When outbreaks emerge, speed matters. The earlier a disease is detected, the easier it becomes to contain its spread and protect communities. Yet access to diagnostic technologies remains deeply unequal around the world.
Many diagnostic tools still rely on centralized laboratories, expensive equipment, refrigeration, and specialized infrastructure. As a result, communities in resource-limited settings are often left waiting for external support during the earliest and most critical stages of health emergencies.
The proposed PhD project is motivated by the idea of making diagnostic technologies more accessible and easier to deploy locally. More specifically, the research aims to develop a pipeline that could help local laboratories identify emerging viral threats, rapidly develop diagnostics for immediate local use, and share critical information to help coordinate broader outbreak response efforts.
The system is designed not only for response speed, but also for accessibility, relying on shelf-stable molecular components and commonly available laboratory tools.
The project would be developed within a collaborative and translational research environment, together with partnerships with laboratories in Africa and South America helping ensure the technology remains practical and usable across diverse real-world settings.
If successful, approaches like this could help communities respond earlier and more locally during future outbreaks, reducing dependence on centralized infrastructure when time matters most.