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911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ researchers and technologists are contributing to the development of novel technologies that will transform how we diagnose infection . 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ researchers cover the spectrum of diagnostic development, from early-stage sensors through test production and validation in the laboratory and the clinic. This vital work is facilitated by the access to clinical samples which can be confirmed virologically.

Particularly relevant for pandemic preparedness is that many of the technologies emerging from 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ include devices or tests that can: 1) be used at the point of care (including in local healthcare settings or in low resource settings/countries) or even at home (think the LFT tests that transformed the COVID-19 pandemic response), 2) be quickly adapted for the detection of new pathogen threats, and 3) are cheap enough to be deployable globally. These include the PCR tests and LFT tests, similar to those that transformed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts working in this area

• : New diagnostic assay to measure T cell immunity against key pathogens of interest using a rapid test.    
• : Design systems, behaviour analytics, communication, ethics.
• : Evaluation of rapid diagnostics; .
• : Point of care diagnostics, including Lacewing and Dragonfly ().
• : : A novel, lab-free, point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2; Development of a real time PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium bloodstream infection
• : Rapid diagnostics, e.g., poliovirus surveillance.
• : Disposable silicon-based micro-qPCR for rapid Detection of pathogens (TriSilix); low-cost wearable devices for diagnostics of highly infectious pathogens, including COVID-19.
• : Diagnostic development via the GlycoCell Engineering Biology Mission Hub. 
• : Handheld point of care system for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 extracted RNA in under 20 minutes ().
• : Nanotechnology solutions for infection, including self-disinfecting surfaces (e.g. for masks/air-filter devices), drug delivery, diagnostics.
• Dr Nick Moser: Lacewing and Dragonfly ().
• : Using multiomics approaches to define new diagnostic/prognostic markers.
• : Mucosal sampling and correlates of protection.
• : Human factors, human-computer interaction, usability and cognitive engineering. Example: Digital Diagnostics for Africa (DIDA) network for developing new diagnostic tools for infectious diseases.
• : Respiratory and transplant medicine. Precision diagnostics, for injury to the lung, e.g., in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.
• : Lacewing and Dragonfly (). Example (in Covid): Handheld point of care system for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 extracted RNA in under 20 minutes ().
• : Laser optics and software to study aerosol generation; Sampling of aerosols to determine presence of contaminant compounds.
• : Host gene signature-based diagnostics; biomarker identification. In Covid (example): 3-gene signature to distinguish COVID-19 and other viral infections in emergency infectious disease presentations (.
• : : Rapid RT-PCR test for COVID-19, which gives results in 90 minutes. 
• :  Evaluation and co-design of home self-testing using lateral flow devices. 
• : PREVAL: identification of genetic mutations which predispose to severe paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS/MISC) and prognostic signatures.
• : Nanotechnology to develop highly sensitive coronavirus testing and diagnosis.

Key Networks and Centres