Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Second Annual
Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for POCT
August 23-24, 2018 | Grand Hyatt Washington | Washington, DC
Recent advances in MEMS technology and nanotechnology brought to life a series of next generation micro and nanofluidic devices with potential of cheaper, faster and more accurate point-of-care testing (POCT). Lab-on-a chip devices enable automation and sample-to-result solutions while being millimeters to a few square centimeters in size. The miniaturization technology greatly impacted not only handheld devices but also compact comprehensive bench top analyzers. Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Second Annual Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for POCT conference is designed as a technology hub for the diagnostics industry to bring together biomedical engineers, technology experts and laboratory medicine community leaders to discuss the current state and the future of this exciting technology for diagnostics applications.
Final Agenda
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
10:00 am Registration (Independence Foyer)
11:15 am Chairperson’s Remarks
11:20 am - 12:00 pm TECHNOLOGY PANEL: Disruptive Technologies in Lab Medicine
Moderator: Gregory J. Tsongalis, PhD, HCLD, CC, Professor, Pathology; Director, Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology (CGAT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and The Audrey and Theodor Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- What is appropriate test utilization?
- How do you ensure both user and patient safety?
- How are tests implemented in the clinical setting?
- How do they get regulated?
- How do results get reported?
- How do you enforce quality control in implementation?
- How does it impact emerging applications such as liquid biopsies, infectious disease outbreaks, and POC diagnostics?
Panelists:
Rakesh Nagarajan, MD, PhD, Chief Biomedical Informatics Officer, PierianDx
Greg Richard, Chief Commercial Officer, Interpace Diagnostics
Crystal R. Icenhour, PhD, CEO, Aperiomics, Inc.
Additional Panelists to be Announced
12:00 - 12:45 pm Changing Approaches to Sustainable Funding in Diagnostics
Moderator: Bruce Quinn, MD, PhD, Principal, Bruce Quinn Associates
Today, many innovators in the diagnostics industry struggle for funding, and yet news of large scale acquisitions or large (over $30M) funding rounds pops up regularly. How can innovators better understand the changing dynamics of the funding environment to succeed? How can investors know if they are getting exposed to the potentially best investments? Whether government or private, what drives the final difficult decisions and how can companies raise their chances of success? This session features leaders from several different channels of funding for innovators, including the NIH, other federal programs, and corporate and traditional venture investors.
Panelists:
Alex DeWinter, PhD, Managing Director, GE Ventures
Tyler Merkeley, BARDA’s CARB-X Program Manager, Health Scientist, Division of CBRN Countermeasures, BARDA
Todd Haim, PhD, Program Director, National Cancer Institute SBIR Development Center
Wouter Meuleman, PhD, Director, Venture Investments, Illumina Ventures
David Sans, PhD, MBA, F.A.A.R.M., Managing Director, Healthcare Capital Markets, THINK EQUITY (A Division of Fordham Financial Mgmt., Inc.)
12:45 pm Luncheon Presentation: Lyophilized qPCR Reagents: Advancing the Future of Molecular Testing (Farragut/Lafayette)
Junko Stevens, PhD, Senior Research & Development Director, Life Science Solutions Group. Research & Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific
The use of qPCR for detecting infectious diseases has become routine practice in recent years due to the simple workflow, sensitivity and cost. Molecular Diagnostics companies are seeking solutions to overcome thermo labile properties of standard qPCR reagents. We have developed various lyophilization-ready (lyo-ready) polymerase and reverse transcriptase formulation. In addition to lyo-ready components, we will showcase lyo-ready 1 step RT-PCR Master Mix and lyophilized Multiplex PCR assays for infectious disease detection.
1:15 Ice Cream and Cookie Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Independence Ballroom)
2:00 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Sidhant Jena, MBA, Co-Founder & CEO, Jana Care
2:05 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Detecting Proteins at High Sensitivity on a Lateral Flow Test
Paul Yager, PhD, Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington
Our lab is pursuing development of low-cost rapid diagnostics to identify the agents of infectious diseases; these tools must be appropriate for use in low-resource settings. Under support of NIH and DTRA, we have been developing single-use, disposable, inexpensive sensitive lateral flow tests for use with human samples. These tests use novel protein binders developed in the laboratory of Prof. David Baker.
2:35 Putting A New Spin On Genetic Analysis With Laser Print Lithography
James Landers, PhD, Commonwealth Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Virginia
Polyethylene terphthalate (Pe; overhead transparencies) can be exploited as the substrate for microfluidic devices with printer toner (T) used as adhesive to generate rotation-driven microdevices (RDMs) for a variety of analytical processes. We demonstrate that CD-like PeT microchips can be fabricated for fluidic transport controlled by centrifugal forces and valving by laser-printed hydrophobic valves or laser actuated physical valves. By simply using rotation speeds that generate enough centrifugal force, fluids could be mobilized through open channels and, at higher speeds, through hydrophobic valves. In a PeT RDM with two fluidic layers fabricated by laser ablating the microfeatures in the Pe sheet and then laminating using the toner for bonding, we show that sophisticated microfluidic architecture that allows for complex chemistry to be carried out in an automated manner. In doing so, we highlight the ability to integrate a substantial number of fluidic control elements to achieve a basic diagnostic functionality (i.e., genetic typing). The functionality requires fluid metering, mixing, and aliquoting, and thus, represents an effective demonstration of fundamental operations required for a broad range of other applications. We demonstrate the integration capabilities of these systems by discussing a genetic analysis system that generates DNA profiles from buccal swabs. Fusing the cost-effective and versatile PeT RDM with a simple detection modalities presents a promising strategy for automation and multiplexing of chemical and biochemical assays for a variety of applications.
3:05Ultra-Precise Flow Control for Portable Microfluidic Devices Using Capillary Phenomena and "Electrogates"
Marie L. Salva, MSc., IT Engineer, Doctoral student, Science & Technology – Precision Diagnostics, IBM Research – Zurich
One of our contribution to microfluidics is the development of capillary-driven microfluidic chips for highly miniaturized immunoassays. Here, we review how to program capillary flow and encode functions to form microfluidic elements that can easily be assembled into self-powered devices for immunoassays, reaching unprecedented levels of precision for manipulating samples and reagents. A new concept, "electrogates", for stop-and-go flow control using chips connected to a smartphone will also be presented.
3:35 High-speed Imaging in Biomedical Microfluidic Applications: Principle & Overview
Kyle D. Gilroy, PhD, Field Applications Engineer, Materials Analysis Division, Vision Research
4:05 Networking Refreshment Break (Independence Foyer)
4:30 Point-Of-Care (POC) Methods for the Chronic Diseases
Sidhant Jena, MBA, Co-Founder & CEO, Jana Care
JanaCare has developed paper-based test strips for biomarkers that can be useful for screening or home monitoring. We have also developed a way to turn your smartphone into a diagnostic platform using the Aina device to read paper strips of all kinds.
5:00 Application of Microfluidics in Diagnostic Devices – Challenges and Opportunities
Manish Deshpande, PhD, Vice President, R&D, Point of Care BU, Siemens Healthcare
Microfluidics has long held considerable promise in its potential to minimize cost, sample volume and increase throughput in diagnostics, especially at the point-of-care. Traditional microfluidics has shown some promise, but is not without considerable challenge in reduction to practice for global commercial devices. This presentation will focus on both the opportunities and difficulties in current practice and future.
5:30 Miniaturized Means towards Huge Cancer Profiling Ends through Nanotechnologies at the Point of Care
Cesar Castro, MD, Director, Cancer Program, MGH Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Both tumor heterogeneity and the need for dynamic tracking of treatment response limit the full potential of precision oncology. Invasive core biopsies for extensive sampling of tumors do not permit serial analyses to assist with “Go / No-Go” decisions.
6:00 Close of Day
6:00 Dinner Short Course Registration (Independence Foyer)
6:30 - 9:00 pm Recommended Dinner Short Course(s)*
Recommended Short Course*
SC9: Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for POCT: Technologies and Commercialization
Chris Myatt, Founder & CEO, MBio Diagnostics, Inc
Marta Fernandez Suarez, Daktari Diagnostics & FIND
Kris Buchanan, CEO, Phase Three Product Development
Evan F Cromwell, President & CEO, Protein Fluidics
*Separate registration required
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
8:00 am Registration and Morning Coffee (Independence Foyer)
8:25 Chairperson’s Remarks
Joshua Smith, PhD, Research Staff Member, Translational Systems Biology and Nanobiotechnology, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
8:30 High-Throughput Liquid Biopsy Processing and Validation Using NanoDLD-Based Microfluidic Technology
Joshua Smith, PhD, Research Staff Member, Translational Systems Biology and Nanobiotechnology, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Liquid biopsies are a promising avenue that may augment more traditional screening methods for early-stage disease detection. For clinical implementation, technologies are needed that can rapidly isolate, enrich, and purify analytes. Here, I will highlight our latest advancements in liquid biopsy processing using nanoDLD with sample throughput rates > 1mL/hr and downstream analysis and validation of circulating biomarkers, including exosomes and DNA.
9:00 Nano-Plasmonic Sensing Technology for Tumor-Derived Exosome Detection
Hyungsoon Im, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital
This presentation will review a recent progress of nPLEX (nano-plasmonic exosome) technology. The sensor is based on transmission surface plasmon resonance (SPR) through periodic nanohole arrays. Target-specific exosome binding to the array via affinity ligands causes SPR signal changes, which enable sensitive and fast detection of exosomes. We applied the nPLEX system to detect exosomes collected from ovarian and pancreatic cancer patients.
9:30 Magnetic Levitation System for Detection of Extracellular Vesicles
Ionita Ghiran, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
We herein describe a novel application of the magnetic levitation method, which can specifically detect cell membrane-bound and soluble antigens by identifying and quantifying discreet changes in levitation height of two sets of distinct density beads, coated with capture and detection antibodies.
10:00Translational Point-of-Care Biomedical Sensors for Diagnostic Applications of Infectious Diseases
Umer Hassan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University
Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The availability of Point-of-Care biosensors to diagnose disease at its onset will have a critical impact in timely administering the therapeutic interventions that could result in saving patients’ life. In this talk, I will discuss my research work on development of PoC biosensing technologies and their integration with the patients’ clinical data to develop personalized disease prognostics systems for applications like AIDS and Sepsis.
10:30 Networking Coffee Break (Constitution Foyer)
11:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: The Value Proposition of Point-Of-Care Testing
Moderators: John Warren, Senior Director, McDermottPlus Consulting
Ester Stein, Director, Corporate Reimbursement, Government Affairs, Abbott Laboratories
Join a panel of experts from payers, providers and patients discussing the value and future of point-of-care testing. During this informative panel discussion, listen to these leaders as they discuss:
- How point-of-care testing adds value to the patient experience
- What role point-of-care testing plays in a value-based payment system
- What new advancements in point-of-care testing are on the horizon
Panelists: Joseph Rubino, PhD, Senior Reimbursement Specialist, Cepheid
Diana R. Hernandez, PhD, Clinical Microbiology Research Director, Center for Infectious Diseases Diagnostics & Research, Geisinger
Rachael Evans, CMO, Henry J. Austin Health Center, Family Medicine
12:30 Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:00 Session Break
1:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Suman Bose, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1:35 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Cell-based Point-of-Care Oncology Tool (POCOT) for Precision Medicine
John T. McDevitt, PhD, Chair, Department of Biomaterials, New York University College
This talk features the development, optimization and validation of the first cell-based point-of-care oncology tool (POCOT) for precision medicine. Using single-cell data collected non-invasively from cytology samples of prospectively recruited patients with gold-standard-confirmed diagnoses, a series of predictive models were developed and validated resulting in a “continuous numerical risk score”. Model development consisted of: (1) training binary classification models for each diagnostic class pair, (2) pairwise coupling to obtain diagnostic class probabilities, and (3) a weighted aggregation to obtain a final risk score on a continuous scale.
2:05 Ultralow-Input Microfluidic Assays for Epigenomic Analysis
Chang Lu, PhD, Fred W. Bull Professor, Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech
Epigenome dictates turning on and off genes in a highly dynamic fashion during normal development and diseases, forming another layer of regulation on top of gene sequence. In this talk, I will discuss our efforts on using microfluidics as a versatile platform for profiling epigenomes based on a low number of cells in the context of precision medicine.
2:35 A Microfluidic Platform for High-Throughput Micro-RNA Profiling of Single Cells
Suman Bose, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs that function in gene regulation and are a robust biomarker for many diseases. In this talk, I will present a microfluidic platform that enables enrichment of miRNA from single cells and processes them for sequencing. Single cells are lysed within droplets and a magnetic tweezer is used to enrich for Ago2-bound miRNA, which are then barcoded and processed for sequencing. Finally, I will discuss the application of this in single cell miRNA profiling of mouse ES cells.
3:05 End of Summit