Breadcrumb
Convection-enhanced delivery (with R. D. Deegan and A. J. Hogg)
Supervisor: Rich Kerswell, FRS
Theme: Fluid Dynamics
A specific project this year concerns the modelling of drug delivery into the brain. Neurosurgeons at Frenchay hospital in Bristol are currently developing a technique called "convection-enhanced delivery" using extremely fine catheters and very low infusion rates to deliver drugs directly into the brain. This technique offers extremely exciting possibilities for treating patients with brain tumours, Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, motor neurone disease, spinal cord injuries and a vast number of other neurological conditions. The key issue is being able to predict (and control) where the drug infuses for given choices of the injection point, catheter size, drug and flow rate. The project will consist of building a hierachy of mathematical (and possibly laboratory) models to simulate and ultimately inform this medical procedure which will be in collaboration with neurosurgeons at Frenchay Hospital.