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The Diagnostics and Surveillance theme of the CDT will focus on the development and testing of rapid diagnostic tests, digital health and improved surveillance systems
Early detection and diagnosis of AMR is critical to antimicrobial stewardship, public-health听surveillance and to prevent transmission. However, there remain many critical engineering听challenges. For example, to determine antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility, current 鈥済old-standard鈥� methods often rely on bacterial culture in centralised laboratories requiring 36- to 72-hour turnaround times after sample collection. This is too slow for effective antibiotic stewardship in听emergency settings or during short clinic visits. Lateral flow tests are emerging as an important tool听for public health, but many lack the sensitivity to detect early-stage infections, as well as the digital听connectivity to link data into healthcare systems. Moreover, relatively little is known about the听interconnectedness of AMR in animals and the environment (e.g., wastewater), since most AMR听studies focus on cases in humans based on electronic patient records in hospitals.
There is an听urgent need for new engineering solutions to tackle these challenges. These should cover the generation of rapid ultra-sensitive tests to detect AMR in a variety of decentralised settings (e.g.,GP surgeries, care homes, self-testing in the home, point-of-pen and wastewater surveillance),听and also the need for improved surveillance of outbreaks bringing together siloed data sets听between humans, animals and the environment using a One Health approach.
Research Theme Contacts:
Prof. Rachel McKendry & Dr.听Mike Thomas听
Example PhD Project
- Quantum sensors to detect AMR in wastewater.
Student UG/PGT background
Engineering, physical sciences
Project Details:
Wastewater-based epidemiology is emerging as a powerful tool to track AMR in听populations, with the advantage of capturing the true burden of illness, including symptomatic听and asymptomatic cases as well as hard-to-reach demographics. However, wastewater-based听epidemiology is notoriously challenging due to the complexity of the samples, the heavy dilution听of pathogens (down to few copies per litre) and the long times required for centralised laboratory听testing. In this PhD project, we will explore the use of a novel ultra-sensitive quantum sensor for听rapid near-source testing and sentinel AMR surveillance. We will harness our recent听breakthrough in quantum nanodiamonds in a dipstick format. The PhD research will involve the听design of primers to AMR targets of interest (e.g., E. coli or specific resistance genes),听optimisation of surface capture chemistries and assays, sample collection and extraction,听multiplexing, prototype development, data capture, a pilot field study and benchmarking to PCR
External Engagement
UK Health Security Agency
Project Impact
Use in national surveillance programmes, NHS, water companies.
Student Career Destination
UKHSA, SMEs, water management, NHS, academia.
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