Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of suffering and death in humans and animals worldwide, the second leading infectious killer of humans after COVID-19. There are currently around 10 million recorded human TB infections per year, with a death rate of 1.8 million per year. TB imposes major economic losses and trade barriers world-wide, impacting disproportionately on the livelihoods of poor and marginalized communities. Zoonotic TB poses special challenges for patient treatment and recovery since the advanced laboratory tools required for its diagnosis are frequently unavailable, so patients are often misdiagnosed and may receive ineffective treatment. This is a particular problem in resource-poor countries, where diagnostic tools capable of accurate and rapid diagnosis at the time of initial patient consultation are not available. There is also two-way transmission between cattle and wild animals (e.g. badgers in the UK). The high prevalence of the disease in parts of the UK, coupled with the test and slaughter strategy for disease control, has a major effect on both the livelihoods and wellbeing of farmers. The surveillance, diagnostic testing, badger culling and vaccination costs the UK government alone a total of £100 million per year. Ending the human TB epidemic by 2050 is a UN sustainable development goal and the WHO recommends the development of more effective rapid diagnostic tests to improve patient outcomes. Hence our vision is the development of a novel, point-of-care TB detector for humans and animals capable of delivering a result within 1 hour. It will improve on state-of-the-art approaches in terms of specificity, sensitivity and time to result (compared to hours for PCR, days for microscopy). Our multi-disciplinary objectives, drawing on our team's individual expertise, will focus on each of the detector's modular components. We will develop a novel and hygienic sample cartridge to accept real-word samples of up to 10 ml volume, incorporating all of key elements of sample preparation, DNA concentration and signal generation. We will use pulsed, highly targeted 2.45 GHz microwaves for the instantaneous liberation of the target, bacterial DNA. We will separate and concentrate the target DNA using magnetic separation using functionalised magnetic nanoparticles, for its presentation to a functionalised metal surface for photonic detection. These elements will draw on our expertise in design of suitable DNA probes. Signal generation will be based on a novel, optical resonance based refractive index sensor, to provide real-time results with no fluorescent labelling. Our technology will be completely transformative in the rapid diagnosis of TB and will be simple enough to be operated by any healthcare worker or farmer. With further translational funding beyond the current project it can be reduced in both size and cost to allow a simple, low-cost detector, which will have particular benefit for use in developing countries. Our platform can be easily adapted to detect most other pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, MRSA, etc., so it could become an important tool to help control the spread of future pandemics. Our project fits with the scheme's objectives in that it is truly interdisciplinary, bringing together experts in veterinary medicine, microbiology, microwave and photonic engineering, to develop a novel, disruptive solution to a world-wide healthcare problem. We will adopt new approaches and generate new understanding that would not otherwise emerge from our single disciplines, delivering the required reciprocal benefits defined by the funding scheme.

Quantum technologies exploit the intriguing properties of matter and light that emerge when the randomizing processes of everyday situations are subdued. Particles then behave like waves and, like the photons in a laser beam, can be split and recombined to show interference, providing sensing mechanisms of exquisite sensitivity and clocks of exceptional accuracy. Quantum measurements affect the systems they measure, and guarantee communication security by destroying cryptographic keys as they are used. The entanglement of different atoms, photons or circuits allows massively powerful computation that promises complex optimizations, ultrafast database searches and elusive mathematical solutions. These quantum technologies, which EPSRC has declared one of its four Mission-Inspired priorities, promise in the near future to stand alongside electronics and laser optics as a major technological resource. In this 'second quantum revolution', a burgeoning quantum technology industry is translating academic research and laboratory prototypes into practical devices. Our commercial partners - global corporations, government agencies, SMEs, start-ups, a recruitment agency and VC fund - have identified a consistent need for hundreds of doctoral graduates who combine deep understanding of quantum science with engineering competence, systems insight and a commercial head. With our partners' guidance, we have designed an exciting programme of taught modules to develop knowledge, skills and awareness beyond the provision of traditional science-focused PhD programmes. While pursuing leading-edge research in quantum science and engineering, graduate students in the EPSRC CDT for Quantum Technology Engineering will follow a mix of lectures, practical assignments and team work, peer learning, workshops, and talks by our commercial partners. They will strengthen their scientific and engineering capabilities, develop their computing and practical workshop skills, study systems engineering and nanofabrication, project and risk management and a range of commercial topics, and receive professional coaching in communication and presentation. An industrial placement and extended study visit will give them experience of the commercial environment and global links in their chosen area, and they will have support and opportunities to break their studies to explore the commercialization of research inventions. A QT Enterprise Club will provide fresh, practical entrepreneurship advice, as well as a forum for local businesses to exchange experience and expertise. The CDT will foster an atmosphere of team working and collaboration, with a variety of group exercises and projects and constant encouragement to learn from and about each other. Students will act as mentors to junior colleagues, and be encouraged to take an active interest in each other's research. They will benefit from the diversity of their peers' backgrounds, across not just academic disciplines but also career stages, with industry secondees and part-time students bringing rich experience and complementary expertise. Students will draw upon the wealth of experience, across all corners of quantum technologies and their underpinning science and techniques, provided by Southampton's departments of Physics & Astronomy, Engineering, Electronics & Computer Science, Chemistry and its Optoelectronics Research Centre. They will be given training and opening credit for the Zepler Institute's nanofabrication facilities, and access to the inertial testing facilities of the Institute of Sound & Vibration research and the trials facilities of the National Oceanography Centre. Our aim is that graduates of the CDT will possess not only a doctorate in the exciting field of quantum technology, but a wealth of knowledge, skills and awareness of the scientific, technical and commercial topics they will need in their future careers to propel quantum technologies to commercial success.