Prof Peter Myers Ph.D MRI CChem FRSC

My aim is to replace the industrial habit of collecting fluid samples in bottles and delivering them to laboratories for analysis. We will replace these manual procedures by automated instruments that challenge this glacially slow, high-support-cost, lab-centric business model. The proposed new self-contained analysers will allow measurement at the point of use, thereby eliminating labor, transport time and potential contamination. This new paradigm is made possible through microfabrication. The miniaturisation and integration of solid-phase extraction, electro-chromatographic separations and full-spectrum electro-optical or electro-magnetic detection will allow the encapsulation and optimisation of existing instrumental methods into micro-fluidic, application–specific chemistry chips. Each chip is essentially a laboratory integrated into its sample’s environment.