Biodetection against chemical attacks
The Problem
- Biological warfare is a threat both to troops in combat situations and civilians in public settings; early and rapid detection is critical to save lives
- Hardware limitations and time constraints required to capture, process and assess potential hazards have long been a constraint.
Our research
- Designed, developed and optimised a new biodetection system that collects and analyses airborne toxins, bacteria and viruses
- Applied the same research principles to a new area, developing and commercialising a unique early warning crop protection system in the agricultural industry.
Research Impact
- Resulted in a ‘significant leap’ forward for the UK’s biowarfare defences
- Adapted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) into a product suitable for protecting public venues
- Enabled UK farmers and growers to detect the early signs of crop disease using real-time data to reduce crop loss.
Researchers:
- Daniel McCluskey
- Mark Tracey (UH 1993-2019)
- Ian Johnston
- Loic Coudron
- Christabel Tan