Michigan State University College of Engineering researchers are working on a mobile phone-based biosensor for faster diagnosis and improved monitoring of cerebral malaria.
The project, led by Peter Lillehoj, MSU assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is being funded by a $1.8 million National Institutes of Health grant, the school announced earlier this month. Diagnosis and clinical care of cerebral malaria is a complex and complicated process, according to the research team.
"It is difficult to predict which patients are at risk of deteriorating from the disease, and which are not," Terrie Taylor, an international malaria expert and MSU University Distinguished Professor, said in the announcement.
The goal is to build a mobile biosensor for rapid measurement of malarial biomarkers in human serum and blood samples. The biosensor will be able to wirelessly transmit test result data to labs and public health agencies. Announcement