The project vision is to develop a microbial-based array biosensor for simultaneously detecting multiple environmental contaminants. An innovative biological sensing component is proposed that will enable highly selective and simultaneous multi-target detection of environmental pollutants using an array biosensor platform. Currently, proof-of-concept work is exploring both an electrochemical and optical analytical sensing device.

This project was awarded funding in 2001 for four years under the New Zealand Government New Economy Research Fund (NERF), with the aim of developing new and emerging enterprises in New Zealand.

The project involves a consortium of New Zealand tertiary institutes, each contributing specific expertise to the project:

- Lincoln Ventures Ltd - electrochemistry, biosensor development
- Landcare Research - microbiology, molecular sensing
- Cawthron Institute - marine microbiology, enzymology and biochemistry
- Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology - microbiology, immobilisation
- Lincoln University - toxicology, biochemistry
- Waikato University - biomaterials, immobilisation.