Dr. Balam Jimenez, a researcher at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University in Wellington, has developed a user-friendly biosensor with the potential to revolutionize the aquaculture industry by detecting harmful toxins in seafood.
Inspired by his Whakatōhea-Mexican daughter, Hinemoana, and prompted by a personal experience with an E-coli outbreak, Jimenez embarked on research using synthetic DNA and RNA strands to create a technology capable of identifying specific toxins in seafood.
The biosensor, based on short single strands of synthetic nucleic acids that bind to target toxins, serves as the foundation for a toxin monitoring tool designed for use by iwi, communities, and industry. Seafood contamination, particularly from harmful algal blooms or paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), costs the global aquaculture industry an estimated $8 billion annually.
Jimenez’s tool aims to enable accessible point-of-care testing, addressing the ongoing health risks associated with seafood toxins. The prototype of the toxin monitoring tool is currently undergoing calibration and trials within the aquaculture industry, with an expected release date in July.
Jimenez emphasizes the significance of a healthy environment for ensuring the well-being of communities, emphasizing the need to create a tool that contributes to overall environmental and community health.