Project description
Tuneable laser training to boost OCT technique
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an established, non-invasive imaging technique that uses low-coherence light to capture multidimensional images with micrometre-resolution. It is used in medical imaging and industrial non-destructive testing. Tuneable lasers for OCT could optimise, upgrade and widen the use of this technology. The EU-funded NETLAS project will train European industry and innovation leaders in this field through an ‘Innovative Training Network’. Fifteen early stage researchers will participate in interdisciplinary research in collaboration with potential beneficiaries: five higher education institutions, three companies with associated hospitals and a non-profit institute. Three summer schools and an international conference will also be held.
Objective
The main objective of this Innovative Training Network (ITN) is to educate 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESR) towards PhD through a joint interdisciplinary research programme. This programme (NETLAS) will educate the ESRs in the rapidly expanding hot topic of tuneable lasers for optical coherence tomography (OCT). Research will be jointly developed across the network to cover 12 technologies, that span interdisciplinary and intersectoral fields, such as: 3 technologies of novel laser devices, 4 technologies of novel optics configurations for tuneable lasers, 3 original signal processing technologies to optimise the utilisation of the novel lasers in practice and 2 over-arching application technologies in OCT for medical imaging and non-destructive testing. The network aims to educate tomorrow’s European industry leaders and innovators by bringing the ESRs together with today’s end users in order to incorporate their research into useful instruments that are fit to respond to societal needs, such as underpinning the health system and non-destructive testing. Beneficiaries in this network are 5 higher-education institutions (HEI)s and 3 companies plus 6 partners, including a HEI research institute with an affiliated eye hospital, a second training hospital and a non profit research institute, For each ESR the training takes place in at least two different institutions, one of them being a HEI and the other giving industrial experience, jointly delivering a coherent combination of specialised and general skills training. This is completed by organising three Summer Schools and an International conference. Each ESR will start by agreeing with the supervisors a career development plan, whose progress will be continuously monitored by supervisors and reported at regular meetings of the supervisory board.
Fields of science
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementinnovation management
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imaging
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
CT2 7NZ Canterbury, Kent
United Kingdom