Health Diagnostics

We aim to develop a paper-based test that takes advantage of the specificity of phage tail spike proteins in detecting bacteria by using them to separate, concentrate and detect the bacteria that causes typhoid fever: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Measles and rubella are major contributors to childhood mortality and disability, representing a significant global economic and social cost. Diagnosis currently relies on expensive immunoassay robots, which are only available in central laboratories. A decentralized surveillance system powered by paper-based digital microfluidics (an emerging liquid-handling technology) could be the solution. The system relies on an automated platform that can do laboratory-quality measles and rubella immunoassays using a single drop of blood.

We have developed an innovative approach to diagnose typhoid and other common infections in settings without electricity, sophisticated equipment or trained laboratory personnel, to enable quality patient care in resource-limited settings.

With global efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases by chemotherapy, more suitable diagnostic tests that are relatively simple and rapid to perform, inexpensive, easy to adapt for field use and with throughput potential are needed to support disease control efforts. This project if successful will ensure that cases are detected rapidly and more accurately, efficacy of chemotherapy is evaluated efficiently and more precisely, and epidemiological surveillance of infection is done more reliably in Kenya, an endemic area.

We plan to develop a rapid and sensitive nano-immunosensor for the detection of Bilharzia. This will be an innovative nano-kit suitable for rapid, high-throughput screening and analyzing urine samples for Bilharzia.

Our bold idea is to make a low-cost, highly sensitive, easy-to-use diagnostic tool for the detection of lymphatic filariasis. Its early stage detection reduces the morbidity rate and prevent permanent damage to internal organs caused by the disease.

Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is the second most common cause of blindness due to infection. Although new and effective drugs for treating Onchocerciasis are available, current diagnostic methods are slow, invasive and insensitive. 'Onchoflash' is an important new diagnostic tool using fluorescent markers in the form of a skin patch that provides users an easy to read, bright readout,.

Visceral leishmaniasis is among the most deadly infectious diseases of the developing world. There now exists effective treatments. It is however necessary to develop effective diagnosis to ensure treatment is provided to those in need. This project will develop rapid diagnostic test able to detect Leishmania in the blood.

We have discovered that thread can be used to transport liquids in a controlled manner and developed them for making diagnostic tests, akin to the well known pregnancy tests. We will further develop this technology and build low-cost, thread-based rapid diagnostic tests for Leishmanaisis, and other infectious diseases.

Better tests are urgently needed for visceral leishmaniasis, which causes more deaths per year than any parasitic disease except malaria. Safe, simple and non-invasive, Dr. Cedric Yansouni's new approach to testing for visceral leishmaniasis in low-resource settings is a unique non-invasive test that (i) addresses key gaps in current diagnostic capabilities and (ii) has the potential to be scaled-up using an electricity-free platform.