Powering mobile malaria research
THE Land Rover Discovery has celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing the role of a mobile laboratory on a pioneering drive across sub-saharan Africa as part of the latest Land Rover Bursary.
Over two months, the Mobile Malaria Project team covered 4567 miles across Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya in a Discovery developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Led by Dr George Busby, the Oxford University researchers worked with local scientists to extract and analyse DNA in remote sites to show how portable tech could fight spread of the disease. Scientists usually have to wait weeks for data after obtaining, preparing and dispatching samples to overseas laboratories for analysis, but this time they generated it in hours while driving.
Dr Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief medical officer, said: “Malaria affects millions of people all over the world every year. At Jaguar Land Rover we’re passionate about using our technology to help experts in their field make a real difference and the Land Rover Bursary is a great example of this. We’re really proud the unique Discovery has helped prove that remote DNA sequencing is possible even in hard-to-reach locations.”
The one-off Discovery was equipped as a mobile genetic sequencing laboratory, and carried a fridge/freezer to safely store scientific supplies, with bespoke load space configuration system to hold the team’s equipment and an on-board expedition battery. A purpose-built dual sun awning, rescue kit, winch, sand/mud tracks, roof rack and LED night driving lamps completed the list of modifications.
Fresh from this success, Land Rover has announced the winners of the 2019 bursary, an all-women team, who will travel through remote rural East Africa with the aid of a bespoke Discovery. They will gather evidence on the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of pest management technologies, focusing on fall armyworm, a highly-destructive pest threatening food security.
In addition, applications for the 2020 Land Rover Bursary – which will be the first to use the new Defender will open on September 1. The closing date for entries is November 30. To find out more or to begin an application go to rgs.org/ Landroverbursary.