Toby Jenkins, biophysical chemist, is interviewed by Petra Kiviniemi.
Professor Toby Jenkins is fascinated by bacterial and fungal infection of humans, particularly wounds and bladders. When beginning his research, he’d assumed that all clinicians and microbiologists understood what was happening in an infected wound. But the more he drilled into the subject, the more he realised how little we understand about infection.
Using his love of building things and science, he’s creating materials and medical devices that detect infection. He’s also designing systems that can control the release of drugs to combat disease.
His interdisciplinary team consists of material scientists, engineers, chemists and microbiologists. They work closely with clinicians, including the burns team at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Together, they’ve been developing an advanced wound dressing that glows under UV light if the wound is infected.
Here Toby tells us about the importance of teaching, failure, and his bacterial ‘death ray’ side project.
View the transcript: https://mrc.io/2H8605l
Presenter: Isabel Harding
Producers and Editors: Petra Kiviniemi & Hasina Sacranie
Music credits: "Clean Soul" and "Brittle Rille" Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under CC BY 4.0
