Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME POCT)

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Overall ACME POCT Project Summary / Abstract Since the advent of POC diagnostics several decades ago, one class of novel medical technologies that has shown promise for POC applications is microsystems diagnostics, that is, microchip-enabled tests ranging from microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)-based sensors, microfluidics, to smartphone-based systems. Notable for their small size, low power requirements, and high sensitivity, microsystems provide portability that is vital for POC testing. Since 2018, the Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered POC Technologies (ACME POCT) has assisted inventors who have developed microsystems-based POC technologies in defining their specific clinical needs, conducting clinical validation, and refining their technology, with the objective of accelerating the path to translation and clinical adoption. The ACME POCT uniquely leverages Atlanta’s nationally top-ranked clinical programs at Emory’s hospitals and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), one of the nation’s largest pediatric hospital systems, as well the internationally acclaimed microsystems expertise at Georgia Tech, which includes the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN). The PIs of the ACME POCT uniquely balance the engineering and clinical sides of the Center and comprise Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD, a pediatrician at Emory/CHOA and a Georgia Tech bioengineer with a personal track record in microfluidics and POC diagnostic development and commercialization; Oliver Brand, PhD, a renowned microsystems engineer and head of Georgia Tech’s IEN; and Greg Martin, MD, MSc, an internationally known clinical pulmonologist/intensivist at Emory with system-level clinical research leadership experience. Over the last 4 years, the ACME POCT has applied a “disease inclusive” approach by fostering the development of 22 microsystems-based POC technologies for all clinical applications. As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and the NIH established the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative to assess, validate, and scale-up production of POC COVID-19 diagnostics for the entire country, the ACME POCT served as the national Test Verification Core. As such, the ACME POCT established itself as a center of excellence in diagnostics evaluation by developing an efficient yet comprehensive test verification strategy by progressively assessing technologies in various laboratory then clinical settings, with parallel assessments of usability and regulatory strategy. Importantly, our Atlanta bio- innovation ecosystem has also flourished, including the launch of an Emory-based center that is dedicated to developing POC tests for achieving health equity among underserved populations, and a program that develops clinical mobile apps, often as companion technologies for POC diagnostics. With our distinctive role in RADx combined with our uniquely enhanced expertise, ecosystem and infrastructures, the ACME POCT is now especially well positioned to apply our lessons learned from RADx towards assisting microsystems POC diagnostics for all clinical applications via a “hands on” and pro-active approach.