It’s these kinds of innovation we need, from people genuinely interested in advancing the condition of the human race. We have very few of those here in Ghana.

A Nigerian born American scientist, Samuel Achilefu, has won the 2014 Louis Award for creating a special brand of glasses that can help doctors view cancerous cells.

The scientist, a professor of radiology and biochemical engineering at Washington University, and his team has developed the imaging technology for cancer diagnosis into a wearable device. The aim is to help doctors during surgery to be able to isolate and better operate on cancerous cells.

According to Bloomberg, the researchers’ technology requires two steps in order to work effectively: First, surgeons inject a tiny quantity of an infrared fluorescent marker into the patient’s bloodstream. The peptides contained in the marker enable it to locate cancer cells and buries itself inside.

After the tracer flows through a patient’s body and clears from non-cancerous tissue – which lasts about four hours – the operation would begin. By wearing the device, the doctor can inspect tumours under an infrared light that reacts with the dye, causing cancer cells to glow from within.

The device is still in the approval process, but has already been used to operate on some breast cancer patients. Doctors has describes it as hugely valuable in surgery.

For his innovation, Professor Achilefu has been awarded the prestigious St Louis Award.