Adaptive Methods Receives Grant for Rapid Portable Biosensor Research

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 14:22

The sensor technology, co-invented by Adaptive Methods’ partners at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center (UNMHSC) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), allows for the detection of bio-agents such as bacteria, viruses and toxins, at extremely low levels, in near-real time, and without the need for time-consuming sample preparation or costly equipment. Adaptive Methods, with rights for exclusive worldwide manufacture and sale of products incorporating the technology, is further developing the technology into a portable device aimed at the point-of-care and bio-defense markets.

“The funds will be used directly towards our ongoing research in the development of this exciting portable biosensor technology and will help us accelerate the delivery of rapid diagnostics to doctors in the office or in the field,” Adaptive Methods Director of Research and Development Barclay Roman stated. “This technology can also be used for bio-defense and will significantly reduce the cost of testing and in some cases allow testing and diagnosis to be performed in distressed areas.”

The QTDP grant program provides support for innovative projects by small companies that have been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and deemed to have “potential to produce new therapies, reduce long-term health care costs, or significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within the next 30 years.”

The Health Sciences Center at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNMHSC) is the largest academic health complex in New Mexico. UNMHSC combines its four mission areas—education, research, patient care and community outreach—to provide New Mexicans with the highest level of health care.

Sandia is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, for the U. S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Livermore, California, Sandia has major R & D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.