Alex Thompson

Alex Thompson is a Lecturer in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, affiliated with the Hamlyn Centre. He specializes in Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Intervention, focusing on developing clinical diagnostic tools and wearable sensors for gastrointestinal and oncological applications. His teaching role includes leading the MRes in Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Intervention program, emphasizing hands-on laboratory research and interdisciplinary collaboration among students from diverse backgrounds.

Research Interests: Dr. Thompson’s work spans medical robotics, spectroscopic techniques (e.g., Raman, fluorescence), and non-invasive diagnostic systems. Key areas include:

• Design of microgrippers and optothermal actuators for minimally invasive procedures
• Development of wearable sensors for gut function assessment in low-resource settings
• Application of AI-driven systems for gastrointestinal disease screening
• Quantification of hypoxia in tumors and its impact on cancer prognosis

Publications: His recent work highlights trends in integrating AI with robotic systems, advancing fiber-optic spectroscopic tools for real-time diagnostics, and addressing global health challenges via portable sensors. Notable areas include label-free cell identification, breast cancer surgery guidance, and environmental enteropathy protocols in Zambia/Zimbabwe.

Teaching & Mentorship: He supervises student projects, fostering independent research skills. His courses attract students from computer science, engineering, and medicine, creating a collaborative environment for innovation.

Labs & Affiliations: Based in the Hamlyn Centre, he collaborates on projects blending robotics, photonics, and biomedical engineering to push frontiers in surgical and diagnostic technologies.