous online microdialysis (coMD) allowed for the measurement of brain metabolites such as glucose, lactate & glutamate in real time, in a clinical environment.

This project drew upon these developments and the bioelectronic monitoring techniques developed by Professsor George Malliaras to create flexible microelectrodes, with enclosed membranes and microfluidic channels in order to provide a safer, more useful monitoring device for neurocritical care.

I successfully defended my Ph.D. in April 2022 and moved onto my postdoctoral work. However, using my work as a foundation, OneProbe is currently on the path to commercialisation. I am currently seeking a path through to the market through either licensing the technology or spinning out to create a new start-up company.