The Multicorder

We propose to create the world's first broad spectrum sensor technology - the Multi-Corder. We will do this by exploiting and advancing leading-edge microelectronic engineering. The world of electronics is dominated by complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. CMOS has made modern computing and communications possible and has also made an enormous impact on sensing technology such as the digital camera chip. Most recently CMOS has enable the development of the personal genome machine - a next generation sequencing system. We propose to create technology to sense the personal metabolome. This is important since where the genome may indicate an individual's propensity towards a disease, the metabalome is an immediate measurement of body function, hence provides a means of diagnose. Not all possible afflictions are measurable using the metabalome. Using the same fundamental technology we also propose to detect microbial infectious agents. Bacterial affliction already in the body, or in the environment (e.g. a hospital ward) will be targetted, alleviating major problems such as hospital acquired infection. Further beneficiaries are in point of use diagnostic tools and highly portable systems capable of use in the developing world where there is limited infrastructural support.
We also foresee yet more ambitious outcomes from the research, and we expect to made progress towards their realisation. We envisage that once a full measurement and analysis of a patient or a contaminated area is achieved, the Multi-Corder technology will underpin new methods of chemical synthesis for drugs. We will demonstrate the use of the technology for direct, high-speed, visualisation of chemical activity, and the means by which the data can be used to control the chemical process required for synthesis.
The targets that we will address will take advantage of the ability of microelectronics to make many (millions if needs be) of devices on a single chip, or to integrate diverse technologies together. The core semiconductor technology will be augmented by chemical, lithographic and bio-technologies in order to build complex functions. Our approach is based on a combination of established track record, new insights, and emergent technologies for which we have established trial feasibility. Using our current knowledge as a springboard, we will exploit the flexibility and collaborative framework that a Programme Grant will afford us to create an exciting new technology.

We propose to create a technology platform to visualise chemical processes in situ, investigate the personal metabolome, identify infectious agents and, from these data, work towards controlled synthesis of targeted therapeutics locally and autonomously. The heart of this ambitious system will be an integrated circuit containing many detectors, each of which is capable of functionalisation to make a Multi-Corder. Our research programme marries investigator track records and established feasibility, through early stage outputs, to a research vision with far-reaching, long-term, aims.
This programme will impact upon the capacity of semiconductor technologies and the expansion of their use, through design and application, into new markets. Through computer and communications technologies microelectronics has revolutionised every facet of our lives, and we will show that there is potential for much more to come. There will be new impacts on medical diagnostics, environmental sensing, food and drink quality control, analytical tools for chemical and biological sciences, and control of synthesis technologies. Stimulated by such possibilities, and driven by our expertise in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Micro-Nano Technology (MNT), the research team in this Programme Grant application will strive to develop new, open, integrated architectures leading to widespread use in many settings, from the clinic to the field. The knowledge generation will be cross-disciplinary, with each subject area exposing new scientists within their field to the power of interdisciplinary research. Specific impacts will occur upon patients, infection control professionals, UK industry, the wider community and the developing world.
The proposers are engaged with government and non-governmental agencies to provide advice and leadership. They have also worked extensively in knowledge transfer and have successfully seen their research commercialised. The team will therefore build on its track record to ensure the research achieves the best possible outcomes.
Traditional mechanisms for scientific dissemination remain the gold-standard for scientific quality assessment. We will publish our research in the leading scientific and technical peer-review journals. We will continue to accept invitations to present our work at international conferences, and we will support and encourage our post-doctoral researchers and PhD students to write and present papers at leading conferences and workshops, obtaining a two-fold impact of introducing new science and scientists to the international community. In addition to communication with our peers, we have, as a team, an excellent record of scientific engagement with the lay community of science funders and end-users. We will continue this work through the learned societies, and with the help of university corporate communications who have successfully engaged the interest of broadcast and print media.