Institut Pasteur de Dakar and Blenheim-based DNAiTECH strengthen global health collaboration ahead of August clinical trial rollout in West Africa.

A visiting microbiologist from Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar is in Marlborough this month to work with local biotech company DNAiTECH on a field-ready diagnostic tool for measles — part of an international public health project funded by Grand Challenges Senegal and backed by Grand Challenges Canada. The collaboration between DNAiTECH and Institut Pasteur de Dakar began in mid-2024, with DNAiTECH contracted to develop portable molecular testing technology for use in West Africa. Microbiologist Andy Diouf’s visit is a critical step ahead of clinical field trials scheduled to begin in Senegal this August.

Diouf, a molecular biologist with a master’s in virology and molecular diagnostics, is spending two weeks working alongside the DNAiTECH team at Grovetown Park to learn about the portable diagnostic technology and to ensure its usability in the challenging field conditions expected in Senegal. The test platform, designed to detect measles and differentiate it from rubella at the point of care, uses proprietary molecular tools developed by DNAiTECH that are lightweight, battery-powered, and require no cold chain.

“Measles remains a major public health issue in Africa,” says Diouf. “While vaccination has made huge progress globally, access and uptake remain uneven, and we’ve seen a 400% increase in cases in 2020/21 alone. Early detection is one of the best ways to change that trend.”

Measles much more dangerous and infectious than rubella, but both have very similar symptoms. “By looking at the rash of a child, you cannot tell the difference. That is why we are asking the microchip to differentiate between measles and rubella. That makes the technology very interesting,” says Diouf.

Unlike traditional laboratory tests, which require time-consuming transport of samples to central labs, DNAiTECH’s technology is designed for use directly at the patient’s bedside or in the field. “The goal is to have a reliable, sensitive tool that doesn’t rely on mains power or refrigeration,” says DNAiTECH founder and CEO Murray Broom. “Andy’s feedback is incredibly important in making sure this works in real-world conditions in West Africa.”

Andy’s visit includes learning about the chemistry of the credit card–sized diagnostic chip to the humidity resistance of the materials — a key caveat in tropical environments during rainy season. “This environment is very different to our lab,” says Broom, “so having someone from the field here to provide on-the-ground insight is invaluable.”

The August/September field trials in Senegal will mark a major milestone for the project, which has the potential to support outbreak response efforts not only for measles but for other pathogens, by simply replacing the chemistry in the microchip.

“The beauty is that our technology is a platform. The only thing we need to do is to change the chemistry to detect a different target, says Broom.

Diouf, who is based at the 600-person Institut Pasteur de Dakar — one of Africa’s leading public health research centres — says he’s enjoying his time in Marlborough. “It’s a beautiful part of the world - I like the mountains surrounding the township. Working in a small, focused team like DNAiTECH’s means everyone is pulling in the same direction. It makes progress very efficient. Since I came here on Sunday, I feel like I learnt a lot. DNAiTECH has done a great job.”

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For more information contact

Murray Broom, founder and CEO of DNAiTECH, murray@dnaitech.com, +64 21 429 962