Dr. Madoo Varma & Dr. Xing Su
Director & Lead Scientist, Integrated Biosystems Research, Intel Labs
December 8, 2009 | 12:00 to 01:00 | 540 Cory Hall, DOP Center Conference Room
Host: John Huggins
Profiling a biological sample is a powerful way to understand the physiological condition or the disease stage of a patient. However, biological samples are typically complex in terms of composition and molecular sequence. Optically-scanned biochips containing probe arrays have been shown to be useful tools for molecular profiling, such as in gene expression and SNP studies. One of the challenges in currently used probe array-based biochip technologies is the requirement for pre-sample preparation to enrich and amplify target molecules, which not only increases the cost but also introduces errors. Recent research has shown that electronic sensors can approach near-single molecule sensitivity, which is an opportunity for us to explore the application of leading edge semiconductor technology to electronic sensor array development for molecular profiling. Potential advantages of electronic sensor arrays for biomolecule profiling include massively parallel single molecule sensitivity, eliminating the need for upfront sample amplification, and the ability to develop a compact, portable system with the integration of the reaction chamber and the detection device. In this presentation, we will review the challenges in developing electronic sensor arrays for molecular profiling and propose concepts that can bridge the gap between biochemistry and electronic devices.
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