on-chip platform for the rapid detection of drug (antibiotic) susceptibility for pathogens and to determine mechanical properties at cellular level.

病原体感染是全世界发病率和死亡率的巨大代价。一些高传染性病原体有可能在世界各地传播(如目前由SARS-CoV-2引起的大流行)，另一些可能具有较低的继续传播率，但对宿主可能是致命的。本项目的目的是开发一个通用的平台，用于快速评估药物(抗生素)治疗途径，并确定微组织的力学性质。该平台将集成芯片上的微流控实验室和芯片设备上的器官。芯片上的微流控实验室将被开发为病原体负载的抗生素敏感性的快速测试。该项目的芯片一侧的器官将专注于开发芯片设备上的器官，以评估微组织或细胞阵列的机械性能。

Pathogen infections are responsible for the huge cost of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some of the highly infectious pathogens have potential to spread around the world (such as current pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2) and others might have lower rate of onward transmission but could be lethal to a host. In either case, an early diagnosis and ability decide immediate therapeutic route is desirable.The aim of this project is to develop a generic platform for the rapid evaluation of drug (antibiotic) therapeutic route and to determine mechanical properties of micro-tissue. The platform will integrate both a microfluidic lab on chip with an organ on a chip device. The microfluidic lab on chip will be developed as a rapid test for the antibiotic susceptibility of a pathogenic load. The organ on a chip side of the project will see efforts focussed on developing an organ on a chip device to evaluate the mechanical properties of the micro-tissue or cell array.