Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2020-2021).

Canada's increasing aging population is confronted by a lack of timely diagnosis for various autoimmunex000D
diseases with turnaround times varying from a few days to weeks, leading to rising healthcare costs withx000D
unfavorable economic and societal implications. Traditional methods for disease detection rely on a single testx000D
at a time. Our industry partner, SQI Diagnostics (SQID) develops automated multiplexed assays capable ofx000D
performing multiple tests at the same time. Such systems are ideal for high volume high throughput testingx000D
facilities, but these are yet uneconomical for local testing facilities or point of care/testing devices. We recentlyx000D
demonstrated the working principle of a novel cost-effective, reliable and sensitive chemiresistive biosensorx000D
that is capable of rapidly detecting biomarkers within a minute. We propose to develop a multiplexedx000D
biosensing platform based on magnetic bio-inks that could be used in hospitals, reference labs and other similarx000D
healthcare institutions. This will be achieved by (1) developing magnetic bio-inks, (2) evaluating thex000D
performance biosensors printed with these inks, (3) comparing their performance with standard tests, and (4)x000D
developing multiplexing capabilities for the biosensor. We will follow this by scaling up the printing ofx000D
diagnostic sensing strips and integrating them into devices that can be used to develop marketable products.x000D
SQID will license and commercialize the technology, translating the research into a point of care/testingx000D
devices. The outcome of the proposed work promises significant commercial benefits to Canada through thex000D
creation of ~30 jobs and improved global presence in the healthcare industry. The project will also advancex000D
scientific understanding of chemiresistive biosensors.