Multi-dimensional Diagnostics for Rapid Detection of Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries (360G-Wellcome-215688_Z_19_Z)

This proposal will build capacity and assemble a multidisciplinary international team to produce fundamental cutting-edge technology and biological methods to deliver user driven, connected, quantitative, rapid, sample-to-answer tests able to diagnose and serotype dengue at the point-of care for timely, targeted clinical management. Our vision is to deliver the first sample-to-result connected handheld device that provides quantitative diagnosis and serotyping of dengue in under 30 minutes. Underpinning the technology will be innovations in sensing arrays, our newly proposed multidimensional signatures which allow us to significantly reduce the time of diagnosis, and ultrasensitive isothermal amplification chemistries that will reliably discriminate pathogens. Furthermore, the platform will also transmit diagnostic results to the cloud for instantaneous case reporting and epidemiological monitoring which is particularly important within remote regions. Our long-term goal is to improve infection management by streamlining the detection and control processes. Currently diagnosis is limited to geographically dispersed centralised laboratories, with long turnaround times that seriously impact clinical outcomes. This Wellcome Trust innovator award will allow us to translate the technology from the bench to clinics in Thailand, acquiring data and knowledge for CE marking and commercial translation.