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| The research lab of Yossi Weizmann, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, applies nanoscience to design new generations of medical diagnostics and research platforms. Out of this groundbreaking work, Weizmann, along with postdoctoral scholars Zoya Cheglakov, PhD'15, and Jung-Hoon Lee, has taken the first steps in creating an exciting new business--PureIR BioTech. This research team has developed a portable energy- and cost-efficient method for the accurate detection and ultrafast diagnosis of new contagions, potentially providing new strategies for mitigating public health crises, including the recent Zika and Ebola outbreaks. They are looking to enter a large fast-growing diagnostics market with multiple-application potential in both disease detection and laboratory research. |
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| Postdoctoral scholars Jung-Hoon Lee and Zoya Cheglakov, PhD'15, with Yossi Weizmann, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry |
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| In May 2016 the team won $250,000 in proof-of-concept capital from the University of Chicago's Innovation Fund to improve the current prototype and expand the team to include both an entrepreneurial lead and hardware and software engineers. They will also be seeking funding from the US Department of Defense and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, as well as from traditional venture investment. |
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| The new technology is based on the use of gold nanostructures for nucleic acid amplification methods that represent important and valuable tools for chemists, biologists, and medical scientists and have found extensive use in all fields of research. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Real-Time PCR are the most famous of these techniques and have been used in many applications across many disciplines. Despite the successful application of this technique, it does suffer from one main limitation: the need for thermocycling. The requirement for thermocycling protocols (>1 hr.) and expensive instrumentation ($5,000-$30,000) capable of providing precise temperature control greatly limits the mobility of this assay and prevents its use in point-of-care scenarios. |
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| Alternative approaches to nucleic acid detection include isothermal amplification methods (such as RCA, SDA, LAMP), which have proven to be unsuccessful at eliminating the thermocycling limitations and retaining the high specificity and sensitivity of PCR (single molecule or cell resolution). Since PCR is universally used, replacement protocols and techniques are further restricted from practical implementation due to the need for retraining professionals. |
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| The new method will provide an advanced photothermal-based device and use reagents and reaction protocols comparable to traditional PCR/Real-Time PCR and widely used bioassays to ease transition and training of users. |
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| PureIR BioTech is seeking a business development expert to join the science team in successful technical partnering and marketing of new medical devices targeting ultrafast nucleic acid detection. Interviews now in progress. |
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