James Covington

Professor James Covington is a Professor in Electronic Engineering at the University of Warwick's School of Engineering, serving as Associate Head of Department (Impact & Industry). His research focuses on developing chemical/biological sensors for environmental pollutants and medical applications, leading to the creation of the Biomedical Sensors Laboratory in 2010. He has pioneered low-cost chemical sensors licensed to AMS and collaborates with industries like Sony, IBM, and Roche. His work spans sensor fundamentals, instrumentation, and applications in agriculture, automotive, and security sectors.

Research interests include artificial olfactory systems, gas phase analysis, clinical biomarker detection, and low-cost sensor materials. Notable projects include VOC-based diagnostics for pancreatic cancer, UTIs, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as non-invasive preterm birth prediction. He chairs the International Society of Chemical Sensors and contributes to global sensor standards via IEEE and IET.

Key grants include Innovate UK funding for antibiotic resistance diagnostics and Wellcome Trust support for urinary tract infection analysis. His sensor systems address urgent healthcare needs while advancing environmental and industrial monitoring. The Biomedical Sensors Laboratory drives interdisciplinary innovation, combining electronics, materials science, and clinical applications.