Postdoctoral Scientist; s in In Vitro Diagnostics, Electrochemistry​/Electronic Engineering

Dr Daniel

A. Richards and Professor Andrew J. de Mello, in the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering at ETH Zürich, are searching for two postdoctoral researchers to develop a diagnostic device for multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MTB). The aim is to develop and evaluate a simple, portable, and affordable device for diagnosing MDR-MTB at the point-of-care. This work is funded as part of a SNSF BRIDGE Discovery grant, and you would work as part of a multiinstitutional consortium, including the Swiss Centre for Microelectronics (CSEM), the Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), and the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NCTLD) in Tblisi, Georgia.

The first position will be filled by someone with a background in electrochemical biosensing, particular those with experience combining molecular biology and electrochemistry. The second position will be filled by someone with a background in electrical engineering and device development. These positions are fixed-term for 24 months in the first instance, with a possibility for extension.

Tuberculosis (TB) kills an estimated 1.25 million people each year, making it the single deadliest infectious disease. Unfortunately, TB disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
98% of the global TB cases occur within LMICs, leading to devastating effects. Furthermore, the proliferation of this disease has resulted in widespread misuse of antibiotics, leading to the development of substantial drug resistance. Indeed, in the worst affected regions, drug resistance among recurring TB infections has risen above 50%.

Most TB deaths are preventable if diagnosed early. However, almost a quarter of all TB cases go undiagnosed. Similarly, the proliferation of drug resistance in TB can be partially attributed to a scarcity of effective methods for identifying resistance markers, which results in poor antibiotic stewardship.
Unfortunately, contemporary diagnostic technologies have proved insufficient for diagnosing TB and associated drug resistances, particularly at the point-of-care (PoC). Few technologies exist that can quickly and accurately diagnose TB and simultaneously determine resistances, and those that canare large and expensive, precluding their use in LMICs. They are also overly reliant on sputum samples, which can be difficult to obtain, particularly in low-resource settings.

In this project, we want to develop an affordable, portable, and rapid diagnostic platform technology that can multiplex 14 targets for TB and associated markers for drug resistance from a single sample. This technology will be paper-based and leverage electrochemical signaling to facilitate miniaturization and provide quantitative readouts of disease. These paper-based tests will be constructed using a recently patented technology from ETHZ, namely, the laser-induced graphenization of cellulose.

This manufacturing process is affordable, scalable, and rapid, making it ideal for constructing PoC devices. This technology will be combined with novel CRISPR–Cas-based biosensing assays, specifically engineered to enable the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with drug resistance. To facilitate deployment at the PoC, we will leverage the facilities and expertise of CSEM to integrate these technologies into a highly affordable cartridge & reader system.

The research team will be supported by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease in Georgia, who will validate the technology in patient samples and perform a small pilot study.

This device will fill a critical gap in the current treatment pathway of TB and bring care to millions of underserved patients, particularly in LMICs. By enabling rapid diagnosis of TB, this technology will facilitate more accurate and timely medical interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and decreasing the burdens on healthcare systems. Moreover, by focusing on common drug resistance markers, this technology will improve antimicrobial stewardship and be a valuable weapon in…