Tiny Systems: Small, Low-Cost Devices for Molecular Testing

What if receiving a rapid, high-accuracy molecular diagnostic test didn't require driving to a major hospital or waiting days for specialized lab equipment? Host Dr. Kimberly Eck connects with biomedical engineer Dr. David Myers to discuss how his lab is decentralizing molecular testing. By developing low-cost, simplified sample preparation cartridges that isolate and preserve genetic material without refrigeration, Dr. Myers, in collaboration with Dr. Jesse Waggoner, is bridging the gap between complex diagnostic machinery and the patients who need them most.

Key Takeaways:

• Removing the Sample Prep Bottleneck: Why sample preparation and purification—rather than the test itself—is the primary barrier to point-of-care testing.
• The Joint BME Advantage: How shared biomedical engineering spaces between Emory and Georgia Tech foster fast, interdisciplinary innovation.
• Universal Testing Access: Pushing toward a world where the question isn't "Can we test for this here?" but simply "Can we test?"

Resources:

• David Myers’ Faculty Profile: https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=DMYERS3  

• Learn about Water Bear Bio: https://www.waterbearbio.com/  

• Listen to Dr. Myers' feature on Emory's Holy Shift podcast: https://bme.gatech.edu/news/myers-talks-about-science-small-things-0  

Call to Action:

Explore cutting-edge engineering work in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at bme.emory.edu. Check out Dr. Myers' episode on Emory's Holy Shift podcast!

To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu.

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