A lab in the palm of your hand

Researchers within UNSW’s Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering have made significant breakthroughs in the field of gene-based diagnostics, creating test strips that rival the accuracy of conventional lab-based pathology and can be used by anyone at any time. From COVID-19 to cancer mutations, biosecurity and beyond, this new technology offers rapid and affordable detection, and enhanced protection within the fields of health, biosecurity, agriculture, and biodiversity.

Professor Ewa Goldys in her biomedical research laboratory at UNSW.

Professor Ewa Goldys and her team have developed technology to make user friendly gene tests available as test strips. These promise to be just as accurate as lab-based PCR. “The reason we all had to wait in queues during the pandemic was because PCR is predominantly a lab-based technology – but now we have the convenience of something you can hold in your hand or pocket but has the quality and sensitivity level of a polymerase chain reaction,” Prof. Goldys explains.

This new technology will facilitate rapid disease detection – minimising the risk of spread while also making it possible to test for any pathogens based on their DNA or RNA.

“Whether it’s legionnaires disease or an STI, you’ll be able to test for this on a test strip,” adds Prof. Goldys.

From Covid to cancer

While the impact within the space of COVID-19 and flu is clear, Prof. Goldys believes the potential for her technology is much broader and will be transformative across other areas of the health sector. “Our technology can also test for cancer,” she explains.

“By using our sensors, we can detect the presence of cancer mutations in patient’s blood.”

As a range of such mutations have already been identified in many common cancers, Prof. Goldys’ technology is sensitive enough to detect many of these changes in a simple test. “With this inexpensive technology it will be possible to follow a patient over a period to see the effectiveness or otherwise of treatments,” she explains. This is particularly important for patients already undergoing treatment, and who develop resistance to those treatments. “If cancer mutations in the blood are detected early enough, a specific change of treatment can be curative,” adds Prof. Goldys.

Keeping Australia safe

It’s not just public health that benefits from the research completed by Prof. Goldys and her team. The speed and accuracy of the technology means it can be utilised in the areas of infection testing and can be implemented at various quarantine points including airports and cruise ships to determine whether anyone has an underlying infection. “We’re constantly being attacked as a country by biosecurity threats like bird flu and veterinary diseases that can wipe off whole sectors of the economy,” says Prof. Goldys.

“Australia is very vulnerable to such threats, so being able to test widely for imported diseases and pests at low cost is critical.”

The new tests can also indicate the presence or absence of an endangered or threatened species via environmental DNA detection. “DNA is an extremely robust molecule that the organisms shed, and it can persist in the environment for quite a long time,” she explains. “Nature is full of old DNA, and all you need is technology to detect it.” This has large-scale impacts within the area of environmental science and protection. “Animals leave traces of DNA everywhere and then that often gets diluted into the water ways,” adds Prof. Goldys. “With sensitive technology however, we can easily confirm whether an animal was present in a particular area or not.”

Dr Fei Deng and Dr Yi Li who are the co-inventors of the new biosensing technology.

Working as one

So far, the response from industry to her team’s research has been overwhelmingly positive, and they are already linked strongly to commercialisation efforts. “While we’re an academic lab, we work hard to be very accessible to the industry,” she explains.

Prof. Goldys believes the far-reaching impact of her research has only been made possible by the dedication of her team. “They have been amazing and extremely creative,” she says.

“We have several patents already licensed, which is essential for the commercialisation of our inventions.”

Prof. Goldys and her team have already received extensive support and funding via an array of academic and industry grants and are fielding enquiries from around the globe. “It’s truly cutting-edge science,” she says. “There’s a real vibrant hub of activity here.”

While this technology may be lifechanging for the everyday person, it’s also just as important for the industries and organisations who need it most. “This technology will contribute to RNA vaccine production in Australia” she says. “The ultimate impact will come from having this in the hands of people and organisations who really need it.”

Photo credits: Christina Rofe, Pixabay