Research

Research areas:

 Biosensors and Chemical Sensors

 Biodevice Development

Research interests include

Label-free electrical detection of biomolecular interactions

Biologically sensitive field-effect devices

Detection of DNA/RNA, proteins, cells, bacteria and small molecules

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of biological systems

Surface biofunctionalization

Nanobiosensors

Microfluidics

Lab-on-Chip

Organ-on-Chip

Funded research projects:

Centre for Doctoral Training in real-time digital water-based systems for environmental health protection (RED-ALERT CDT), NERC (Oct 2024 - Sep 2030) [Co-Director]

Centre of Excellence in water-based early warning systems for One Health (WBE@Bath), Research England - Expanding Excellence in England Fund (Aug 2024 - Jul 2029) [Co-Director]

Bridging the gap in realising the biomedical impact of near infrared (NIR) emitting chemicals, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (Jun - Nov 2024)

Development of an on-demand sensor and monitoring technology based on switchable nanobodies for cell therapy bioprocessing, EPSRC (Oct 2021 - Sep 2024) [Bath PI]

Validation of modular toolkits for parallel cancer biomarker detection in prostate cancer: approaching enhanced clinical diagnostics, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account - Postdoc Impact Award (Apr 2024 - Sep 2024)

Multi-modal flow sensing for single cell fingerprinting, CBio Seedcorn Funding (Oct 2023 - Jul 2024) [PI]

Previous funded projects:

COVID-19 POC diagnostic device, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (May 2021 - Jun 2022)

A modular sensing and imaging toolkit for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer employing lab-on-the-chip methodologies, European Research Council Proof-of-Concept (Nov 2020 - Apr 2022)

Towards the effective diagnosis of parasitic diseases in Latin America, Royal Society / Newton Fund International Exchanges (Dec 2018 - Dec 2021) [PI]

Environment fingerprinting via digital technology - a new paradigm in hazard forecasting and early-warning systems for health risks in Africa (EDGE), EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund (May 2020 - Oct 2021)

Point-of-Care diagnostic testing in the sub-Saharan Africa context, Research England Global Challenges Research Fund (Aug 2020 - Jul 2021)

AirChip, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (Jun 2020 - Mar 2021)

Developing resilient nations - Towards a public health early warning system via urban water profiling (ReNEW), EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund (May 2017 - Dec 2020)

Epigenetic enrichment of circulating tumour DNA to enable deep profiling for cancer early detection (EpiEnrich), Cancer Research UK (Jan 2019 - Jul 2020) [Bath PI]

Low-cost aptamer-based capacitance biosensors, FAPESP / University of Bath SPRINT programme (Feb 2018 - Jan 2020) [PI]

Cancer diagnostic aptasensors using modified interdigitated electrodes, Royal Society / Newton Mobility Grant (Mar 2017 - Feb 2019) [PI]

Evaluation of next generation receptor technologies in OTFT biosensors, Innovate UK (Jul 2017 - Jun 2018) [Bath PI]

Water monitoring in Colombian vulnerable communities in a post-conflict scenario, British Council / Newton Fund Institutional Links (Apr 2017 - Jun 2018)

Towards novel biosensor devices for improved cancer diagnosis, FAPESP / University of Bath SPRINT programme (Nov 2015 - Oct 2017) [PI]

Portable electrochemical assay system for on-chip quantitative estimation of bladder cancer biomarkers in real samples (BlaC E-assay), EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship - Dr Sunil Arya (Oct 2015 - Sep 2017) [Host PI]

Electrochemical nucleic acid based biosensors / microfluidic devices for healthcare applications, British Council / Newton-Katip Celebi Fund Researcher Links Workshop (Dec 2015 - Sep 2017) [PI]

Towards a rapid, hand-held, biosensor-based detector for Clostridium difficile, GW4 Accelerator Fund (Jul 2016 - Feb 2017) [Bath PI]

Cancer diagnostics: parallel sensing of prostate cancer biomarkers (PROSENSE), EU Marie Curie Initial Training Network (Oct 2012 - Sep 2016) [Coordinator / PI]

A new paradigm in drug use and human health risk assessment: sewage profiling at the community level (SEWPROF), EU Marie Curie Initial Training Network (Oct 2012 - Sep 2016)

High-density peptide microarrays and high-throughput, label-free detection of peptides, modifications and interactions (HiPAD), EU FP7 (Jan 2012 - Apr 2016) [Bath PI]

Novel biosensors based on synthetic recognition elements embedded in redox active self-assembled monolayers, DSTL (Nov 2014 - Oct 2015) [PI]

DNA aptamer-based electrochemical impedance biosensors, DSTL (Mar 2012 - May 2014) [PI]

Medical diagnostics using a novel electrochemical localized surface plasmon resonance technique, Royal Society (Nov 2012 - Oct 2013) [PI]

Enhancing electrochemical DNA biosensing with active sensitisers, Bio-E Initiative (Jan 2012 - Jun 2012) [PI]

Biodetection of water contaminants, DSTL (Apr 2011 - Jul 2011) [PI]

Improved diagnosis and early warning systems for avian influenza outbreak management (FLUTEST), EU FP6 (Jun 2009 - Jan 2011) [Bath PI]

Funded studentships:

 Exosome-based biosensors for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, Turkish Ministry of Education - Mr Mehmet Ozcelik (Oct 2023 - Sep 2027)

 Novel electrochemical biosensors using engineered antibody fragments for cancer companion diagnostics, University Research Studentship - Ms Louise Barnaby (Oct 2022 - Mar 2026)

 Development of molecularly imprinted polymer based sensor arrays for detection of pathogenic bacteria, Turkish Ministry of Education - Ms Meltem Agar (Oct 2020 - Sep 2024)

 Field-effect transistors for microfluidic interfacial biosensing, University Research Studentship - Mr Angel Cascarino (Oct 2020 - Sep 2021)

 Diagnostic sensors for HIV management in low-resource settings, Whorrod PhD Studentship - Ms Katarzyna Bialas (Oct 2019 - Mar 2023)

 Electrochemical biosensors for cancer diagnostics and treatment management, University Research Studentship - Ms Josephine Aidoo-Brown (Oct 2019 - Mar 2023)

 Integrated biosensing platform for waterborne pathogen detection: Improving public health, NERC CDT in in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability - Mr Joshua Rainbow (Oct 2018 - Mar 2022)

 Electrochemical detection of microRNAs for cancer diagnosis, EPSRC Doctoral Training Award / EPSRC CDT in Sustainable Chemical Technologies - Ms Serife Ustuner (Oct 2016 - Sep 2020)

Multiplexed biosensors for drug discovery applications, University Research Studentship - Ms Jahnavi Jha (Mar 2016 - Feb 2019)

 Micro- and nano-gap based biosensors, EPSRC Doctoral Training Award - Mr Jules L. Hammond (Oct 2013 - Mar 2017)

 Biosensors for drug discovery applications, University Research Studentship - Mr Nikhil Bhalla (Oct 2012 - Sep 2015)

 A study on the optimization of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy biosensors, University Research Studentship - Mr Nello Formisano (Jul 2012 - Jun 2015)

Funded visiting studentships:

Development of EIS based aptasensor for detection of X- chromosome bearing sperm cells, British Council / Newton Bhabha Fund (UK PhD Placement Programme for Indian Scholars) - Mr Sumit Singh (Apr 2019 - Jul 2019)

Studies on plasmodium falciparum glutamate dehydrogenase for developing potential biosensor for malaria, British Council / Newton Bhabha Fund (UK PhD Placement Programme for Indian Scholars) - Mr Naveen Singh (Jun 2017 - Sep 2017)

Optimization and evaluation of aptamer based electrochemical biosensor for the detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis secreted protein MPT64, Newton-Al Farabi Researcher Links Travel Grant - Ms Marzhan Sypabekova (Jun 2016 - Sep 2016)

Detection of changes related with breast cancer using charge sensors or mass sensors coupled to DNA monolayers, FAPESP Research Internships Abroad - Ms Marina Batistuti (Oct 2015 - Jan 2016)