At the National University of Singapore Mads Bergholt works hard on developing methods to be used in the fight against cancer.
‘My job in bio-optics is, among other things, about detecting early tumours. Using laser lights we can detect the tumour before it develops into actual cancer. That implies that in the future we will be able to treat diseases early and thus increase survival chances’ says Mads, who together with his research group is well underway to reach that goal.
Possible to save cancer patients
On a daily basis the young researcher cooperates interdisciplinary with pathologists, doctors, nurses, chemists and engineers from many different countries.
‘My specific field of work is to detect stomach cancer by inserting a probe tube (an endoscope) with laser light through the mouth of the patient and down into the stomach. By exposing a tumour to laser light and analysing the return light we try to determine whether the tumour can be measured’, he says.
‘To me it is really exciting to work on something that can potentially contribute to saving lives in the future’, says Mads and explains that the technology most likely can also be used in for example bladder, lungs, mouth, abdomen, intestines, food pipe and to test for breast and skin cancer.
Degree used as a lever
Mads Bergholt has a master degree in Physics and Technology with an academic profile in Optics, Sensors and Nanotechnology. With this degree you will have lots of possibilities for going abroad – during your studies as well as after graduation.
‘I was lucky to get this job at the National University of Singapore because I did my thesis in this subject and because of the quality education of the University of Southern Denmark, which has prepared me well for the job’, he says.