6-9 Carlton House Terrace
St. James's, London SW1Y 5AG
UK
Infectious diseases rank among the gravest threats to human health alongside global warming and terrorism. New strains continue to evolve every year and can spread rapidly. The consequences can be devastating. The 1918 Spanish flu killed an estimated 50 million people. Today HIV infects 34 million people and the recent Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 1,900 lives. In any outbreak situation we rely on very early detection and accurate disease diagnostics. However, worldwide many infections remain undiagnosed and untreated due to poor diagnostic tools at the point of care. The result is on-going transmission of serious infections and delays in the identification of emerging threats (e.g. pandemic influenza), leading to major human and economic consequences.
Professor Rachel McKendry will present her research to create a new generation of mobile phone connected diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, which offer increased access to testing outside of hospital settings, particularly in developing countries. Professor McKendry will also present the research foundations of a global early-warning system, linking the millions of symptoms that are self-reported online to mobile phone connected tests, in real-time and with geographically-linked information.
This event is free to attend and open to all. No tickets are required. Doors open at 6pm and the lecture starts at 6.30pm. Seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.