710052Rapid Field Detection of Biological Agents in Soil & Environmental Samples - Crown BioClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKIn current times, there is still an ongoing, if not an increasing threat of Biological warfare (BW) weapon usage. The proposed Proof of Concept (POC) study involves research on the production of a quick portable, simple to use assay system for detection of a range of BW pathogens, and is designed specifically to be used in a field environment and to give rapid results. The assay will be simple to operate for non-scientifically trained personnel and portable within a small briefcase size to be used within field environments with no external power requirements. The assay technology will be fully self-contained and very rapid, taking only approximately 15 minutes to obtain a result. This proposal aims to obtain POC using just one BW agent (Bacillus anthracis), but the technology platform approach is identical for all other BW bacterial and viral agents. Detection matrices include soil and other environmental matrices; this assay is not designed to operate with clinical samples. This is an area that other rapid assays for BW agents do not address and where it is technically difficult to get molecular-based assays to perform well. One application of the assay system is for its use to screen areas where biological weapons may have been deployed, to assure safe entry for military personnel. Apart from its obvious use by military personnel (MoD), there are a variety of other potential uses for a rapid BW detection system. These would comprise general publically accessible sites including Govt. buildings, Govt. installations, post-offices, libraries, and many others. Crown Bio & the Health Protection Agency (HPA, Porton Down) have formed a Research & Development (R&D) collaboration, specifically in the area of diagnostic testing samples for hazardous pathogens. Crown Bio’s prior experience with biosensors and their currently unique marketed product, the Safe Soil Tester™ (SST), in conjunction with the expertise and experience of the HPA in handling of such pathogens, make an ideal partnership to develop and exploit the market with the eventual developed product(s). The collaboration with the leading and foremost UK organisation in the field has presented Crown Bio with a tremendous business opportunity.