There is a persistent need for reliable and affordable technology for early detection of disease that can spread rapidly to others to manage effectively disease spread. The present project addresses this need by developing and commercializing a highly sensitive, cost-effective, portable, user-friendly sensor system for the detection of bacterial disease, with the goal of enabling rapid, easy testing for the presence of the disease in all environments, including low-resource settings. The new system, which combines advanced quantum-dot sensor technology with a proven rapid detection assay and a specialized user-friendly reader technology, will be developed using tuberculosis, a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can be lethal if not detected early, as a test case. In recent years, the prevalence of the disease has increased within the U.S. and worldwide, and significant resources are being invested to help physicians combat tuberculosis; thus, there is an urgent need to develop and make available a highly sensitive sensor system that frontline healthcare professionals can use to diagnose tuberculosis readily and reliably. The long-term goal of this project is to enhance public health by reducing the spread of tuberculosis. In addition to developing and commercializing a superior sensor system to fill a market gap in tuberculosis diagnosis, the project includes activities aimed at developing a skilled workforce to tackle regional and national diseas