McDevitt Group: At A Glance

EXPERTISE
nano health, lab-on-a-chip sensors, clinical chemistry, micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs) devices, cardiovascular disease, saliva-based diagnostics, cancer diagnostics, image-based sensors

BIOGRAPHY
Using nanometer-sized building blocks, the McDevitt laboratory develops extremely tiny sensors –- called “Lab-on-a-Chips” –- suitable for a variety of applications, such as clinical, environmental, environmental, bioterrorism, humanitarian and saliva-based diagnostic tools. One kind of mini-test system, called “chemical processing units,” is silicon-based and has been adapted to detect pH, electrolytes, metal cations, sugars, toxins, proteins, antibodies and more. A second kind of mini-test, called “cellular processing units,” is membrane-based and shows utility for a variety of cell-based tests. These units have been adapted to test for HIV, have led to the creation of a new Austin company called LabNow, and have shown significant utility in initial testing in US and Africa settings. The McDevitt lab has published over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, secured over 95 patents/patent applications thereby establishing one of largest patent portfolios in history of UT, and was recently selected as part of Science Coalition’s Best Scientific Advances for Year.