Biosecurity detector project funded

Probes fitted with high-tech signal generators may be developed to detect food safety and quality problems and air- and waterborne bugs and pathogens if new public investment at the University of Manitoba pans out.

The federal/provincial/civic Winnipeg Partnership Agreement will put up $3.2 million for a biological and electrical biosensor lab and a biomedical imaging facility to form part of the U of M faculty of engineering’s infrastructure.

The biosensor lab is expected to develop technology transfers to the agricultural, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries and organizations such as the National Research Council and Institute for Biodiagnostics.

The lab will focus on “integrating probe technology with an advanced signal generating system.”

The other project, a biomedical imaging facility, will be set up to explore the use of microwave-based imaging and work also with infrared and Raman spectroscopy for research in bacteria, fungal spore and yeast identification. Techniques developed there will be mostly of use in the health and health research sectors but can also be used to help spot and assess microorganisms in food.