Project 3. Entitled: Diagnostic Evaluation of Targeted PCR for Early Confirmation of Group A Streptococcus (DETECT). Current tests for invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) are slow and often miss cases.
The DETECT project will develop a new blood test using advanced molecular technology to identify iGAS earlier and more reliably. Faster diagnosis will help doctors start the right treatment sooner, improve survival, optimise antibiotic use, and reduce complications.
The study will also develop new ways to read the bacteria’s genetic code directly from blood samples, enabling real time tracking of outbreaks and how the bacteria is evolving.
DETECT will employ a full-time clinical research fellow in paediatrics to deliver this work, strengthening child health research, improving patient outcomes and public health, and supporting better planning for future vaccines.
Total cost £253,000.
Thanks to the wonderful support of families who have been affected by meningitis, sepsis and other associated diseases, the general public and grant giving intuitions. In just three years since the inception of Spencer Dayman Meningitis Research we have committed almost half a million pounds towards scientific research into the prevention of meningitis, sepsis and other associated diseases.
