Publications

PerfectlyAverage : a classical open-source software method to determine the optimal averaging parameters in laser scanning fluorescence microscopy

Foylan S, Rooney LM, Amos WB, Gould GW, McConnell G

Journal of Microscopy (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13425

Oxygen microenvironments in Escherichia coli biofilm nutrient transport channels : insights from complementary sensing approaches

Bottura Beatrice, McConnell Gail, Florek Lindsey C, Smiley Marina K, Martin Ross, Foylan Shannan, Eana Ash, Dayton Hannah T, Eckartt Kelly N, Price-Whelan Alexa M, Hoskisson Paul A, Gould Gwyn W, Dietrich Lars EP, Rooney Liam M

Microbiology Vol 171 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001543

Evaluating the protective effects of Aurodox in a murine model of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

McHugh Rebecca E, Rooney Liam M, Mark David R, Wale Kabo R, Clapperton Megan, McConnell Gail, Hoskisson Paul A, Douce Gillian R, Roe Andrew J

Antimicrobials and Resistance Vol 3 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-025-00094-3

Printing cell embedded sacrificial strategy for microvasculature using degradable DNA biolubricant

Shi Jiezhong, Wan Yifei, Jia Haoyang, Skeldon Gregor, Cornelissen Dirk Jan, Wesencraft Katrina, Wu Junxi, McConnell Gail, Chen Quan, Liu Dongsheng, Shu Wenmiao

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol 64 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202417510

A 3D-printed optical microscope for low-cost histological imaging

Christopher Jay, Craig Rebecca, McHugh Rebecca E, Roe Andrew J, Bauer Ralf, Patton Brian, McConnell Gail, Rooney Liam M

Journal of Microscopy Vol 298, pp. 274-282 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13398

Obtaining super-resolved images at the mesoscale through super-resolution radial fluctuations

Brown Mollie, Foylan Shannan, Rooney Liam M, Gould Gwyn, McConnell Gail

Journal of Biomedical Optics Vol 29 (2024)

https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.29.12.126502

More publications

Research Interests

The optical microscope is so important to biomedicine that it is used as an icon to symbolise all science, but in the age of lasers, computers, digital detectors and new photochemistry the basic design of this classic tool of research can be greatly improved. My research involves the development of new optical instruments and technologies for cell and tissue imaging: this includes linear and nonlinear optics, new light sources, and new ways of preparing the specimen for imaging that reveals more structural information than the light microscope can normally provide.

An example of my interests is the Mesolens, where we have redesigned the microscope so that internal details of every cell of the millions present in a biological specimen of more than 100 cubic millimeters in volume can be seen. Our microscope does not use an eyepiece for recording, since the image exceeds the power of the human eye to perceive detail: our image datasets from a volume specimen are typically hundreds of gigabytes in size. We specified the novel optics for screening transgenic mouse embryos to discover human genes that might produce congenital abnormalities, such as vascular disease, which affects approximately one in two hundred human births. However, we are now finding applications throughout bioscience, e.g. in neuroscience and developmental studies. At the Strathclyde Mesolab, a newly created MRC-supported facility, we are working with life, physical and computer scientists worldwide to explore applications of our current technology and to develop new mesoscopic imaging modes that will provide a new insight into development and disease.

Professional Activities

Strategic Themes - Bioimaging Workshop

Participant

17/9/2024

Strathclyde Optical Microscopy Course

Organiser

4/8/2024

ELMI

Organiser

4/6/2024

MBL Lightsheet Conference and Workshop

Participant

6/5/2024

Searching for biomarkers of tonsillar disease

Contributor

7/11/2023

Optica Webinar

Participant

7/11/2023

More professional activities

Projects

Development of a Human Cerebral Microvascular Model to Investigate the Biomechanical Influence of Clotting on Angiogenesis

Eastham, Sarah (Researcher) Wu, Junxi (Co-investigator) McConnell, Gail (Co-investigator) Carswell, Hilary (Co-investigator)

Facility access funding awarded by RS Macdonald (in collaboration with SULSA) to investigate angiogenesis in the context of ischaemic stroke.

05-Jan-2025 - 04-Jan-2026

Imaging of fluorescent antibiotics in biofilms

McConnell, Gail (Principal Investigator)

05-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2024

Strathclyde Optical Microscopy Course - CoB funding

McConnell, Gail (Principal Investigator)

04-Jan-2024 - 09-Jan-2024

3D-printed transmissive adaptive optics for microscopy (BBSRC 23TRT)

Bauer, Ralf (Principal Investigator) Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Co-investigator) McConnell, Gail (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025

Fluorescent Drugs for Difficult Bugs: Quantitative Imagin of Fluorescent Antibiotics to Track Antibiotic Uptake and Resistance in Biofilms

Rooney, Liam (Principal Investigator) McConnell, Gail (Co-investigator)

10-Jan-2024 - 28-Jan-2025

Industrial Case Account - University of Strathclyde 2023 | Walker, Lewis

McConnell, Gail (Principal Investigator) Patton, Brian (Co-investigator) Walker, Lewis (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2027

More projects