Funding boost for Fife academics

Researchers from St Andrews University and York University have been awarded more than £5 million.

The award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council could revolutionise the understanding of the biomedical world.

The study will explore new and innovative ways in which light can be used to measure the natural world.

Scientists will address major global challenges in antimicrobial resistance and neurodegenerative disease.

Light has been used for centuries to image the world but this will look at the limits of light as a measurement tool.

For example, light can be used to image single bacteria, but can researchers also use light to trap a single bacterium, identify the bacterial strain and assess its susceptibility to antibiotics?

The teams aim to find the answer.

Professor Kishan Dholakia, principal investigator from St Andrews University, said: “This is a strong endorsement of our team’s effort over the last few years in the area of photonics and allows us to address major globally relevant challenges with a host of international partners.”

York’s Professor Thomas Krauss added: “The team brings a unique combination of expertise in photonics that will allow us to fully understand the response of bacteria to antibiotics and to develop a rapid and accurate diagnostic technology.”