Diagnostic ‘Lab-on-a-Chip’ test developed by ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úengineers receives $100K research boost
A new $100,000 grant awarded to ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úwill assist in their development of a fast, portable tool for point-of-care medical diagnoses.
DALLAS (SMU) – A new $100,000 grant awarded to ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úengineering professors J.-C. Chiao and Ali Beskok will assist in their development of a fast, portable tool for point-of-care medical diagnoses.
It’s estimated the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úteam’s Lab-on-a-Chip test can detect immune responses to infectious pathogens in two to three minutes, with just a drop of blood or saliva. The same technology could also potentially be used to identify biomarkers for noninfectious, chronic diseases such as cancers, cardiac and coronary artery diseases.
Chiao, the Mary and Richard Templeton Centennial Chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering at SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, and Beskok, the associate dean for research innovation and PhD education and the George R. Brown Chair in mechanical engineering at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úLyle, were in the running for a Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Technology (TAMEST)’s 2024 Hill Prize in Engineering. And though they weren’t chosen as one of the five winning proposals, Lyda Hill Philanthropies – which funds the TAMEST prizes and is committed to advancing scientific breakthroughs by supporting researchers and entrepreneurs – gave Chiao and Beskok a donation for their research.
“This grant from Lyda Hill Philanthropies will help our team to continue the research efforts and develop clinical applications for the point-of-care diagnostic devices,” said Chiao, who is also a project lead in the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration in the Department of Commerce.
The Lab-on-a-Chip test essentially profiles how a person’s immune system has responded to pathogens at some point in time. For instance, it can detect human IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies that are produced when infected, as well as other neutralizing antibodies generated by the immune system to destroy viruses.
The test is performed by applying a drop of bodily fluid to a microfluidic chip used to analyze tiny amounts of liquid. The chip is then placed into an electronic instrument that detects changes that quantify specific antibodies present in the plasma.
“We’re focused on designing affordable devices that can be used at every home, office, factory and school to ensure accessibility and ability to prevent outbreaks,” Chiao said.
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