Research

Research Interests

Neil has experience in biochemistry, molecular biology, nanotechnology and biosensors, this breadth of training overlaps in many areas. For example, the need for an understanding of proteins and their potential applications out of context, providing the essential specificity at sensor surfaces, which can result in the direct detection of important analytes in complex matrices. In addition, Neil is interested in the development of next generation molecular diagnostics as near-patient technology platforms for rapid, quantitative measurement of markers of disease and their use in remote monitoring and management. An academic in the Translational and Clinical Research Institute, embedded within the Molecular Mechanisms of Life theme and the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologies group, Neil strongly believes in multidisciplinary research and its advantages for the quality of scientific output. This is illustrated by current interest in the development of biological, microbial, or chemical sensors based on microelectromechanical systems (bio-MEMS).

Current and Recent Funding 

i-sense2, IRC in Agile Early Warning Sensing Systems for Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance: EPSRC IRC (£4.3M, October 2018 - April 2024).

Ultra-Sensitive Enhanced NanoSensing of Anti-Microbial Resistance (u-Sense): EPSRC IRC Next Steps Plus award (£1.39M October 2018 - April 2024).

Early-Warning Sensing Systems for Infectious Diseases: EPSRC IRC (£11.1M, Oct 2013 - Sept 2019) 

Personal Risk Assessment in Febrile Illness to Optimize Real-life Management Across the EU (PERFORM): EC H2020 (Jan 2016 - Dec 2020).

The Multi-Corder: EPSRC Programme Grant (£3.4M, May 2013 - May 2018)

High Frequency Degenerate Mode Acoustic Sensors (DSAW): EPSRC Project Grant (£778k, Nov 2012 - Oct 2016)

Teaching

Recent PhD Supervision

• Neil has supervised many PhD students between 2007 and the present day.

Postgraduate Teaching

• MRes Project Supervisor.

 Undergraduate Teaching

• Module Leader Stage 3 Medical Biotechnology, BGM3039.
• Lecturer Stage 3 Applied Biochemistry, BGM3064
• Supervisor BSc. Projects.
• BSc. Sports and Exercise Sciences Personal Tutor.

Publications

• Articles

  • Hassanain WA, Johnson CL, Faulds K, Keegan N, Graham D. Ultrasensitive Dual ELONA/SERS-RPA Multiplex Diagnosis of Antimicrobial Resistance. Analytical Chemistry 2024, 96(29), 12093–12101.
  • Johnson CL, Setterfield MA, Hassanain WA, Wipat A, Pocock M, Faulds K, Graham D, Keegan N. Multiplex detection of the big five carbapenemase genes using solid-phase recombinase polymerase amplification. Analyst 2024, Epub ahead of print.
  • Faqihi AA, Keegan N, Šiller L, Hedley J. Effect of Ambient Environment on Laser Reduction of Graphene Oxide for Applications in Electrochemical Sensing. Sensors 2023, 23(18), 8002.
  • Hassanain WA, Spoors J, Johnson CL, Faulds K, Keegan N, Graham D. Rapid ultra-sensitive diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection using a SERS-based lateral flow assay. Analyst 2021, 146(14), 4495-4505.
  • Gallacher B, Dale C, Burdess JS, Hu Z, Keegan N, Lisle TJ, Alexander A. Characterisation of a micromachined degenerate fused quartz-microbalance. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 2019, 297, 111511.
  • Izci D, Dale C, Keegan N, Hedley J. The Construction of a Graphene Hall Effect Magnetometer. IEEE Sensors Journal 2018, 18(23), 9534-9541.
  • Lawry BM, Johnson CL, Flanagan K, Spoors JA, McNeil CJ, Wipat A, Keegan N. Species-specific detection of C. difficile using targeted antibody design. Analytical Chemistry 2018, 90(22), 13475-13482.
  • Gallacher BJ, Burdess JS, Hu ZX, Grigg HT, Dale C, Hedley J, Fu C, Spoors J, O'Meara N, Keegan N. Experimental verification of a quasi-trapped degenerate mode magnetic acoustic resonator. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 2018, 269, 238-248.
  • Burdess JS, Gallacher BJ, Grigg HT, Hu ZX, Dale C, Keegan N, Hedley J, Fu C, Spoors J. The theory of a trapped degenerate mode resonator. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2017, 141(6), 4622-4632.
  • Popescu S, Dale C, Keegan N, Ghosh B, Kaner R, Hedley J. Rapid Prototyping of a Low-cost Graphene-based Impedimetric Biosensor. Procedia Technology 2017, 27, 274-276.
  • Jauset-Rubio M, Svobodová M, Mairal T, McNeil C, Keegan N, Saeed A, Abbas MN, El-Shahawi MS, Bashammakh AS, Alyoubi AO, O'Sullivan CK. Ultrasensitive, rapid and inexpensive detection of DNA using paper based lateral flow assay. Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 37732.
  • Shakoor A, Cheah BC, Hao D, Al-Rawhani M, Nagy B, Grant J, Dale C, Keegan N, McNeil C, Cumming DRS. Plasmonic Sensor Monolithically Integrated with a CMOS Photodiode. ACS Photonics 2016, 3(10), 1926-1933.
  • Hu Z, Hedley J, Keegan N, Spoors J, Gallacher B, McNeil C. One-port Electronic Detection Strategies for Improving Sensitivity in Piezoelectric Resonant Sensor Measurements. Sensors 2016, 16(11), 1781.
  • Jauset-Rubio M, Svobodová M, Mairal T, McNeil C, Keegan N, El-Shahawi MS, Bashammakh AS, Alyoubi AO, O'Sullivan CK. Aptamer Lateral Flow Assays for Ultrasensitive Detection of β-Conglutin Combining Recombinase Polymerase Amplification and Tailed Primers. Analytical Chemistry 2016, 88(21), 10701–10709.
  • Griffiths K, Dale C, Hedley J, Kowal MD, Kaner RB, Keegan N. Laser-scribed graphene presents an opportunity to print a new generation of disposable electrochemical sensors. Nanoscale 2014, 6(22), 13613-13622.
  • Burnett R, Harris AJ, Ortiz P, Hedley J, Burdess JS, Keegan N, Spoors JA, McNeil CJ. Electronic Detection Strategies for a MEMS-Based Biosensor. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems 2013, 22(2), 276-284.
  • Hu Z, Hedley J, Keegan N, Spoors J, Waugh W, Gallacher B. Design, fabrication and characterization of a piezoelectric MEMS diaphragm resonator mass sensor. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 2013, 23, 125019.
  • Ortiz P, Burnett R, Keegan N, Spoors J, Hedley J, Harris A, Burdess J, Raphoz N, Collet J, McNeil CJ. Issues associated with scaling up production of a lab demonstrated MEMS mass sensor. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 2012, 22(11), 115032.
  • Stadler LKJ, Hoffmann T, Tomlinson DC, Song Q, Lee T, Busby M, Nyathi Y, Gendra E, Tiede C, Flanagan K, Cockell SJ, Wipat A, Harwood C, Wagner SD, Knowles MA, Davis JJ, Keegan N, KoFerrigno P. Structure-function studies of an engineered scaffold protein derived from Stefin A. II: Development and applications of the SQT variant. Protein Engineering Design and Selection 2011, 24(9), 751-763.
  • Keegan N, Ridley H, Lakey J. Discovery of Biphasic Thermal Unfolding of OmpC with Implications for Surface Loop Stability. Biochemistry 2010, 49(45), 9715-9721.
  • Suarez G, Keegan N, Spoors JA, Ortiz P, Jackson RJ, Hedley J, Borrise X, McNeil CJ. Biomolecule Patterning on Analytical Devices: A Microfabrication-Compatible Approach. Langmuir 2010, 26(8), 6071-6077.
  • Ismail AK, Burdess JS, Harris AJ, Suarez G, Keegan N, Spoors JA, Chang SC, McNeil CJ, Hedley J. The fabrication, characterization and testing of a MEMS circular diaphragm mass sensor. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 2008, 18(2), 025021.
  • Holt SA, Lakey JH, Daud SM, Keegan N. Neutron reflectometry of membrane protein assemblies at the solid/liquid interface. Australian Journal of Chemistry 2005, 58(9), 674-677.
  • Keegan N, Wright NG, Lakey JH. Circular dichroism spectroscopy of folding in a protein monolayer. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2005, 44(30), 4801-4804.

• Reviews

  • Budd J, Miller BS, Weckman NE, Cherkaoui D, Huang D, Decruz AT, Fongwen N, Han G, Broto M, Estcourt CS, Gibbs J, Pillay D, Sonnenberg P, Meurant R, Thomas MR, Keegan N, Stevens MM, Nastouli E, Topol EJ, Johnson AM, Shahmanesh M, Ozcan A, Collins JJ, Suarez MF, Rodriguez B, Peeling RW, McKendry RA. Lateral flow test engineering and lessons learned from COVID-19. Nature Reviews Bioengineering 2023, 1, 13-31.
  • Hassanain WA, Johnson CL, Faulds K, Graham D, Keegan N. Recent Advances in Antibiotic Resistance Diagnosis Using SERS: Focus on the “Big 5” Challenges. Analyst 2022, 21(147), 4674-4700.
  • Budd J, Miller BS, Manning EM, Lampos V, Zhuang M, Edelstein M, Rees G, Emery VC, Stevens MM, Keegan N, Short MJ, Pillay D, Manley E, Cox IJ, Heymann D, Johnson AM, McKendry RA. Digital technologies in the public-health response to COVID-19. Nature Medicine 2020, 26(8), 1183-1192.