Dr Gemma Bale

Interests

Gemma is the head of the Neuro Optics Lab, a new, multidisciplinary research group that operates jointly between the Departments of Physics and Engineering at the University of Cambridge. We develop and validate new optical methods to monitor brain function and metabolism non-invasively. The lab currently focusses on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based methods to perform in-vivo monitoring of metabolic markers such as haemoglobin oxygenation, mitochondrial function and blood flow. We are interested in pioneering tools and techniques to monitor relevant physiology for both basic science and medical applications, particularly focussed on dementia. Our work is highly translational and we work closely with clinical partners in Addenbrooke’s Hospital to deliver technologies that progress medical therapeutics.

Research Focus

Equipment

Computational modelling

diffuse optical tomography

Haemodynamic monitoring

near-infrared spectroscopy