The incidence of life-threatening bacterial infections has been rising in recent years, along with increases in the virulence and drug resistance of the bacteria.
Traditional diagnoses require great expertise, expensive equipment, and time.
The development of an inexpensive diagnostic device that could profile bacteria rapidly would help to identify, treat, and control the spread of such infections. A miniature, disposable plastic device is envisioned. To integrate all sample preparation steps on one chip, the team will pursue several innovative concepts. Sophisticated, three-dimensional device structures will be designed and then produced in batches using novel microfabrication techniques involving molding and bonding. The project will advance DNA chip technology beyond the state of the art by exploiting each team member's unique capabilities.