Strathclyde Chemist Receives International Award

Dr Matthew Baker, a senior lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde has won an international award for achievements in his field, including the development of techniques for diagnosing brain tumours.

Announced as recipient of the’ Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy Award’ from Spectroscopy magazine for outstanding research into real-life applications of analytical chemistry, his work includes the pioneering use of vibrational spectroscopy for clinical diagnostics. This has enabled the development of an accurate, efficient and clinically applicable method of brain tumour diagnosis. Dr Baker’s research also has applications in clinical, biomedical, security and defence fields. The method is the subject of a prospective spin-out, ClinSpec Dx.

Dr Baker will be presented with the Award at the SciX 2016 conference in Minneapolis, (Sept 18-23), where he will also give a plenary lecture. “It is a great honour to be chosen for this award by a committee of such prominent experts. There is need for new diagnostics for cancer and my main aim is to translate our spectroscopic technology to help patients,” he said.

Dr Baker recently co-formed the UK Clinical Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy (CLIRSPEC) Network. This has also produced a charitable organisation, the International Society for Clinical Spectroscopy, which aims to enable promising vibrational spectroscopy methods to be brought into the clinic.

A contributor of numerous key research papers in the spectroscopy field and co-author of  an e-book for the Institute of Physics, he has also developed the successful CLIRSPEC Summer School which further raises the profile and reach of clinical spectroscopy to a broad range of students interested in the field.

Dr Baker’s research was initially funded by Brain Tumour North West (BTNW), the Rosemere Cancer Foundation and the Sydney Driscoll Neuroscience Foundation.