Publications

Assessment of the antimicrobial efficacy and biocompatibility of far-UVC irradiation with whole blood

Sinclair Lucy G, Griffin David T, Gourlay Terry, MacLean Michelle

Proceedings of SPIE: The International Society for Optical Engineering Vol 13829 (2026)

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3090976

Efficacy of low irradiance violet-blue light for the inactivation of attached and biofilm-associated bacteria on clinically-relevant materials

Sinclair Lucy G, Anderson John G, MacGregor Scott J, MacLean Michelle

Proceedings of SPIE: The International Society for Optical Engineering Vol 13829 (2026)

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3090096

Investigating broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of antibiotic-loaded PLGA coatings

Eccles Sarah, Sherwood Emma, Maclean Michelle, McCormick Christopher

BioMedEng25 (2025)

Comparative biocompatibility of far-UVC and UVC irradiation with red blood cells

Sinclair Lucy, Laverty Marlene, Griffin David T, Maclean Michelle

21st European Society of Photobiology Congress (2025)

Shedding light on biofilms : antimicrobial efficacy of low irradiance violet-blue light exposure

Sinclair Lucy, MacGregor Scott, Maclean Michelle

21st European Society of Photobiology Congress (2025)

Rifampicin elution from polymer-antibiotic coatings under flow

Eccles Sarah, Sherwood Emma, Maclean Michelle, McCormick Christopher

47th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2025)

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Teaching

I teach a variety of modules in the Biomedical Engineering Department, including the below:

• BE428 Research Methods in BME (module coordinator)
• BE210 Cell Biology 2 (module coordinator)
• BE305 Cell Biology 3 (module coordinator)
• BE406 BME Research Project (module coordinator)

I also supervise students for their undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Research Interests

I am based in The Robertson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilisation Technologies (ROLEST), in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, and my research is focused on the development of novel disinfection and infection control intervention technologies for public health applications, including prevention of healthcare and food/waterborne infections.

The majority of my research to date has focused on investigations into the fundamental antimicrobial effects of 405 nm high-intensity narrow-spectrum (HINS) light.  Research has focused on determining antimicrobial sensitivity, wavelength sensitivity and the mechanism of inactivation.  Much work has been focused on establishing the effects of this antimicrobial light against key pathogens including MRSA and Clostridium difficile, and I am involved in the investigation and development of this light technology for a range of disinfection applications. 

One such example of this is the development of the HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System (EDS), a novel visible light system for continuous disinfection of occupied environments such as hospital isolation rooms.  This research project was awarded the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Research Project of the Year’ in 2011.   

I am also involved in the development of a number of other electro-technologies for development towards disinfection and sterilisation applications, including ultraviolet light, pulsed electric fields, oxidative corona and plasma technologies, and ozone.

Professional Activities

PhD External Examiner

External Examiner

11/1/2017

More professional activities

Projects

Antimicrobial Lighting for Disease Control within Aquaculture Hatcheries

MacLean, Michelle (Principal Investigator)

01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026

Investigating microbial contamination present in prosthetic liners during normal use

Murray, Laura (Principal Investigator) Egan, Gemma (Co-investigator) MacLean, Michelle (Co-investigator)

21-Jan-2024 - 15-Jan-2026

EPSRC IAA: Harnessing the Power of Violet-Blue Light for Pathogen Reduction of Blood Transfusion Products

Griffin, David (Researcher) MacLean, Michelle (Principal Investigator)

01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025

EPSRC IAA: Harnessing the Power of Violet-Blue Light for Pathogen Reduction of Blood Transfusion Products

MacLean, Michelle (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2026

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 - £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

More projects