Scott Meschke, PhD
Professor and Associate Chair, UW DEOHS

For the past 8 years, his research group has worked to develop a novel sampling system (the Bag-Mediated Filtration System) to facilitate improved environmental surveillance for Polio.  Their approach has successfully demonstrated significantly greater sensitivity for detection of poliovirus relative to the WHO recommended two-phase separation method, while addressing some of the logistic challenges associated with the WHO method.  His team has worked in closely with the WHO and CDC polio teams, as well as colleagues in Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.  Their method has now been validated for performance in a non-endemic area (Nairobi, Kenya) and in an endemic region (Pakistan).  Additionally they have demonstrated that their method also works for a number of other pathogenic targets, including Salmonella Typhi, rotavirus, and norovirus. Dr. Meschke will describe the development and application of the Bag-mediated Filtration System.