Dr Sourav Bhattacharjee

Current Research Challenges

His ongoing research is focused on developing biophotonic tools for early detection of cancer using tissue autofluorescence. ‘’Our new data analytic tools largely automate the data analysis and allow us to inspect more than what a human eye can see. We can now detect molecular level changes in the tissue occurring at very early stages of cancer. Our algorithm standardises the approach which, hopefully, can remove the human factor prone to certain biases in the future. Such automation would allow test larger volume of samples 24/7.’’   

Sourav advises that the biggest challenge the research team has overcome to date was to understand the tissue at an unprecedented granular detail. The research was supported by SFI funding which he is highly appreciative of. The funding allowed acquiring a Leica Stellaris Falcon 8 microscope based at the Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium (SRIC) in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) that provided a resolution that is unparalleled. The availability of this microscope has pushed the boundaries in tissue microscopy, and he and his team of students remain grateful. The data obtained by the microscopes provides high quality data with incredible sensitivity. They seek to develop a highly sensitive screening tool for cancer detection at an early stage using ultrasensitive fluorescence emission from tissue blocks.  

The Research team hopes to secure further funding to support the research project. The next challenge would be to cope with the large datasets. Tissue samples, as a material, are heterogeneous and difficult to examine with optical means. However, with the arrival of exciting data, they aim to develop a “traffic light system” for the users to understand the results. In a typical sense, a green signal would mean that the tissue seems normal, and an amber signal would mean that although the tissue overall seems fine, it needs a closer look or a follow-up in future. Finally, the red signal would mean that there is a certain pathology ingrained within the tissue that is worrying, and needs immediate attention. 

Large-scale clinical trials with such emerging photonic platforms are not easy, and it needs proper infrastructure and computational ability to handle these large datasets. Such translational ambition, therefore, will require industry participation, perhaps even technology partners. To date, they are showcasing their research data to more and more researchers and gathering traction. Recently, Sourav presented some of the data in an invited talk at the University of Tartu and Estonia School of Life Sciences in Tartu, Estonia. You may watch the recording of the talk titled “Modelling Tissue Fabric Based on Autofluorescence: From Concepts to Applications” on YouTube ((opens in a new window)Watch here). 

The Researcher

Sourav describes himself as a Professor of Anatomy and a Biophotonics and Drug Delivery researcher, an amateur historian, a poetry enthusiast, an avid reader, a world traveller, and a humourist who is passionate about mathematics. As a principal investigator, he loves challenges and the adrenaline kicks in seeking to resolve the questions emerging from the understanding of one area that only leads to another. 

When asked to describe his career to date, he refers to himself as a jack of all trades, better described as an “academic nomad”.He has a broad perspective and experience, and as a scientist seeks to work across different disciplines to support understanding and teaching. The investment he has made in this, he claims, wasn't easy but the application of his life's work in this has set him up for success.

In discussing his research work, Sourav explains that research is not just a project to him but a memory. ‘’A memory of the good work, the people, the collaborations that were built and nurtured over time’’. He states, ‘’Science is built from inquisitiveness across the disciplines, driven by questions that push one beyond the boundaries of different schools or departments but towards a shared knowledge that propagates excellent researchers and research’’.

He is a member of the EDI committee of the School of Veterinary Medicine and was member of the applicant team that recently helped the Veterinary School, only the second school in UCD, to be recognised with an Athena Swan Silver Award.

Future Research Aspirations

When invited to share a little about his future aspirations or goals, Sourav told us that stepping up and playing a different role in bringing about significant changes in our world appeals to him. He wants to do more, not just as a researcher but perhaps as a politician, maybe at a European level. He sees Artificial intelligence as a key game changer in academia, although he is cautiously enthusiastic about the emerging AI tools. He plans to launch his data analytics company this summer. He is motivated by the role that fast evolving technology, Big Data and AI will play in resolving the challenges of our future caused by issues like climate change, migration, lack of housing, food security, emerging zoonotic diseases, ongoing armed conflicts, and the list goes on. Sourav wants to keep publishing alongside his daily schedule. Publishing, he says, keeps him sane, and with a smile, he is reminded of a previous professor of his who described him as “Crazy but in a good way!’’

If you are interested in learning more about Dr Sourav Bhattacharjee’s work and the issues that he wishes to address as socially relevant and close to his heart, you can catch him on his latest Talk Show (opens in a new window)here.

Related Links

(opens in a new window)UCD Researcher Profile

(opens in a new window)Research Gate

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(opens in a new window)Google Scholar