How we work

Technology works best when the people it is made for drive both the underlying research questions and solutions.

This is why our rural point-of-care (RPOC) 2035 network has formed: to make transformative point-of-care sensors, together, by 2035.

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We are committed to community-led research.

Sensor research is often done in city-based laboratories and in ways that do not consider the contexts the sensors will be used in.

For several years, we have been engaging with rural communities, industry, and peak bodies to understand community priorities and potential solutions.

Our consultation with community members includes via La Trobe University’s Rural Health Consumer Panel. Panel members assist researchers in gaining a deeper understanding of the health challenges affecting rural and regional Australians. Feedback has highlighted themes including difficulty accessing healthcare and prevention measures such as screening; lack of local services; long wait times; and not being able to understand information about a test result or how to do an at-home test.

Together, we are working to develop RPOC sensors that are:

Resistant to contamination, so sensors work well in local community settings without lots of maintenance.

Sensitive, which means the sensors can look for early signs of disease and disease risk.

Resilient to changing conditions so that temperature-controlled environments are not needed for transport, storage and use.

Community owned and governed, ensuring people have control of their data and benefit broadly from the sensor platform.

How we have built partnerships

Our network is built on long-standing partnerships and collaborations between researchers, communities, industry, healthcare, and government.

Together, we bring together decades of lived experience, and expertise in sensors and diagnostics, engineering, artificial intelligence, community engagement, community health, medicine, and advanced manufacturing.

For over two years, our research teams have been extensively consulting with diverse end-users across Australia. Past and current engagement includes:

Visits to regional, rural and remote Australia

Workshops, forums, and meetings

Tradeshows and conferences

Through respectful and genuine listening and learning, we are working to identify where RPOC 2035’s sensors can make a difference, refine research questions, and explore potential solutions.

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