Bench to Bedside: Translational Research Facilitated
with Bio-Nano-Chip Systems

While nanotechnology promises to revolutionize medicine in the 21st century, there remain severe challenges with respect the integration of functional systems into cost-effective health treatment and management modalities.

Over the past decade, the McDevitt laboratory has sustained diligent efforts to move above and beyond the traditional academic endeavors with publications and presentations as the end goal into the regime of delivering research and clinical tools for use in important applications of societal interest.

These efforts have resulted in:

1. The development of portable HIV immune function tests for use in resource poor settings;
2. The launching of a new company called LabNow dedicated to point-of-need diagnostic solutions;
3. The creation of new cardiac screening tools;
4. The development of next generation cancer diagnostic aids;
5. A new program initiated to develop the next generation of diagnostic chips suitable for trauma applications;
6. With funding from NIDCR-NIH Rice University launches a new clinical trial with Baylor College of Medicine for the purpose of validating salivary biomarkers for heart attacks;
7. Rice University wins NIDCR-NIH funding for oral-cancer test: Grand Opportunity grant funds rapid saliva test using lab-on-a-chip; and
8. McDevitt lab launches the “Texas Cancer Diagnostics Pipeline” with funding from CPRIT.

These translational efforts strive to use the tools of nano science and engineering in an effort to improve the quality and accessibility of health care on a global scale.

With the move to Rice University in July of 2009, the McDevitt laboratory will secure access to the world’s largest medical complex with the aim of creating for the first time an effective bridge between medical devices and microfabrication approaches. This leadership position in the area of bio-nano-chip will allow for the development of powerful diagnostic aids that are affordable and accessible to all humanity.