A University of Glasgow professor has received funding to develop a new type of sensor to diagnose infectious diseases.
Jon Cooper, Professor of Bioelectronics and Bioengineering at the University, will work with colleagues at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to develop a new generation of portable devices capable of quickly and accurately determining the cause of an infection.
The sensor, which uses sound energy to power molecular reactions, is being developed to help diagnosis of genital ulcer disease, which affects millions of people worldwide and greatly increases the risk of HIV infection.
It could be used for a range of medical conditions including home kits for sexual health and GP-based tests for respiratory disease.
Professor Cooper said: “We’ve received almost £60,000 from NHS Greater and Glasgow and Clyde to benchmark this technology against existing methods already in use by doctors. It’s the first step towards turning the results of research into a commercially-available product.
“The sensors we’re developing have a great deal of potential for delivering healthcare in the developed and developing world, as well as field testing for food standards, veterinary health and environmental biomarkers.”
Professor Cooper will be joined on the project by Dr Julien Reboud and Dr Rab Wilson of the Biomedical Research Division of the University’s School of Engineering, Dr Andrew Winter of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Sandyford Sexual Health service, and Dr Rory Gunson of the West of Scotland Specialist Virus Laboratory.
Dr Winter commented: “This is a unique collaboration between bio-engineers, clinicians and molecular virologists to bring sensitive modern laboratory tests to the bedside. It has real potential to transform the way we diagnose sexually transmitted infections and other infectious disease, both here and abroad.”
The project will begin this month and is expected to be complete by January 2014
For more information either telephone 0141 201 4429 or email [email protected].
Pic: Dr Andy Winter, Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine