Mobile Biomedical Diagnostic Device

I hold a degree in Chemistry and Chemical Engineer. The problem-solving approach used during my career was strengthened after my Master's in Nanotechnology. I spent the most time of my working life managing people & business tasks, where I developed skills in ideation; generating and testing ideas. Conversely, I implemented solutions benefiting end-users.

I set up the ITB foundation to develop a nano-biosensor mobile device to detect the parasite in the bloodstream in real-time. 

I had studied and worked in the UK and Brazil, allowing me to improve my range of understanding. I have been investing significant time and effort in the development of my technical capability and personal competence to provide effective support for business teams and projects. I used to manufacture a variety of Madre pearl buttons and customised jewellery pieces for 13 years in Brazil. I started the ITB Foundation to develop the nanobiosensor.

I am committed to supporting the urge by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in developing countries to tackle the neglected tropical disease called Leishmaniasis.

Then, I am proposing to develop a mobile biomedical diagnostic device for detecting the Leishmania parasites in the bloodstream of patients with leishmaniasis in real-time.

Moreover, the device will be able to reach remote places, obtain ultra-rapid detection, and having high sensitivity in pathogen detection at low cost and according to its proposed design.

Furthermore, it will contribute to one of the most worldwide healthcare challenges; neglected parasitic diseases according to the World Health Organisation.

Finally, the innovative mobile nano biosensor for the early detection of the blood-borne Leishmania protozoa in people allowing them to receive the treatment in real-time and consequently will leverage the health landscape of our society. Probably, it will be able to be measured in infected animals in the future.

Leishmaniasis disease is affecting the world’s poorest people on earth and it is caused by Leishmania parasites which are transmitted by the bite of infected female sandflies. 

Although, its golden standard in diagnosis relies on microscopy and culture to detect the parasite and identify the Leishmania species from the material collected of the affected organ due to its high specificity. 

These current methods of diagnosing are undertaken late in the protozoa life-cycle by laboratories which generally are located far away from their residence. The sampling is unpleasant procedure for the patient. The parasite culturing is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. 

The detection of the disease at this early stage is critical in improving the healthcare outcomes of Leishmaniasis sufferers, indeed, if visible symptoms have developed, then treatments are not as effective at this later stage of the disease cycle. Generally, the longer it takes for diagnosis and subsequent treatment, the lower the probability of cure, and the higher the probability of death.

Leishmaniasis is disease-endemic in 88 countries affecting more than one billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year. 

An estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases of Leishmaniasis occur Worldwide annually and about 30,000 annual deaths.

I idealised an innovative solution for the early detection of the blood-borne Leishmania protozoa. 

The proposed innovative biosensor design is a technical intervention in response to one of the top priorities of the WHO’s Global Health Agenda. Also, this handheld device has the potential to generate a good business opportunity within the healthcare industry. 

The proposed biosensor with its specific nano biosensor technology and portable nature will solve the following:

• The identification of a selected pathogen for Leishmaniasis in disease-endemic countries and territories
• Diagnosing the pathogen in real time 
• Improving the mortality and morbidity in these emerging economy countries.
• Delivering prompt diagnostic in areas of difficult access 
• Becoming alternative health care access point and improving the quality of life in communities
• Decreasing drastically the time between the disease identification and treatment. As the device can detect the parasite of the Leishmaniasis disease at its early-stage at of their lifecycle, instead of to wait the appearance of the symptoms
• enabling analytical service locally and obtaining results and treatment in real time

The project will contribute to one of the most worldwide healthcare challenges; neglected parasitic diseases according to the World Health Organisation.

The device project is a solution that will identify whether the person already has the pathogen before the appearance of symptoms giving the individual higher changes of cure and/or better management to support actively their social-economic life.

It aims to deliver functionalities to satisfy end users needs, capture profitable market share, and solutions specifications and requirement evaluation for design performance parameters .

The device’s standard includes the requirements for essential performance, commands usability engineering evaluations and human factor consideration, and mandates the adoption of a formal development life cycle processes.

It also specifies new as well as revised technical specifications for electrical and mechanical hazards, also new product labelling and documentation requirements.

The disease affects some of the poorest people on earth and is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, or a weak immune system. The WHO includes Leishmaniasis within a group of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The solution will identify whether the person has the pathogen before the appearance of symptoms. It gives individuals higher chances of cure, better management to support actively their social-economic life. Also, by receiving treatment in real-time of the corresponding disease stage. Infected individuals will have the chance for high survivability, cure, and painless treatment due to earlier detection. Eventually to live life actively.

This nano-biosensor idea born after my Master of research in Nanotechnology in 2007, Swansea University, UK. Since then, I have been developing this compelling call.  Initially, I secretly developed my idea, because I took it as a hobby.  After some time, one of my university colleagues started his postdoctoral. in a similar field, during one of our conversations, I comment on this project. I shared basic information and since then, he has asking me to move the project forward. Because of other life commitments, I have been postponing it. But I have been made some attempts. I had a business that was incubated within Swansea University for the development of nanocoating. During this period I made a few tests to support my idea. The initial results were promising. I had a few personal problems which I had to change the direction of my work. Now, he established his career and is supporting me in pursuing this project idea. 

I wish to change the emphasis and direction of my career by focussing on the development of this device and the elevating opportunities would be ideal for this.

I spent the most time of my work life managing businesses, where I developed skills in ideation; generating and testing ideas. Conversely, I implemented solutions benefiting end-users. I had the opportunity to develop further skills in entrepreneurship when I completed my Master's in business & law. It was also at Swansea University Law School in 2011. Also, I developed further the management of project skills during a post-graduate course in Computing, at Edinburgh-Napier University in 2015. Today I am completing a BSc (Honours) Combined STEM - Computer Science.

My ongoing learning journey parallels my work commitments, direct me with the skills for the work of the future towards innovation, productivity growth, and economic security.  

Being an entrepreneur has been a rewarding journey, in which I have been learning from failures, uncertainty, problems, and surprises. I realised along with these processes of experiences that each one has supported the development of my professional and personal capabilities by always stepping out of my comfort zone. I also realised how passionate I am for my profession after all because I feel it as part of me.

I spent the most time of my work life managing businesses, where I developed skills in ideation; generating and testing ideas. Conversely, I implemented solutions benefiting end-users. I had the opportunity to develop further skills in entrepreneurship when I completed my Master's in business & law. It was also at Swansea University Law School in 2011. Also, I developed further the management of project skills during a post-graduate course in Computing, at Edinburgh-Napier University in 2015. Today I am completing a BSc (Honours) Combined STEM - Computer Science.

My ongoing learning journey parallels my work commitments, direct me with the skills for the work of the future towards innovation, productivity growth, and economic security.  

Being an entrepreneur has been a rewarding journey, in which I have been learning from failures, uncertainty, problems, and surprises. I realised along with these processes of experiences that each one has supported the development of my professional and personal capabilities by always stepping out of my comfort zone. I also realised how passionate I am for my profession after all because I feel it as part of me.

My education life is implanted in my mind as a pleasant roller coast in terms of adaptation. Thanks to the support of my parents, as we moved some times within my birth country, Brazil. This involved important changes such as friends, habits, and sports. I managed to keep some friends from my childhood until today.

The highest challenge was when I studied in a French comprehensive school; teachings were in French language opening wider my perspective to the world. From those experiences, I learned to be a creative and adaptive person.

Moving to the UK was another big change in my life. I had to learn a new language at a later age, to find a suitable job and to study at the postgraduate level, were real challenges and achievements for me. Mainly, because I had to manage all these changes balancing at the same time with my three children who were early teenagers at this time. 

Now I am living for a good number of years and I am re-organising my priorities in life.  On the other hand, all my studies were conscious and with the aim to develop this nano biosensor project.

In my first business, I worked there for thirteen years. During this industrial experience, one of the challenges of my role was to address specific business needs.  I developed and implemented the program, which ultimately leads to improvements in the human and environmental well-being of the social-economically disadvantaged local communities.

This project, in particular, was a successful task, in bringing together companies, municipal government, and at later stage additional support of the Bahia State government towards our common objectives of the designed and definite strategy which directed benefit of the local community population and the local economy.

The above program aim was to provide means, such as basic professional education, life skills including their relationship with the environment; and guaranteed pathway to jobs for individuals; nothing similar existed locally at that time.

A committee was formed; in which I was part of it as a founder of the plan and motivator; was responsible for the monthly reports’ preparation and presentation, monitoring of the tasks’ execution schedule and its operational management, and the reinforcement of the partner’s relationships focusing in the progress together toward the designed objectives. My other task was to accompany their further development program; including coaching and mentoring.