PFI-TT: Immuno-Dx: A Biomedical Platform Technology for Personalized Diagnostics

这项创新-技术转化伙伴关系（PFI-TT）项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于开发一种能够检测和监测患者抗感染能力的生物医学设备。拟议的技术解决了医院急诊科环境中未满足的需求，在那里它可用于监测患者对治疗的反应并识别高风险患者。一个最小可行原型（MVP）将从概念验证生物传感技术（称为免疫- dx）中开发出来，该技术的核心是监测血细胞杀死病原体的自然能力。免疫- dx可以应用于以下领域：(i)更好地了解患者对致病性感染的免疫系统反应，（ii）制药公司开发新的免疫治疗药物，以及（iii）医生制定患者治疗策略。生物传感装置将能够在30分钟内从一滴全血中提供有关患者抗感染能力的信息。这个PFI-TT项目将促进劳动力发展，与NSF培养下一代科学家和工程师的技术和创业技能的使命相一致，同时对国家医疗保健产生直接影响，并帮助美国经济。该项目的主要目标是开发一种集成电子、数据处理、用户界面和芯片样品处理的MVP，在一滴全血后30分钟内进行吞噬试验。拟议技术的价值主张在于它能够提供有关患者对感染和治疗的免疫反应的重要信息，以满足医院急诊科设置中对患者进行个性化监测的未满足需求。关键的创新功能包括在30分钟内从一滴全血中自动感知患者对抗感染的能力，集成机器学习（ML）模型以提高准确性，手动样品处理步骤的自动化，以及开发具有集成电子，数据处理和触摸控制用户界面的用户启发的3D打印阅读器。Immuno-Dx目前的关键属性和价值主张也可用于其他领域，如传染病、自身免疫性疾病和癌症，可供研究人员、制药公司、临床医生、医疗保健提供者和生物技术公司使用。PFI-TT提案的潜在结果将是Immuno-Dx技术从研究者的研究实验室过渡到商业创业公司。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project is on developing a biomedical device capable of detecting and monitoring patient's ability to combat infections. The proposed technology addresses the unmet need in emergency department settings of the hospitals where it can be used to monitor patients’ response to therapeutic treatments and identify high-risk patients. A minimal viable prototype (MVP) will be developed from proof-of-concept biosensing technology (called Immuno-Dx), which is centered around monitoring natural ability of blood cells to kill pathogens. Immuno-Dx can have applications in areas (i) to better understand immune system responses of patients to pathogenic infections, (ii) to develop new immunotherapy drugs by pharmaceutical companies, and (iii) to strategize patient treatments by physicians. Biosensing device will be able to provide information regarding patients’ ability to combat infection within 30 min from a drop of whole blood. This PFI-TT project will enable workforce development in spirit with the NSF mission of training next generation of scientists and engineers in technical and entrepreneurial skills, while creating a direct impact on national healthcare and aiding the US economy. The proposed project’ primary objective is to develop an MVP with integrated electronics, data processing, user interface, and onchip sample processing to perform the phagocytosis assay within 30 min from a drop of whole blood. Value proposition of proposed technology lies in its ability to provide vital information about patients’ immune response to infections and therapeutics, to fulfil unmet need for personalized monitoring of patients in emergency department settings of the hospitals. The key innovative features include automated sensing of patient’s ability to combat infections from a drop of whole blood within 30 min, integration of machine learning (ML) models for improved accuracy, automation of manual sample processing steps, and developing a user-inspired 3D printed reader with integrated electronics, data processing and touch controlled user interface. Current key attributes and value proposition of Immuno-Dx can also be leveraged in other areas e.g., infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer and can be used by researchers, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians, healthcare providers, and biotech companies. The potential outcome of PFI-TT proposal will be the transition of Immuno-Dx technology from investigator research laboratory to a commercial startup company.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.