infocus #6 June 2007 From the McArthur to the Millenium Health Microscope

Future developments in microscope miniaturisation for international health

DOI: 10.22443/rms.inf.1.21

The ambition to produce a functional miniature microscope suitable for tropical disease diagnostics in developing countries has exercised the ingenuity of many talented designers over the last 75 years. In the early 1930’s the late Dr John McArthur produced the first prototype of his pioneering folded optic design and this portable gem measured a mere 102 x 63 x 51 mm, yet was able to deliver everything which would be expected from a conventional bench microscope of similar optical specification.

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Authors

Keith Dunning

Keith Dunning’s background is in the aviation industry.A former pilot who served on the Flight Safety Committee of British Airways, he developed an interest in light microscopy which is used for the study of aircraft components following fatigue failure and for the examination of the minute debris found in aircraft engines and systems which often determines the prior cause of a major failure.A strong advocate for making microscopy much more accessible, he has worked on the design and production of the Readiview and Trekker concepts and is one of the founding trustees of the Millennium Health Microscope Foundation (see page 24). He is a Fellow of the RMS.

Russell Stothard

J. Russell Stothard Biomedical Parasitology Division, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum

Dr Russell Stothard’s main interests are in tropical parasitic disease research with particular emphasis in schistosomiasis and trypanosomiasis, having published over 60 scientific papers. Having a first B.Sc degree in Microbiology & Zoology, practical microscopy has been a continuing theme throughout M.Sc.and Ph.D. training.As a senior researcher within the WHO Collaborating Centre for Schistosomaisis and Snail Hosts of the Natural History Museum, Russell travels extensively throughout Africa to collect samples and provide advice on all aspects of disease control.As Honorary Secretary of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, he is keen to ensure that research is translated into practical health solutions on the ground. He is a founding trustee of the Millennium Health Microscope Foundation.