High throughput electrochemical Platform to Aid Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

Age-related cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment globally, and cataract surgery remains the most common treatment. However, endophthalmitis, a severe inflammation of the anterior and/or posterior chambers of the eye, poses a serious, vision-threatening complication following cataract surgery. This condition is predominantly caused by gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus species, with approximately 94.2% of cases attributed to such pathogens. The standard treatment involves broad-spectrum antibiotics like vancomycin and fluoroquinolones. To improve treatment efficacy and optimize patient outcomes, it is critical to address the following research questions:

1. How does antibiotic resistance in endophthalmitis-causing pathogens impact treatment outcomes?;

2. What are the current advancements in rapid diagnostics for bacterial infections, and where are the existing gaps in these technologies?;

3. How effective are existing antibiotic treatments, such as vancomycin and fluoroquinolones, in managing endophthalmitis in the context of antibiotic resistance?

This project aims to investigate antibiotic resistance in endophthalmitis and develop low-cost, rapid electrochemical immunosensors for selective detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis and its resistance to antibiotics (e.g., vancomycin, fluoroquinolones). The key objectives are:

1. Map the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus epidermidis across the UK and Europe.

2. Develop paper-based electrochemical sensors for rapid, point-of-use diagnostics.

3. Create electrochemical immunoassays for selective detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

4. Demonstrate real-time antibiotic susceptibility testing using electrochemical impedance and existing antibiotics.

How to Apply:

Apply Online

When applying through the Heriot-Watt on-line system please ensure you provide the following information:

(a) in ‘Study Option’ You will need to select ‘Edinburgh’ and ‘Postgraduate Research’. ‘Programme’ presents you with a drop-down menu. Choose Bio-engineering and Bio-sciences PhD for study option

(b) in ‘Research Project Information’

You will be provided with a free text box for details of your research project. Enter Title of the project for which you are applying and also enter the supervisor’s name.

This information will greatly assist us in tracking your application.

For questions about the application process, please contact pgr.eps@hw.ac.uk