In 2018, a collaboration between Australia, Texas, and Ethiopia led to the creation of 3-D printed technology that helps diagnose Leishmaniasis. 

Credit: Flinders University

About Leishmaniasis

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are approximately 1.5 million new cases of cutaneous Leishmaniasis and 500,000 new cases of visceral Leishmaniasis in the world each year. Leishmaniasis has been found in about 88 countries around the world, including cases in Mexico and Texas. 

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by sandflies. The disease is most common among malnourished people living in unsanitary conditions. This deadly disease is curable if it is diagnosed and treated early. 

A New Solution to Diagnosis Leishmaniasis

The 3-D printed kit to diagnosis Leishmaniasis was the product of a multi-continent collaboration between PademicTech, an infectious disease virtual incubator based in Austin, Texas, U.S.; the New Venture Institute at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia; and Dr. Endalamaw Gadisa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

A Global Team

Dr. Gadisa identified issues with testing for Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia. The existing testing equipment was costly and fragile. Additionally, microscopes were required to view samples and results took a week or more to receive. Dr. Gadisa designed new test equipment but lacked the ability to build a prototype in Ethiopia. That is where the entrepreneurs from South Australia and Texas came in. 

Andrew Nerlinger, Director of PandemicTech in Austin, teamed up with Matt Salier, Director of Flinders University’s New Venture Institute in Adelaide, to create the new test kit. The kit includes test tubes as well as a special 3-D printed microscope that attaches to a smartphone camera and converts the phone into a 60x magnification microscope that can be used to diagnose Leishmaniasis. 

Watch this video to learn more about the Leishmaniasis technology.

Building Global Bridges To Change the World

Tech Ranch® was able to connect doctors in Ethiopia with entrepreneurs in Texas and Australia who developed an economical solution that can now save thousands of lives. By supporting entrepreneurs, we drove positive change faster than could have happened in another way. By leveraging an organized network, we are able to do it at a much lower cost through entrepreneurial means versus waiting on historical charitable means or traditional governmental methodology. 

Interested in changing the world? Contact Tech Ranch® today to learn how you can help build bridges.