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

病原体感染是世界范围内发病率和死亡率的巨大代价。一些高度传染性的病原体有可能在世界各地传播（例如目前由SARS-CoV-2引起的大流行），其他病原体可能具有较低的传播率，但可能对宿主致命。无论哪种情况，早期诊断和能力决定立即治疗路径是可取的。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）治疗路径，并确定微组织的力学性能。该平台将集成芯片上的微流体实验室和芯片上的器官设备。芯片上的微流控实验室将被开发为一种快速测试病原体负载的抗生素敏感性的方法。该项目的芯片上的器官方面将集中精力开发芯片上的器官设备，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.