Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research Assistant IV – Microdevice Design Technician Duties & Responsibilities:  The mission of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is to transform human healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. Developed as an alliance between Harvard and other premier academic and clinical partner institutions, Institute faculty and staff [...]

Last month we had our biggest ever FluidicMEMS gathering of lab-on-a-chip folks as we heard Professor Robert Westervelt speak on programmable integrated circuit / microfluidic chips to manipulate biological cells and liquid droplets. Platforms like the one above could save time and money by automating resource-intensive biological tasks by individually trapping and moving large numbers of [...]

Interesting article spotted by Mehmet Dokmeci in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News on “Microfluidics Making Bigger Impression.” The article touches on commercialization and research trends, including the following themes: Microfluidics could enable fundamentally new measurements at the cell/tissue level (not just faster, cheaper, or miniaturized versions of existing assays). In industry, this relates to what Fluidigm, CellAsic, [...]

In the world of microelectronics, standards are well-established and have helped the industry take off. Over the past few years, people have mentioned the idea of microfluidics standards more and more often, and the European microfluidics community has started discussing the issue. Are these beginning signs of industry growth and maturation? In line with this, Mark Crockett, Chair [...]

Following their recent acquisition by Opko, Claros Diagnostics is hiring!  There are two exciting openings for Project Leaders in Assay Development, as they are expanding the development of new assays on their platform. This is a terrific opportunity for industry veterans or qualified individuals looking to enter industry.  Check them out here and here at the [...]

Great to see ~50 new and familiar faces from the Boston/New England lab-on-a-chip community gathered the first FluidicMEMS event this fall on November 14th at MIT!  Thanks to extraordinary co-organizers A.J. Kumar and Joost Bonsen. We were generously sponsored by the MIT Alumni Association (thanks Katie Mahoney!) and Zeta Instruments. This time I shared some thoughts [...]

The next Materials Research Society (MRS) Conference in Boston is at the end of the month, and the lineup for the Symposium II: BioMEMS Material and Devices (Nov 28 – Dec 1) looks fantastic. Topics range widely, including BioMEMS, microfluidics for cell culture, CTC capture, implantable devices, biosensors, and tools for cell mechanics.  Talks include: Microfluidic [...]

Quick video of Patrick Beattie from Diagnostics for All explaining how they’re using low-cost paper microfluidics to save lives at birth in the developing world. Specifically, DFA is developing a test for anemia and hyper/hypoglycemia, and a test for proteinuria to detect preeclampsia. See other innovators working on saving lives at birth here and here.

Last week we heard more from Eileen Bartholomew of the XPRIZE Foundation about the anticipated 2012 announcement of the Tricorder XPRIZE. Named after the universal medical diagnostic from Star Trek, the device should allow consumers to diagnose themselves, enabling people to become “CEOs of their own health.” There’s a huge potential for microfluidics to be [...]