We’re excited to introduce Pablo Roldán, a Royal Society Newton International Fellow at Heriot-Watt University. With a background in photonics engineering and ultrafast laser microfabrication from the University of Cantabria, Pablo is now applying his expertise to MicroTex. He is working in developing ultra-thin steerable catheters that enable real-time imaging deep inside the human lung.
Pablo studied Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Cantabria in Spain before completing his PhD in ultrafast laser microfabrication of optofluidic devices for sensing and imaging. He joined Heriot-Watt University in 2023 as a Royal Society Newton International Fellow, where he now contributes to the MicroTex project
At MicroTex, Pablo is developing ultra-thin steerable catheters that enable real-time imaging deep inside the human lung—in spaces as small as 2mm in diameter. These devices combine multiple imaging functions: one to see far ahead for navigation through the airways, and another for close-up tissue-level imaging to identify exactly what kind of tissue they’ve reached in the distal lung.
Why Advanced Imaging Matters for MicroTex
Pablo’s work is solving a critical challenge: reaching the distal lung—the complex, branching airways deep in the lungs that are incredibly difficult to access. By developing devices that can navigate these complicated areas, Pablo is creating the technology that will enable both precise drug delivery and real-time evaluation at the exact site of disease. This capability is essential for MicroTex’s micro-dosing approach, allowing us to test treatments directly where lung infections and inflammation occur, helping researchers determine whether drugs are reaching their target and having the intended effect.