Increasing global temperatures, rising urban populations and international travel/trade have resulted in growing populations of pests and non native pest outbreaks. Bed bugs in particular pose a growing challenge with 80% hotels in the U.S reporting infestations in 2018, costing ~$23K/infestation with growing pesticide resistant strains --fuelling demand for improved monitoring and trapping technologies to tackle infestations. Through the combination of novel aggregation pheromone formulations, a unique sensor array design and machine learning, Arctech Innovation (leading SME developer of natural disease and pest control products) aim to address this global pest challenge with a solution that not only seeks to enhance attraction and trapping of pests but also confirms the presence of defined pest/vector species through the use of pheromone-based identification. The approach also overcomes the known limitations of other available smart systems which rely heavily on the use of hardware (eg cameras/GPS with sensors to detect pests) with high power demands, high costs and limitations in pest classification. Allowing for a more rapid and lower cost methodology for targeted insect detection at an early, treatable stage, the approach is truly scalable, the arising data also providing significant value for wider pest management programmes including species identification/outbreak modelling with future application in outdoor environments, notably targeting mosquitoes which account for \>17% of all infectious diseases globally. Arctech are well placed to complete the planned 18-month project which builds on established IP in natural test lure for bed bugs and an odour-based diagnostic as well as an established network of leading pest control companies. The receipt of Innovate UK support will accelerate development at a time where new solutions are actively sought globally.

Malaria is the single biggest killer in Africa with 670,000 deaths/year, disproportionately affecting pregnant mothers and <5 year-olds. Over 95% of deaths and 94% of cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Morbidity from frequent bouts of malaria (12,000 cases annually/100,000 population) reduces school and work attendance, trapping families in poverty and reducing GDP growth, with high associated healthcare costs. Post-Covid, malaria is rising after 20-year reductions. We need a new weapon in the fight against malaria. Active spatial dispensers are common in towns and cities where there's power. A small heater vaporises a chemical "repellent", which deters mosquitoes and massively reduces malaria in cities. But 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) live in rural areas, without access to power, so any mosquito vector-control systems are assumed to have to be either communal or passive (e.g., bed nets or repelling strips hanging in eaves). Africa Power (AP) provides Solar Home (Power) Systems (SHS) to provide power for: lights, radios; TVs and sewing-machines to off-grid rural areas. In conjunction with Arctech, AP has developed an extremely low-power, active spatial mosquito control dispenser, designed for use with SHS, of which 1.3 million units were deployed last year alone. Smaller less expensive power systems have also been developed to reach those in extreme poverty (under $1.90/day). Clinical free-flight room trials at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (**LSHTM**) showed a very high \>90% reduction in bites and a significant knockdown of mosquitoes. A small trial involving 150 families has tested our active dispenser and gathered the data needed to run a much-larger, fully-objective scientific and statistically-valid field-study. This study will undertake a statistically-significant field-trial over two countries and 7,800 households to determine the clinical effectiveness of these new malaria prophylactic devices. Feedback from the study will be used to improve the units from a user and field perspective and improved versions will be re-validated by Arctech. The study will also determine the best protocols, procedures, training, sensitisation, and routes-to-market to scale deployment regionally, nationally, and then continent-wide. The objective is to have sufficiently sound experimental data, including a determination of its cost-effectiveness, to roll out the systems in Africa and undertake a major regional or nationwide clinical assessment, involving governments; World Health Organisation (WHO); NGO's and funding bodies.. Africa Power is an off-grid rural power solutions company & Arctech Innovations (**Arctech**) is a spin-out company of LSHTM.

There are no changes to the published description, as detailed below: Many infectious diseases cause changes in human body odour, generating a profile that can potentially be used for rapid, low-cost and non-invasive diagnosis. Arctech Innovation is building on early research to create a breakthrough diagnostic platform utilising electronic sensors to accurately detect the unique profiles from infected individuals. This project focuses on prototype diagnostic device development with malaria as an initial proof-of-concept, to validate Arctech Innovation's approach and address a critical need for improved methods of early-stage diagnosis and detecting asymptomatic/mild malaria infections that are frequently undetected or misdiagnosed. It builds on extensive analytical chemistry studies and Arctech Innovation's initial sensor evaluation/assessment, which show feasibility of detecting malaria at an earlier stage than is currently possible and when infection levels are lower. This game-changing solution will deliver wide-ranging socio-economic benefits to globally-disadvantaged groups. Worldwide, there were ~229m malaria cases and ~409,000 deaths during 2019 in 87 countries. Despite previous success, progress against malaria has stalled, and WHO morbidity and mortality reduction targets will be missed whilst the economic direct/indirect costs are vast. Further progress requires addressing key challenges such as improved methods for early-stage diagnosis (2 weeks prior to late-stage diagnosis) and detecting asymptomatic individuals that can still transmit malaria parasites and may account for up to 50% of onward transmission. The malaria diagnostics market (2020 value ~£800m) increasingly demands early diagnosis and surveillance systems in developing countries, representing a significant export opportunity. The wider infectious diseases market is a much larger opportunity thus demonstrating the potential value of our technology.

"More than 50% of the global population are at risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, Zika and Lyme disease, causing 1 billion cases and 1 million deaths per year. Environmental changes are causing an increase in the range and abundance of disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks worldwide. The socio-economic cost of these diseases is significant: Zika virus caused GDP losses of ~$18BN in Latin America and the Caribbean in just 2 years (UNDP,2017). Annually, the UK has 481,000 A&E attendances for insect bites, costing the NHS £59.6 million per year (£124 per visit). For many vector-borne diseases there are no available vaccines and drug resistance is increasing, with insect control and repellent products essential to prevent disease outbreak. Given the rise in resistance to insecticides and emerging evidence of resistance to existing repellents (e.g. DEET), amongst other environmental and health concerns, novel solutions are urgently needed to tackle growing arthropod-related public health problems. To address this challenge, Vecotech has identified a novel, natural, plant-derived repellent which has proven to be topically and spatially effective in feasibility tests against several key species of mosquitos, midges and ticks. Building on this work, this project aims to develop an advanced formulation that provides stable protective efficacy and can be incorporated into a biodegradable material for use as a best-in-class wearable or household repellent product with a minimal environmental footprint. Compared to current wearable repellent devices, which have a protective efficacy of <2 weeks, Vecotech's solution will show long-lasting protective efficacy over 3-5 months, representing a \>5x increase on current state-of-the-art. Success in this project will enable Vecotech to bring a range of market leading wearable and home-based spatial repellent products to the market, with global exploitation potential within the insect-repellent market forecasted to be worth £5.39 billion by 2026, increasing company revenue and profit to support continued growth and competitiveness. The VecoB solution is anticipated to contribute to reductions in global morbidity/mortality rates of vector-borne diseases, aligned with the World Health Organisation's recommendations for elevated insect-control measures to prevent vector-borne epidemics. This will help to reduce the economic costs of lost working days and medical costs associated with vector-borne diseases. As a naturally-derived product, VecoB-based products will be safe, have a high public acceptance and will selectively target medically important vectors with no risk to the health of humans, wildlife or the broader environment."

The common bed bug, _Cimex lectularius_, is a small, blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans. Bed bugs can't fly or jump, but they are skilled hitchhikers that spread by hiding in your belongings until you get to your destination. Here, the apple pip-sized pests find a new hiding spot until they get hungry. Their bites cause reactions ranging from minor irritation to severe allergic hypersensitivity and infestations can cause extreme psychosocial stress. They are a pest of significant public health importance and a major global economic problem, widely infesting homes, hospitals and dormitories and damaging the hospitality industry through infestation of hotels, cinemas and transport. Bed bug control remains one of the most lucrative and growing markets in the pest management industry globally, being particularly strong in the US, where the bed bug problem is well established. Bed bug numbers are also reported to be increasing rapidly in Canada, Australia and UK in a range of properties. Detection of small numbers of bed bugs is problematic; they are active only at night, tend to harbour in cracks and crevices, and can go without feeding for long periods of time. There are a few bed bug detection methods and monitoring devices available, but there are no established products with proven reliability and efficacy for detecting low level infestations quickly. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has identified a new bed bug aggregation pheromone, which acts as a powerful lure. There is potential to develop this into an effective commercial product and the rights to do this have been secured by Vecotech Limited, a spin-out company founded to capitalise on the School's expertise in novel methods for surveillance and control of a wide range of medically important insects. The objective of this project is to develop an effective test prototype of this powerful lure, to be used in a bed bug-specific trap, capable of detecting early stage infestations, typically comprising <5 bugs within a 1 to 3-day period. The components of the lure are inexpensive and readily available, enabling Vecotech to develop a product that is effective, sensitive, long lasting, safe, affordable and discrete. There are currently no products available that match these requirements. A successful development of a prototype, underpinned by robust IP protection, will see Vecotech quickly secure significant market penetration and sales, and kindle development and commercialisation of other advances to pest detection, prevention and control.