(BOSTON, Mass.) Diagnostics for All (DFA) announced today that it has received a US$2.99 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK’s Department for International Development. The two-year grant will fund development of three agricultural diagnostic tests that support livestock health and have the potential to dramatically improve productivity and health among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
“I am delighted that we are now able to apply our broad low-cost, easy-to-use testing platform for agricultural purposes in addition to our strong human health program,” said Dr. Una Ryan, chief executive officer of DFA. “Our goal is to boost the production and improve the safety of two important foods – cow’s milk and maize – and increase smallholder farmer income.”
Milk and maize can spoil or be contaminated by toxins. Existing tests to safeguard these foods are expensive and often need skilled labor and specialized equipment to apply them properly. DFA’s tests are easy to use and could be administered by the farmers themselves. The cost per test could be a low as a few pennies.
The first diagnostic will test for milk spoilage by detecting the presence of bacteria. Most tests currently measure the acidity of milk – a proxy test that isn’t as accurate. Many small farmers contribute their herd’s milk to dairy cooperatives in Africa for pooling and sale to processors. Inaccurate testing means a single farmer’s spoiled contribution can contaminate an entire pool. Low-cost tests from DFA can also help pinpoint which farmer’s milk has gone bad, potentially helping identify cows with bacterial infections.
A second test to be developed under the grant would determine when cows are pregnant or in heat. Identifying cows that are ready for breeding, or already pregnant, will enable small farmers to better manage their herds. Currently, farmers rely on watching their cows for behavioral changes, or perform a potentially dangerous physical examination of the cow. Both methods are less accurate than DFA’s proposed test, which would measure hormone levels.
Finally, DFA will develop a test for the presence of aflatoxin, a poisonous substance produced by mold in maize. The mold can develop during growing, harvest or storage of the maize, and eating the grain can lead to hepatitis or potentially liver cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable to aflatoxin, and can become stunted and at greater risk of infectious diseases after exposure. Using diagnostics to ensure their harvests are mold-free will protect people from tainted grain and enable the farmers to get the best price for their grain at market.
Current tests for aflatoxin cost about $6, a prohibitive price for many farmers. DFA’s test would cost less than 50 cents, and perhaps as little as a few pennies.
“These tests were identified as steps that could enhance farmer income and pay for themselves,” said Patrick Beattie, head of global health operations for DFA. “Raising herds is how farmers in this part of the world build wealth. They need better tests.”
Prior to the new grant, Diagnostics For All had focused exclusively on developing tests to directly improve human health. This year, the Boston non-profit expects to begin field-testing a simple paper-based diagnostic that can measure liver toxicity, a common side effect of drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS.
DFA’s technology, developed in the laboratories of Harvard University professor George Whitesides, uses proprietary microfluidics to turn postage stamp-sized pieces of paper into sensitive diagnostic tools. Their low cost and ease of use make them perfectly suited for applications in lesser-developed countries where electricity and sanitary conditions are often lacking.
Diagnostics For All has previously been funded by a grant from the Gates Foundation’s Global Health program.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. DFID has offices in around 40 developing countries and provides aid to around 90 countries.
Incorporated in 2007, Diagnostics For All is a 501(c)(3) non-profit enterprise creating low-cost, easy-to-use point-of-care diagnostic devices specifically designed for the developing world. These devices are elegantly simple and inexpensive. They require minimal training to use, minimal sample preparation, and no electricity or additional equipment. For more information, visit www.dfa.org or email info@dfa.org.
