The Future of Brain Imaging

Clare Elwell is a professor of medical physics and director of the Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Group and Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory at University College London. Her current research combines physics and engineering to develop novel optical systems for monitoring and imaging the brain. Clare currently leads the Brain Imaging for Global HealTh (BRIGHT) research project, investigating the impact of malnutrition on early infant brain development.In this episode of the Create the Future podcast, we speak with Clare about the engineering that underpins functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)—notably the 2019 QEPrize-winning innovation, LED lighting. We discuss the benefits of portable fNIRS equipment, hear why multidisciplinary teams are essential for innovation, and discover why Clare’s research project in The Gambia was the first study of infant brains in Africa.New episodes of Create the Future: An Engineering Podcast every other Tuesday. www.qeprize.org/podcastsFollow @qeprize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.