Organisation profile

The Centre for Research in Biodetection Technologies is a multidisciplinary Research Centre exploiting the interfaces between two leading applier Research Groups in the University. Comprising the Particle Instrumentation & Diagnostics (PID) group, within the School of Physics, Astronomy & Mathematics (PAM), and the Microfluidic & Microengineering Research Group (MMRG).

The Research Centre brings together expertise in microfluidics, sample processing & handling, airborne collection & detection technologies (particle, biological and chemical), engineering design and integrated system development. As an exemplar of successful multi-disciplinary Research and Development, the Centre brings together expertise across Schools with research outputs across several of the University’s Research Themes leveraged by existing expertise spanning Food, Information & Security, Health & Wellbeing and Space.

At the basis of the Centre's activities lies the development of novel techniques and instruments that address new and emerging threats in biosecurity. Working collaboratively with national and international research organisations, the Centre  conducts a spectrum of research from curiosity driven to applied R&D, the latter typically aiming to raise the Technology Readiness Level of biodetection research concepts and prototypes from TRL1/2/3 to TRL5/6.

The Centre also offers a unique environment for students to study across a range of disciplines, with interactions across lab-on-a-chip devices, molecular diagnostics, aerobiology, environmental sampling, system integration and the application of research techniques and methods to real-world environments.

Current biodetection R&D projects have a focus on the development of integrated systems incorporating autonomous airborne pathogen collect/detect systems, sample processing and handling, real-time analysis using DNA amplification and remote reporting, with a particular emphasis on early detection of biowarfare agents for the protection of military and civilian populations.