Dr Sijung Hu

Background

After being awarded a PhD at Loughborough University in 2000, Sijung was invited to join Kalibrant Ltd as a Senior Scientist and Project Leader for research and development in vitro diagnostics. Sijung joined the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University as a Research Fellow in 2002, and Senior Research Fellow and Leader of the Photonics Engineering & Health Technology Research Group in 2006, with the creation of two innovative research platforms.

• Opto-physiological Monitoring (OPM) is to study how light interacts within biological tissue, where the optical properties of the latter reflect the mechanical, physical and biochemical functions of the living organism. Consolidating optics/Tissue optics, electronics and algorithms into biomedical electronic systems, at component and systems levels, together with a team approach to problem solving to allow for a clear and rapid progression from fundamental research ideas to engineering realisation. OPM,  an emerging optoelectronic sensing technology, has been spun out as an independent business named Carelight, and Sijung is the Chief Scientific Officer. 
• Dynamic Detection of Upper Breathing Airflow Pressure and Acoustic Sound (DA²SD) aims to research how effectively detect dynamic changes of upper breathing airflow pressure and acoustic sound, and simultaneously determine speaking or nonspeaking breathing patterns which are closely interrelated with bio-informatic or biometric messages. A hybrid electronic configuration to comprehensively detect human breathing profiles (with or without speech) and acoustic vibrations (speech when present) is the core of biomedical engineering to deliver innovative technology. DA²SD, as hybrid sensing technology for COPD, and speaking impairment, has been filed as a patent and working closely with multidiscipline experts across academics (James Fleming) and ACE Centre. 

Career

Reader in Biomedical Engineering, Leader of Photonics Engineering and Health Technology Research Group, Loughborough University, UK, 11/2017- date
Biomedical engineering research initiatives and strategies for OPM and DA²SD; PhD research supervision, Health technology innovation and commercialisation; Coordination and collaboration with healthcare partners across academics and industrials and national and international.

Senior Research Fellow, Leader for Photonics Engineering and Health Technology Research Group, Loughborough University, UK, 09/2006-2017
Research in photonics-based non-invasive physiological monitoring, i.e., pulse rate variability analysis; non-invasive venous oximetry (Venox), in-line pulmonary drug assessment; imaging oxygen saturation mapping (OxiMap); Health technology exploitation with two spin-outs, i.e. Dialog Devices and VariDose. 

Chief Scientist/Project Leader, Kalibrant Ltd, UK, 01/1999 - 04/2002
Research and development of in vitro diagnostic technology for various multiplex fluorescence detection systems and point-of-care testing (POCT) instruments; organisation of technology seminars; promotion of R&D outcomes to customers.

Research Scientist, Colt International Limited, UK. 02/1994 - 02/1995
Gas chromatography and spectrophotometry for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) analysis; Development of rapid thermal desorption device for VOC screening.

International 

Visiting professor, invited consultant, PhD examiner

• Independent Assessor and Internal Examiner for PhD students, Loughborough University, 2015, 2016.
• New generation Opto-Electronic Patch Sensor (OEPS): CareLight has highlighted Loughborough Universities' innovative opto-physiological interaction research in Atlas of Science, 2015.
• Nomination of the translation research award for Wearable opto-physiological sensor based patch sensor research work in BiOS SPIE 2014.
• Opto-physiological modelling (OPM) was highlighted as a milestone in Pulse Oximetry worldwide by Drexel University 2008.
• LU imaging photoplethysmography was appreciated in Future Emergency Care
• Chair and internal examiner of PhD Examination Board, Loughborough University, 2013, 2016, 2020
• Visiting Professorship of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2009 – current. Research capacity: 17 of the top 20 universities worldwide and 53 of the top 100. Roles: Biophotonics Research and Innovation.
• Invited PhD Examiner, one of the key members of the International Exam Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 05/2012. Roles: interview with PhD researchers through their thesis.
• Invited Consultant for regional High Education Institutions (HEIs) collaboration with Chinese HEIs, 2007-2008, Role: Generated UK East Midland China Strategic Plan 2007—2012.
• Invited Coordinator, Department of Health (DoH International), British Government, 2005-2007, Shanghai International Medical Zone. Role: Coordination of British Health Technology Innovation & joint research activities.
• Invited Senior Consultant, Shanghai Pudong Association for Science and Technology (SPAST) 2004 –current. Top 400 multinational enterprises in Science Zone. Roles: Science and Technology Collaboration with overseas partners.

Conference chair and coordinator

• Chair of International Conference for Advanced Manufacturing for Multifunctional Miniaturised Devices (ICAM3D Conference, Loughborough) 3rd – 4th June 2015.
• Chair of Medical and Biomedical Imaging Section, The 2008 International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI’08), Sanya, China, 05/2008.
• Chair and Co-ordinator of International Biomedical Engineering Workshop, UK-China Science Network, Loughborough, 06/2006.

Invited keynotes

• “Opto-physiological modelling to drive an effective physiological monitoring: from contact to noncontact, from point to imaging”, Huawei Future Device Technologies, Helsinki, Finland, Webinar 17th Sep 2020
• "An applicable approach for extracting human heart rate and oxygen saturation during physical movements using a multi-wavelength illumination optoelectronic sensor system," BiOS Photonics West, SPIE, San Francisco, USA, 19 February 2018
• "A multiplexed electronic architecture for opto-electronic patch sensor to effectively monitor heart rate and oxygen saturation," BiOS Photonics West, SPIE, San Francisco, USA February 2018
• "A novel multi-wavelength procedure for blood pressure estimation using opto-physiological sensor at peripheral arteries and capillaries", BiOS Photonics West, SPIE, San Francisco, USA 19 February 2018
• “A novel multiwavelength procedure for blood pressure estimation using PPG sensor at peripheral artery and capillaries”, I Forum Nazionale delle Misure, XXXIV Congresso Nazionale di Misure Elettriche ed Elettroniche, 419 – 420, 14 -16th Sep 2017.
• “A new engineering approach to reveal correlation of physiological change and spontaneous expression from video images”, BiOS, Photonics West, San Francisco, USA, 2015
• “A dynamic opto-physiological model to effectively interpret retinal microvascular circulation”, BiOS, Photonics West, San Francisco, USA, 2015.
• “An scalable engineering approach to improve performance of a miniaturized optical detection system for in vitro point-of-care testing”, BiOS, Photonics West, San Francisco, USA, 2015.
• “Enhancement of absorption and resistance of motion utilizing a multi-channel opto-electronic sensor to effectively monitor physiological signs during sport exercise” BiOS, Photonics West, San Francisco, USA, 2015

Invited keynotes

• “Wearable Opto-electronic Sensor for Sport Science, Challenges of commercialisation”, MedPack 2017, Innovation Centre, Trinity Centre, Cambridge, 18th May, 2017

Research areas and interests

• Sensing for Physiological Monitoring & Assessment.
• Signal/imaging Processing.
• Hybrid Sensing Configuration and Signal processing.
• Non-contact and Wearable optoelectronic sensor for in vivo
• Lab-on-a-chip & MEMS for in vitro Diagnosis POCT
• Optoelectronic Systems for health screening, monitoring, diagnosis, and assessment
• Health Technology Innovation

Grants and contracts

• On-site clinical proof of concept for a novel augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for speech impairments”, £60k, EPSRC IAA and HEIF - EPG145 P3 1706, S Hu, J Fleming, 05/2022 -12/2022
• “Wrist Dynamic Opto-physiological model to simulate microvascular circulation towards an improved optoelectronic sensing configuration”, Huawei (UK) Limited, £250k, S Hu, V Dwyer, L Barnett, 09/2020 – 12/2021
• “Real-time physiological monitoring in next generation eHealth network”, £70k, PhD Research, Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, 2016 – 2019
• “Physiological monitoring electronics”, £1k, Visiting Academic project in LU, Shanghai University, 09/2016-08/2017.
• “Carelight: a novel way to measure vital signs to a high clinical standard as a simple wearable patch sensor”, EPSRC-EPG, S Hu, £11,000 03/2016 – 03/2017.
• “Functional cotton fabrics with durable sensing ability”, granted by Cotton Cooperation, USA to J Sheng (DMU), S Hu (LU) and C Hunt (NPL, UK). $50,000, 01/2015 – 03/2016, will be followed up with $60,000 until the end of 2017.
• “Intelligent, adaptable electronics for healthcare and wellbeing mini-CDT”, five PhD Studentships, £200k, CI, Loughborough University Graduate School, 10/2014 –10/2018
• “Imaging photoplethysmography (iPPG) for real-time retinal blood perfusion assessment”, PhD Research, £60k, Majlis Amanah MARA, Malaysia, 01/2014 – 01/2017
• “Development and testing of commercial prototypes for wearable opto-electronic patch sensor”, £15.145k, PI, Enterprise Project Grant of Loughborough University, 10/2014 – 07/2015
• “Opto-physiological measurement”, £90k, PI, Enterprise Project Grant of Loughborough University, 2013 – 14
• “Development of Real-time opto-physiological image processing platform”, £5k, PI, LU-EPSRC Pathways to Impact fund, 01/2013 – 03/2013
• “Opto-physiological measurement”, £64.2k, PI, Enterprise Project Grant of Loughborough University, 2013 – 14
• “Micro-Multi-Material Manufacturing to Enable Multifunctional Miniaturised Devices”, £500k, CI, FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES, No 269113 – Acronym: M6, 04/2011 – 12/2015
• “Opto-physiological imaging: from modelling to engineering solution”, £10k, PI, LU-EPSRC Shaping Capability Fund, 07/2012 – 09/2012, Outcome: Generated a non-contact vascular assessment platform.
• “Rapid Windscreen Defrosting System for Motor Vehicle”, £50k, PI, Nissan 10/2011 – 01/2012, Outcome: A Technical, Report for Nissan European Research Centre.
• “Noncontact measurement of aortic compliance”, £100k, CI, NIHR Grant No. II-FS-0109-11005, 05/09- 10/11, Outcome: Ground-breaking Imaging photoplethysmography System with full functionalities to access human vascular status in London Chester Hospital.
• “Imaging photoplethysmography towards remote physiological assessment”, £50k, PI, Joint PhD, Loughborough University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Scholarship Award. 11/2009-12/2011, Outcomes: PhD completion within 24 months with three top leading journal papers.
• “Optical Turbidity Measurement for Existing Assays”, £60k, PI, Shanghai Upper Bio-Tech Pharma “02/2009-02/2010, Outcomes: Three Technical Reports.
• “Design and Testing of a Photoplethysmographic Probe for Monitoring Large Arterial Compliance in Critical Care Patients”, £3k, CI, MRC No: G0502256/77947, 03/2009-08/2009, Outcomes: Provided four reflection photoplethysmographic probes for clinical trials and led i4i NHIR fund bidding.
• “Venous Oximetry” and “Imaging Photoplethysmography”, £60,693, PI, East Midland Innovation Fellowship, HIRF 361, HIRF 461, 09/2007 – 04/2009, Outcomes: Commercial exploitation of Venous Oximetry (Venox); Imaging of Local Blood Oxygenation, (WO 2009/030934 A3), 12 March 2009.
• “Non-contact reflection photoplethysmography towards effective human physiological monitoring”, £35k, Loughborough University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Joint PhD Scholarship Award, 12/2007-07/2009, Outcomes: PhD completion within 24 months with five leading academic journal papers, four peer review conference proceeding papers, and the best poster in Photons 2008.
• “International Conference Grant”, £1k, PI, Royal Academy of Engineering, 05/2008, The 2008 International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI’08), Sanya, China,.
• “International Conference Grant”, £1.2k, Royal Society, 01/2008, BiOS, SPIE, 2008, San Jose, USA, Royal Society, Outcomes: Two peer review proceeding papers.
• “Imaging Photoplethysmography”, £12k, CI, EPSRC Platform: Pioneering new optical techniques, instruments and processes, GR/T25040/01, 05/2006-07/2008, Outcome: One peer review proceeding paper.
• “International Conference Grant”, £1k, Royal Academy of Engineering, 12/2006, BiOS SPIE, 2007, San Jose, USA, Outcome: One peer review proceeding paper.
• “Multi-time gating approach, real time medical and biomedical signal and imagine processing”, £6k, PI, Loughborough University Enterprise Limited, 07/2006. Outcome: One patent filed.
• “Pulse rate variability measurement for brain ischaemia and diabetes assessment”, £12k, PI, Royal Society and NSFC Joint project, 2005/R1-JP, 07/2005-08/2007, Outcomes: Joint biomedical engineering Research with singed MOU and agreement, one leading academic journal paper and three peer review conference proceeding papers.
• “International Biomedical Engineering Workshop, UK-China Science Network”, £20k, PI, Royal Society, JEB/Follow-Up Networks, 06/2006, Loughborough University, AstraZeneca, DaVinci Health Network, Outcomes: one workshop proceeding consisting 26 contributed papers, 12 keynote speakers (two IEEE Fellows, one Fellow of UN consultant for healthand over 100 attendees of senior clinicians, academic researchers, and industrials.
• “International Conference Grant”, £2k, Royal Society, 08/2005, IEEE EMBS05, Shanghai, Outcome: One peer review proceeding paper.
• “Technology Innovation and Management”, Chevening Scholarship £25k, PI, London Business School, 2002-2003, Tech Innovation, Effective presentation, Fund bidding, Business Plan and Strategy, and Finance.
• “VariDose: Development and Commercialisation for in-line Pulmonary Drug Assessment”, £1.5k PI, EPSRC Business Competition, 10/2002, Outcome: Small Business Competition (2nd round).

Research and supervision

Current PhD supervision 

• “AI Driven Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)”, Kelvin Simatwo (2023 – present) Sponsored by Loughborough University
• “A Study of Effectively Recover Photoplethysmographic Signals during Intensive Exercise for Real-time Physiological Monitoring”, Xiaoyu Zheng (2020 -present), Sponsored by Loughborough University
• “Imaging photoplethysmography (iPPG) for real-time retinal blood perfusion assessment”, Harnani Hassan (2019 – present), Joint supervision with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.

Completed and awarded PhD

• “Physiological status monitoring and dynamic risk prediction for operators in extreme environments”, Steve Word (2018- 2023), Sponsored by EPSRC-CTD.
• “Respiration Interpretation, an Alternative and Effective Voice Communication Solution”, Yasmin Elsahar (2017 – 2021), Sponsored by LU.
• “A multidisciplinary engineering approach to effectively reveal patho-physiological status”, Dmitry Iakovlev (2014-17), sponsored by Loughborough University, Principal Supervisor.
• “Development of Multi-sensor Integration Platform to Support Investigations in Exercise Training”, Samuel Adema, (2014-17), sponsored by Loughborough University, Co-Supervisor.
• “Smart miniaturisation and holistic integration of high performance POCT device”, Hannah Robins (2013 – 19), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “A Reflectance Patch Pulse Oximeter for Remote Physiological Monitoring”, Abdullah Alzahrani (2012-16), sponsored by Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau.
• “High performance illumination for cost-effective imaging pulse oximetry”, Ryan Imms (2010-15), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Microelectronics architecture for real-time biomedical imaging processing”, Dave Stevens (2008-13), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Multiscale Modelling of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition”, Tariq Abdulla (2009 -2013), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Imaging photoplethysmography towards remote physiological assessment”, Yu Sun (2009-11), sponsored by Loughborough University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
• “Non-contact reflection photoplethysmography towards effective human physiological monitoring”, Ping Shi (2007–09) sponsored by Loughborough University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
• “Opto-physiological modelling for imaging photoplethysmography” Jia Zheng (2006-09), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Feasibility of Non-contact photoplethysmography”, Peck Yeng Sharon Cheang, (2002-07), sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Opto-physiological modelling of pulse oximetry”, Vince Azorin-Peris (2005-08), sponsored by the EPSRC optical platform grant.
• “Development and Validation of Venous Oximetry”, Angelos Echiadis (2003-07) sponsored by Loughborough University.
• “Dual Optical Detection and Multivariate analysis”, Robert K. Hallam (2000-03), supervised by Prof James Miller, Chemistry Department, Loughborough University and Dr Sijung Hu was industrial supervisor for the technical application in Kalibrant Limited, UK.
• “Polymers in microfluidics”, Louise Barrett (2001-04), supervised by Prof James Miller, Loughborough University and Dr Sijung Hu was industrial supervisor for the technical application in Kalibrant Limited, UK

Completed visiting scholar supervision

Teaching responsibilities 

• WSD525/WSP025, Advanced Electronic Engineering Applications, Principles of drivers and signal processing for passive sensor, photo sensor and image processing, and optoelectronic system integration, 2015 – 2022
• CGB024, Bioengineering Design & make II, EE design & Make project, Opto-physiological monitoring and applications, 2018 – 2022.
• WS02META Individual Project Supervision, 2022
• WS50META Individual Project Supervision, 2022
• WSCD25META - Individual project Supervision, 2022
• WSD551 - Advanced Individual project Supervision, 2022
• WSI020 - DPS Industrial Placement Supervision, 2022
• Internship project supervision for University of Paris-Saclay, 2008 - present

Administrative responsibilities

• UCAS student interview
• UCAS student tour
• Photonics Engineering Research Group 

International – Research collaboration with academics and industrials

• Opto-electronic sensing device and system (2012 - present), Shanghai University, China 
• Healthcare Telematics/Home Care, (2012 - present Fraunhofer-Institut Biomedizinische Technik (IBMT), Germany 
• Bio-systems integration for Point-of-care Testing, (2011- current), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland 
• High performance fluorescence detection system for in-vitro diagnosis Point-of-care Testing, (2009 - current) ACREO, Sweden 
• In vitro diagnosis Point-of-care Testing with microfluidics, (2009 - present), University of Applied Sciences Kaiserlautern, Germany 
• Biomedical Engineering for in vivo instrumentation and signal processing, (2009 –present), Université Paris-Saclay 
• in vivo and in vitro vascular health assessment, (2008- present), Philips Health Research 
• in vivo physiological imaging for burns blood perfusion assessment, (2007-present), Moor Instruments 
• Health Technology Research (2006-present): University of Shanghai for Science and Technology 
• Health Technology Transfer and Innovation (2005 - present): Shanghai Pudong Association for Science and Technology, one of the largest Globe Economic Zones
• Partnership with the signed MoU (2004 - 2009) and Research Agreements (2006 - present): Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Biomedical engineering ranked 1 in China)

National – Research collaboration with academics and industrials

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (2019 – present, ACE Centre, UK 
• Real-time fitness monitoring and assessment (2016 – present), Myzone, UK
• Optoelectronic sensor and electronics (2016 – present), BPC Electronics LLP (UK) 
• Rapid Sepsis screening, monitoring and assessment (2016 –present), NHS Birmingham
• Biomedical Engineering Research (2006 - present), City University, London
• Peripheral Vascular Disease Diagnosis (2006-present), Queen Marry, The University of London
• Photonics engineering research prototyping, (2005 - present), Cambridge Consultant Limited
  
• Cardiovascular disease screening (2003- present), NHS Leicester