Project Title: Digital imaging for smarter healthcare in Africa
Project Description: Limited diagnostic services hinder control of infectious diseases in developing countries. The introduction of point of care (POC) services markedly improved disease diagnosis in limited resource areas but some devices are now challenged by impaired disease detection as a result of parasite modifications, calling for advanced methods to diagnose infections. It is evident that well-funded medical laboratories are highly automated; samples sent in for analysis are tracked electronically, and detailed digital images and results are... Limited diagnostic services hinder control of infectious diseases in developing countries. The introduction of point of care (POC) services markedly improved disease diagnosis in limited resource areas but some devices are now challenged by impaired disease detection as a result of parasite modifications, calling for advanced methods to diagnose infections. It is evident that well-funded medical laboratories are highly automated; samples sent in for analysis are tracked electronically, and detailed digital images and results are recorded, which improves throughput, quality control, and record-keeping and enables training and telemedicine for rural contexts where an expert technician is not available. However, automation relies on expensive equipment, currently provided and maintained by a small number of companies in rich countries. Moreover, this equipment while in use in developing countries, are vulnerable to harsh environmental and climatic conditions of the tropics (dusts and high ambient temperature) which lead to compromised utility. We aim to create a network which will bring the benefits of digital diagnostics to laboratories and clinics across Africa, working in a sustainable and responsible partnership with local clinical and engineering partners. Our vision is of integrated, modern, digital healthcare laboratories that are supported by a thriving local ecosystem of biomedical engineers and developers. To get there we propose to build a body of knowledge and skills that enable a new generation of medical instruments that can be repaired and customised without relying on a handful of rich countries.
Principal Investigator : Catherine Mkindi
Department Name : BRCT
Time frame: (2020-01-01) - (2021-03-01)
Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) (Normal)
External Collaborating Partners
University of Bath
University of Bath