Limited Diagnostic Tools Optimized for Low-Resource Settings
Current diagnostic tests are costly or often offer only limited information, failing to reveal the cause of disease and delaying or preventing administration of available treatments. Moreover, early detection systems for emerging pathogens are fragmented, delaying critical public health interventions.
Foundational Capabilities (3)
Utilize the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an early detection tool to identify pathogenic outbreaks.
Develop rapid, integrated diagnostic tests for many diseases at once that are low cost.
From Jacob Trefethen’s essay:
“I would count success in the diagnostic row as: a multiplex diagnostic for at least 3 pathogens (i.e. flu + COVID does not count), available over the counter for use at home. Either a respiratory panel (e.g. flu + COVID + strep throat) or a fever panel (e.g. malaria + dengue + typhoid) would count. An at-home multiplex STI panel would be great (e.g. chlamydia + gonorrhea + syphilis)”.
Lead exposure remains a critical but under-addressed public health challenge. Approximately 1 in 3 children globally have toxic levels of lead in their bloodstream, leading to developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and increased risk of chronic diseases. However, as it stands most countries do not do comprehensive, routine surveillance of blood lead levels. This is because the primary method for blood lead surveillance is costly and inconvenient.