报  告题目：Combining Microfluidics and Nanosensors for Future Diagnostics

报 告 人：Prof. Megan Yi-Ping Ho, The Chinese University of Hong Kong 

时 间：2017年8月17日（周四） 上午10: 30

地 点：南楼2层会议室

 

邀  请  人： 杨延莲研究员（Tel：82545559）

报告摘要：

The study of the extraordinary complexity of biological responses requires both multidimensional and highly specific analysis. Although great heterogeneity has been observed in many cellular processes, traditional biological analysis often relies on averaged phenotypic information and therefore overlooks the heterogeneous responses among cells. Highly motivated by how individual cells alter their phenotypes in response to the environmental and therapeutic stimuli, my research group is devoted to the study of single cell dynamics and its implications on disease progressions. Starting from an engineer’s perspective, our strategy to decipher the single cell dynamics starts by developing new tools. In this presentation, I will discuss the platform technologies developed in my group, which include (1) DNA nanosensors for the detection of infectious diseases via a new class of biomarkers, namely the activities of expressed DNA modifying enzymes, (2) Effective extraction of enzymes enabled by the confined reaction in picoliters droplets, and (3) Controlled production of multicellular spheroids in microfluidics generated droplets. Our research effort thus far has been promoted to several clinical applications, where the aim is to develop rapid point-of-care diagnostic kits for infectious diseases. We have advanced the field by introducing miniaturized droplets for effective sample processing and enzyme extraction, which has enabled the potential of using noninvasive sample (such as saliva) as new test materials. The initial development has paved the way to the  diagnosis of many major infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The development of an effective and sensitive diagnostic platform is envisioned not only to help interrupt disease transmission, but also help evaluate therapeutic efficacy of new drugs.

报告人简介：

Dr. Megan Yi-Ping Ho is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering (Division of Biomedical Engineering) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Power Mechanical Engineering from National Tsing-Hua University, Taiwan in 2000 and 2002, respectively. She then spent a year as a R&D engineer in Walsin-Lihwa MEMS Business Unit, Taiwan. In 2008, she received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. After her postdoctoral training with Duke University, she joined the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Aarhus University, Denmark, as an Assistant Professor in 2012. She is also a co-founder of a start-up company, Zymonostics, situated in Demark. She has received 15 academic honors and awards, published 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, 61 conference abstracts, 2 granted patents and 4 invention disclosures. The results that she presented have been recognized internationally by the American Society of Gene Therapy and Controlled Release Society. Her research focuses on integrating nanophotonics, novel molecular constructs and microfluidics for disease diagnostics.