{"id":1508,"date":"2022-10-10T09:30:41","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T09:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/perc\/?p=1508"},"modified":"2022-10-10T10:00:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-10T10:00:07","slug":"developing-an-alternative-to-blood-tests-for-health-investigation-through-a-microneedle-biosensor-device","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/perc\/2022\/10\/10\/developing-an-alternative-to-blood-tests-for-health-investigation-through-a-microneedle-biosensor-device\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing an alternative to blood tests for health investigation through a microneedle biosensor device"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 3 of 11 in the series People's Research Cafe at the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2022<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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This blog is part of a series showcasing the People\u2019s Research Cafe which took place on the 18th and 19th June 2022 in South Kensington, London as part of the\u00a0Great Exhibition Road Festival<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

What is a People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9?\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

The People\u2019s Research Cafe is a caf\u00e9 with a twist. Visitors are welcomed to sit down at a table co-hosted by an Imperial College researcher and a public contributor whose role is to help the conversation flow freely. Over a free hot drink, visitors find out about the researcher\u2019s project and will be asked for their opinions on it. The researchers are then expected to use this feedback from visitors to improve their projects. The People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9 has been run previously at two Imperial Festivals (2018 and 2019) and also in four community venues. It was previously called the \u201cPPI Caf\u00e9\u201d and you can read about the one at the Imperial Festival 2018\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When did this People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9 take place?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A\u00a0People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9 was hosted at the Great Exhibition Road Festival held on 18 and 19 June 2022<\/a>\u00a0and was a collaboration between the following teams\/centres: Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial Clinical Research Facility, London In-Vitro Diagnostics Cooperative, NWL Applied Research Collaborative, MRC Centre for Environmental and Health, HPRU in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance. Researchers from each centre were given the opportunity to apply to host a table at the Caf\u00e9 for 2 hours where they would explain their research in plain language and ask visitors 3 questions with the help of a public contributor. It was a requirement that the research project was at a stage where visitor feedback could still influence the project. Researchers and public contributors were offered training about how the Caf\u00e9 would work and how to maximise conversations with visitors. Ahead of the Caf\u00e9, researchers refined their plain language summaries and three questions to pose to visitors with the help of public involvement leads and a public contributor.<\/p>\n

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In conversation with<\/strong>: Dr Damien Ming<\/a> (Clinical Research Fellow) and Dr David Freeman (Research Associate), from the Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation, Imperial College London<\/a><\/p>\n

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Microneedle biosensor patch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What research project did you bring to the People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9 and what is it about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We presented our research which is exploring the use of a microneedle biosensor patch as an alternative to blood tests in healthcare. This is a small device around the size of a postage stamp and is placed on the skin of a person. This patch is then able to measure a range of important substances in the body continuously, without the need for drawing blood. These results are available instantly and we hope that using this device could help doctors and nurses deliver better healthcare in the future.<\/p>\n

During the People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9, we brought along the patches so that the public could have a better look and feel of this device.<\/p>\n

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What questions did you ask visitors to the People\u2019s Research Caf\u00e9 about your project?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The questions we asked visitors are as follows:<\/p>\n