Professor John Anderson

Research Fellow

Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Contact

Personal statement

I was born and educated in Glasgow and received the degrees of BSc (Hons, 1st) and PhD in microbiology from the University of Strathclyde in 1968 and 1971 respectively. I was appointed lecturer in Microbiology in 1971, Professor of Microbiology in 2002 and Head of the Department of Bioscience from 2003 – 2007. I was involved with senior colleagues in the major reorganisation of the Bioscience and Pharmacy related Departments to form the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) in 2006. I became an Emeritus Professor on retiral from SIPBS in 2007 but have continued my research on a part time basis as a Research Fellow in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering.

My microbiological research includes fundamental and applied studies in the fields of both bacteriology and mycology. As a university teacher I have taught all aspects of microbiology to countless numbers of UG students and supervised over 50 PG students for the award of PhD or MPhil/MSc degrees. I have published extensively with over 250 publications listed on Google Scholar with an h-index of 55 and an i-10 index of 155.

My applied research has been related to water, environmental, medical and food microbiology. I have a strong interest in interdisciplinary-type research, particularly at the bioscience/engineering interface and have conducted collaborative research with chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering colleagues. I have also maintained strong links with industry, including a prolonged period of association with Clyde-based shipbuilding companies. Over many years I have conducted microbiological and chemical analyses on board ship during sea trials for the assessment and certification of water quality produced from reverse osmosis desalination systems on all Type 23 and Type 45 Frigates produced by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Marconi Marine Ltd., and BAe Systems Marine Ltd., as well as for Frigates built for the Malaysian Navy and Royal Brunei Navy.

My current research interests are a continuation of a research program initiated in 1998 with colleagues from the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering. This interdisciplinary research involves the development of novel electrotechnologies (pulsed electric fields, pulsed light, plasma systems and high intensity narrow spectrum light) for the control of pathogenic and spoilage microbes particularly in healthcare settings. This research, conducted in the bespoke ‘The Robertson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilisation Technologies (ROLEST)’, is now mainly focussed on so-called ‘High Intensity Narrow Spectrum light (HINS-light)’, of which I am a co-inventor with ROLEST colleagues. The HINS-light technology is unique in that it uses violet-blue light (particularly 405 nm wavelength light) to inactivate pathogenic microbes in occupied environments with no detrimental effects on exposed individuals, features that led to its ROLEST inventors receiving the prestigious “UK Research Project of the Year” award from The Times Higher Education in 2011.

The HINS-light technology is protected by a portfolio of patents which are now licensed to lighting companies worldwide, particularly in the US where a major application is to inactivate pathogens in occupied hospital environments thereby helping to control pathogen transmission and the spread of hospital acquired infections.

Back to staff profile

Publications

405 nm violet-blue light inactivates hepatitis C cell culture virus (HCVcc) in ex vivo human platelet concentrates and plasma
Jackson Joseph, Kaldhone Pravin, Stewart Caitlin Fiona, Anderson John, MacGregor Scott, Maclean Michelle, Major Marian, Atreya Chintamani
Scientific Reports Vol 14 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83171-3
Microbial reduction of prebagged human plasma using 405nm light and its effects on coagulation factors
Stewart Caitlin F, McGoldrick Preston, Anderson John G, MacGregor Scott J, Atreya Chintamani D, Maclean Michelle
AMB Express Vol 14 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-024-01725-0
Human platelet concentrates treated with microbicidal 405 nm light retain hemostasis activity
Jackson Joseph W, Kaldhone Pravin R, Parunov Leonid A, Stewart Caitlin F, Anderson John G, MacGregor Scott J, Maclean Michelle, Atreya Chintamani D
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology Vol 255, pp. 112922 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2024.112922
Enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and energy efficiency of low irradiance 405-nm light for bacterial decontamination
Sinclair Lucy G, Anderson John G, MacGregor Scott J, Maclean Michelle
Archives of Microbiology Vol 206 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-03999-1
Inactivation of Pathogens in Ex Vivo Blood Products in Storage Bags Using Visible Light
Atreya Chintamani, Maclean Michelle, Anderson John G, MacGregor Scott J
(2024)
The preclinical validation of 405 nm light parasiticidal efficacy on Leishmania donovani in ex vivo platelets in a rag2−/− mouse model
Kaldhone Pravin R, Azodi Nazli, Markle Hannah L, Dahiya Neetu, Stewart Caitlin, Anderson John, MacGregor Scott, Maclean Michelle, Nakhasi Hira L, Gannavaram Sreenivas, Atreya Chintamani
Microorganisms Vol 12 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020280

More publications

Back to staff profile

Projects

KE Income - £5,000 (21/22): Linea Lighting, Italy [HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System]
MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator) Maclean, Michelle (Co-investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Woolsey, Gerry (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
KE Income - £30,000 (21/22): Maltani, South Korea [HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System]
Maclean, Michelle (Co-investigator) MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Woolsey, Gerry (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
KE Income - £366,394 (21/22): Kenall Lighting, USA [HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System]
MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator) Maclean, Michelle (Co-investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Woolsey, Gerry (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
KE Income - £327 (21/22): Pinnacle Lighting, USA [HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System]
MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator) Maclean, Michelle (Co-investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Woolsey, Gerry (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
KE Income - £77,190 (21/22): Hubbell Lighting, USA [HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System]
MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator) Maclean, Michelle (Co-investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Woolsey, Gerry (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
Improvements to production of industrially relevant algae through photodynamic control of contaminating micro-organisms in photobioreactors
Maclean, Michelle (Principal Investigator) Anderson, John (Co-investigator) Harvey, Linda (Co-investigator) MacGregor, Scott (Co-investigator)
Improvements to production of industrially relevant algae through photodynamic control of contaminating micro-organisms in photobioreactors
01-Jan-2015 - 31-Jan-2016

More projects

Back to staff profile

Contact

Professor John Anderson
Research Fellow
Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Email: j.g.anderson@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 2649