Biomedical Sensors Laboratory
Research Focus
Welcome to the Biomedical Sensors Laboratory (BSL), a research group within the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick specialising in artificial olfaction. Our work centres on the design, development, and application of advanced chemical sensors and sensing systems that mimic the human sense of smell.
With an interdisciplinary team and a network of collaborators, we are creating innovative solutions across a wide range of fields, including medical diagnostics, environmental and air quality monitoring, industrial process control, food and beverage safety, and agriculture. By working closely with industry partners, we ensure that our research is translated into practical technologies that address real-world challenges.
Our vision is to be recognised as a leading centre for research in artificial olfaction and related sensor technologies, advancing knowledge while delivering meaningful impact for society.
Click hereLink opens in a new window to view journal papers from the group.
Current Projects
The Biomedical Sensors Laboratory is engaged in a wide range of projects supported by UKRI, charities, and industrial partners. Our work combines advanced sensor technologies with real-world applications, spanning both dedicated research programmes and PhD projects. Key areas of activity include:
Agriculture: Developing tools for the early detection of crop infections in the field, at harvest, and in storage, with a focus on potatoes and onions. We are also creating technologies to measure greenhouse gas emissions from soil and to improve animal welfare and meat quality through VOC monitoring in abattoirs.
Electronic Noses: Advancing state-of-the-art electronic nose technologies that replicate the sense of smell through sensor arrays and intelligent data analysis.
Environmental Quality: Partnering with local communities to monitor air quality around schools in Coventry, helping to assess exposure levels and guide behavioural change.
Medical Diagnostics: Collaborating with the NHS and international institutions to improve disease diagnosis using odour signatures from urine, stool, swabs, skin and breath, with a particular emphasis on cancers and infectious diseases.
Olfactory Displays: Designing “smell speakers,” digital devices that release odours in a controlled way alongside sound and vision. One display is currently installed at Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, recreating the fragrance of roses from his garden.
Industrial Applications: Developing technology to detect rust and corrosion in challenging environments, contributing to safer and smarter operations in sectors such as nuclear energy.
News
A Scent of ShakespeareLink opens in a new window
Step into Shakespeare’s garden through the power of scent. At Shakespeare's New Place, visitors can explore four rose fragrances recreated with cutting-edge olfactory technology, blending science, history, and art to bring the Bard’s world vividly to life.
Onion Crisis: Researchers Combatting Destructive Crop Disease Costing Farmers £10m AnnuallyLink opens in a new window
Warwick researchers are developing cutting-edge odour analysis tools to detect Fusarium Basal Rot, a devastating disease that causes massive onion crop losses worldwide. In partnership with the British Onions Producer Agency, the project aims to safeguard harvests and reduce industry losses of over £10 million annually.
James Covington, Professor in Electronic Engineering, said:
“Our odour analysis approach provides a non-invasive, non-contact method to monitor Fusarium in-store, even when tons of onions are stored together and where visual inspection is not possible."