Tiny chip for bedside detection of very small protein markers
SEMI-SIMOA: A Chip-scale Flow-based Single-Molecule Assay at the Point-of-Care using Semiconductor Technology
This project builds a pocket-sized chip that can read tiny amounts of protein markers from patient samples so doctors could get fast results at the point of care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310790 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a millimeter-sized semiconductor chip that combines microfluidics and electronics to count individual protein molecules as they flow through tiny pores. The device adapts highly sensitive single-molecule assay methods used in labs but shrinks the workflow onto a single integrated circuit. Because the chip itself acts as the instrument, results can be sent directly to a phone or tablet without bulky readers or specialized lab staff. The team plans to make the technology compatible with common patient samples to speed up testing outside centralized laboratories.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people whose care depends on low-level protein biomarkers—such as neurological markers or inflammatory cytokines—and who can provide small clinical samples like blood.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not monitored by protein biomarkers or who require genetic testing or imaging would likely not benefit directly from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let patients get very sensitive protein biomarker results quickly at or near the clinic, enabling faster diagnosis and monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: High-sensitivity single-molecule assays are already successful in centralized labs and commercial platforms, but integrating that capability onto a chip for true point-of-care use is new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chien, Jun-Chau — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Chien, Jun-Chau
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.