University of Natal - Medical School

Proposal number:

42319

Focal area:

Biotechnology

Total funding:

R9 263 049

Funding year 1:

R3 814 189

Funding year 2:

R4 424 051

Funding year 3:

R1 024 809

The objective of this grant is to locally develop and manufacture rapid and routine diagnostic assays. The intention is to use HIV as the prototype assay on which to model all subsequent assays. Millions of Rands are spent each year on the importation of rapid and routine diagnostic assays into South Africa and the African continent. It is our intention to transfer and develop technology locally. Initially the project will focus on the development of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assays to optimize the required processes and reagents that will be used in the development of rapid in vitro testing devices. The intention is to focus on assays that target pathogens in the human, veterinary and plant fields that are locally important. These assays will be incorporated the format of the prototype assays once they have been perfected. The project will not be limited to immunodiagnostic assays but also extend to molecular diagnostic assay development.

Project Coordinator:

Dr Dennis York
Phone: +27 (0)31 260 4380, +27 (0)31 360 3743
Fax: +27 (0)31 260 4441, +27 (0)31 360 3744
Email: york@nu.ac.za