Monash University engineers have made a groundbreaking advancement that could soon allow GPs to screen for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) with a simple finger-prick blood test. This innovative device, which is the size of a credit card, holds the potential to revolutionise early diagnosis of AD by detecting critical biomarkers long before symptoms appear.
The portable test, developed by Associate Professor Sudha Mokkapati and her team at Monash Materials Science and Engineering, utilises cutting-edge sensor technology to identify ultra-low concentrations of disease markers in blood within minutes. This rapid, non-invasive method could be a game changer for early intervention, offering hope to the growing number of Australians facing dementia.
Dr Sudha Mokkapati’s journey to this innovation is rooted in a deep expertise in semiconductor and optoelectronic devices. She completed her PhD at the Australian National University (ANU), focusing on the monolithic integration of compound semiconductor quantum dot-based optoelectronic devices. After her PhD, Dr Mokkapati joined the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems at ANU in 2008 as a post-doctoral researcher, where she developed photon management strategies for thin film solar cells using amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and III-V quantum-dot absorbers. Her career then saw her working as a Super Science Fellow and Research Fellow at the ANU’s Research School of Physics and Engineering from 2012 to 2016, where she developed nanowire optoelectronic devices.
Dr Mokkapati’s academic journey continued as she took on the role of Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University from 2016 until early 2019, before joining Monash University. Her current research interests at Monash include semiconductor nano-photonics, nano-lasers, and nanostructured solar cells, which have all contributed to the development of this groundbreaking Alzheimer’s test.
With dementia diagnoses expected to double by 2054, the introduction of such a tool could drastically alter the landscape of AD management. The ability to screen patients directly at the point-of-care, without the need for lab-based tests, presents a cost-effective and efficient alternative that could be widely accessible to healthcare providers.
Associate Professor Mokkapati highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “It’s simple to use, low-cost and portable, making it ideal for widespread screening. Detecting very early disease could dramatically change the trajectory for many patients and significantly reduce healthcare costs.”
However, before the device can become a routine tool in GP practices, it requires clinical validation, and additional funding is crucial to bring this innovation closer to reality.
Associate Professor Matthew Pase from Monash’s School of Psychological Sciences, a key collaborator on the project, emphasised the importance of early detection. He noted that most patients with neurodegenerative diseases are diagnosed at advanced stages, where treatments offer limited benefits. By identifying the disease early, this device could improve the chances of halting or slowing the progression of symptoms, offering a better outlook for those affected by cognitive impairment.
As the world braces for an increase in dementia cases, this pioneering test could be a beacon of hope for early detection and intervention in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.
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