E4D Fellow: Andrés Javier Bello Hernández

Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to human health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mosquito-borne viruses are of particular concern due to the prolific reproduction rates of mosquitos and their rapidly expanding habitats. The rapid spread of Dengue virus (DENV) over the last 50 years perfectly exemplifies the impact of mosquito-borne viruses. Though DENV was once localized to a few tropical countries, it is now endemic throughout the Americas and Southeast Asia. Best estimates of the dengue disease burden suggest that over half of the world’s population lives in dengue risk areas and that there are 390 million dengue infections alone per year, of which 96 million manifest clinically. Estimates place the total annual global cost of dengue at 8.9 billion USD. Unfortunately, populations living within LMICs bare a disproportionate burden. The reasons for this are multifaceted, consisting of interconnected geographical, social, and economic factors.

It is widely accepted the lack of effective track-trace-treat programs has played a central role in the rise of DENV infections. The key to these programs is effective diagnostic technologies. Unfortunately, contemporary diagnostics rely on complex laboratories and highly-trained personnel. This greatly limits their utility within LMICs. To remedy this, researchers are focusing on developing point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices. These devices harness modern advances in engineering and biochemistry to miniaturize assays into simple, portable, and cost-effective formats. Unfortunately, to date, PoC diagnostics have failed to reduce the impact of dengue; clearly, there is an urgent need for innovation. In this project, we will leverage novel technologies developed within ETH Zürich to create a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for DENV. This work will be supported by a strong framework of clinicians, virologists, engineers, and biochemists from Switzerland and Colombia. This team will drive the work from conception through to implementation within Colombia.