Photo: Wara Bullot
Scentian Bio is a local start-up developing a biological electronic nose that can detect human diseases. The company is harnessing insect smell receptors to help detect diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria and has been awarded a $2.7 million dollar grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Scentian Bio's Chief Technology Officer, Dr Andrew Kralicek, spent 19 years at Plant & Food Research researching how smell receptors in insects work, and how they can be used to create a biosensor that can detect and identify odours. He tells Kathryn Ryan about the potential for the technology. Andrew Kralicek will also be speaking at the E Tipu IFAMA World Conference 2023 in Ōtautahi Christchurch 19-20 June.
