Ian Johnston, our Hub Director, is a Professor of Microfluidics and Biodetection and the Director of the Wolfson Centre for Biodetection & Instrumentation Research at the University of Hertfordshire. A key academic member of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science, Ian specialises in experimental research on microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices and integrated biodetection systems.

What inspired you to establish the Biodetection Technologies Hub?

At Hertfordshire, we’ve a long history of working with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to develop biodetection systems that protect our armed forces. We are adapting these systems for challenges like crop disease. However, to truly optimise technologies that identify health risks, determine exposure thresholds and inform mitigation strategies across a whole range of scenarios, we need to unite expertise. The Hub provides a unique platform for interdisciplinary researchers from multiple universities to collaborate with government agencies and industry to tailor novel approaches in detecting biological particles to specific environments – be it a hospital ward, a livestock farm, or high in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Which of the Hub’s collaborations is exciting you the most?

We have a fascinating project in Iceland that really captures the ethos of the Hub. A biodetection system originally developed for military use has been mounted on board a drone so we can investigate the design modifications needed to study how bioaerosols initiate ice formation in clouds – an important factor in climate processes. This collaboration between Hertfordshire and Leeds is especially exciting because the field trials are being led by an early career researcher. This embodies what the Hub is all about: empowering the next generation of scientists to explore their ideas and grow into future leaders.

What originally drew you to the field of biodetection?

I’ve always been interested in applying engineering solutions to biological challenges. My early work focused on developing miniaturised microfluidic devices to significantly increase the speed and reliability of blood cell analysis. The micropumping technology we created for safely transporting blood cells caught the attention of Dstl researchers as a potential tool for miniaturising and automating biological sample processing in biodefence scenarios.

What are you most proud of in your research career?

Without a doubt, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of researchers and partners with shared research and technology aims, and working with them to secure £13.5m in funding for our Hub through Research England’s highly competitive Expanding Excellence in England call. I’m thrilled the panel believed in our collective vision, and we’re excited to work collaboratively to deliver on this transformative investment.