BIONIC eyes, lung imaging and pregnancy apps were part of an exhibition revealing life-changing research taking place in Oxford.

Members of the public had a rare opportunity to meet surgeons, nurses and clinical researchers who are building the next generation of clinical techniques to revolutionise medicine.

The Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, based at the Churchill Hospital, opened its doors to the public on Thursday at the Oxford Martin School.

The centre is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

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Dr Tahreema Matin is a radiologist and along with her team is working on new ways of imaging the lung.

Oxford Mail:

Dr Tahreema Matin with Gwynne Reddick.

The research fellow said: “Previously the only options we had for imaging the lungs were through X-Rays and CT scans.

“These types of imaging don’t show you the whole picture and you can’t see how all the components of the lung work.

“Usually the lungs would just come up blank because air doesn’t come through in X-Rays or CT scans.

“With our new technique you can see the whole lung in three dimensions.”

The new technique, called a Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI, works by patients breathing in a gas that is visible to an MRI machine.

Dr Matin hopes that the new technique can help to target treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The imaging is being tested on patients with smoking diseases.

Didcot resident Gwynne Reddick was diagnosed with COPD six years ago after smoking for 35 years.

Now the 52-year-old has enrolled in the study.

The father-of-two said: “The new imaging makes a big difference because previously I couldn’t see my condition or what areas of my lungs were affected.

“Now I have a better understanding of what my problems are.”

Oxford Mail:

Prof Robert MacLaren.

Professor of Ophthalmology at Oxford University Robert MacLaren also spoke to members of the public about his work creating a bionic eye.

The surgeon previously made national headlines after successfully implanting a computer chip into the back of a blind person’s eye.

The chip, manufactured by a German company, successfully allows people with some forms of blindness to see.

Now Professor MacLaren will be giving his life-changing treatment to six more people after receiving £500,000 more funding.

If you are interested in finding out more about the work done at the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre there will be further public demonstrations and open days next week.

Researchers will give talks on tackling brain diseases at the Radcliffe Observatory, Green Templeton College, Woodstock Road, between 5.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday.