| Citation | Brad Amos is distinguished for the development, in collaboration with John G White, of the confocal laser-scanning microscope from a scientific curiosity into a commercially-produced user-friendly instrument. At present, there are approximately 2000 confocal microscopes based on the Amos/White design in use throughout the world and many other of derived designs. These have changed the way in which research is done, in fields ranging from cell biology through neurobiology and experimental pathology to materials science. The complete development by a small group of an instrument of comparable complexity is rarely achieved today. The design has earned a very substantial royalty income for the MRC. It has been recognised, amongst other joint honours, by a Queen's Award for Technological Achievement (1991), the Mullard Award of the Royal Society (1995), the Rank Prize for Optoelectronics (1995) and an honorary fellowship together with the progress medal of the Royal Photographic Society (2002). |