At the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany (28 June–3 July), South African scientist Jaymi Leigh January presented her work on next‑generation biosensors. She was among more than 650 young researchers invited. January explained how combining nanotechnology and electrochemistry can detect minute disease biomarkers linked to tuberculosis, cancer and viral illnesses. As she told SciDev.Net, "Early diagnosis has the potential to transform healthcare..."
January earned an honours degree in Chemistry and an MSc in Nanoscience at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and completed a PhD in 2025 focused on electroanalytical biosensors and nanomaterials. At UWC’s Sensor Laboratories she develops sensitive diagnostic platforms that target biomarkers for TB, cancer and long COVID. A key element is the use of nanobodies, a form of monoclonal antibody derived from camelids; their small size and high specificity let sensors detect minute biomarker concentrations and improve diagnostic accuracy.
Her research was a finalist in the 2025 South African Women in Science Awards. January argued that scientific progress must reach underserved communities: "Scientific excellence alone is not enough. We must ensure that innovation reaches those who need it most, particularly in Africa and other underrepresented regions." Moving the sensors from lab to clinic will require several steps:
- large-scale clinical validation,
- manufacturing optimisation,
- regulatory approval,
- partnerships with industry.
She hopes to commercialise the technologies with industry partners, ideally within South Africa, to deliver affordable, portable diagnostics suited to local healthcare needs and support earlier diagnosis, better patient outcomes and more equitable healthcare.
Difficult words
- biosensor — Device that detects biological signals or moleculesbiosensors
- nanotechnology — Study and use of very small materials
- electrochemistry — Study of chemical reactions involving electricity
- biomarker — Measurable biological sign of a diseasebiomarkers
- nanobody — Small antibody fragment from camelid speciesnanobodies
- validation — Process of proving a method works reliably
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What benefits could affordable, portable diagnostics bring to underserved communities mentioned in the article?
- What practical challenges might researchers face when doing large-scale clinical validation and local manufacturing?
- How could partnerships with industry help or hinder the goal of equitable healthcare in regions like Africa?
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