Technologies

Upon their arrival at Vanderbilt University, the trainee cohort will undergo a series of technology introductions presented by trainee mentors and research groups. This will provide the incoming cohort with the necessary information to select a technology platform to implement during the research and development phase of their training. The menu of possible research projects comprises ongoing funded diagnostic development projects across VU/VUMC that we believe meet our definition of innovation. The charge to the trainees will be to capitalize on these efforts for innovative, implementable malaria diagnostics that they will take with them into the field. These innovations represent the gamut from modifying known products and processes to entirely novel implementations of technologies and from validated biomarkers (e.g. HRP-II) to nucleotide-based molecular diagnostics for expanded utility. They include traditional sample collection from blood pricks, but envision future use of saliva, urine, and paper-dried blood samples.

Backscattering Interferometry
Coffee-Ring Diagnostics
Iridium Glowstick Assay
Surface Tension Valve-Based Extraction Devices
Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)