Using sound waves to transfer tiny amounts of liquids for biomedical research
Official title: Echo Acoustic Liquid Handler to Support Biomedical Research and Discovery
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11101906 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new liquid handling system that uses sound waves to move tiny drops of liquid without touching them, making it easier for researchers to work on important projects like drug discovery and genetic studies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 14, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $374,613 |
| NIH project number | 1S10OD038347-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101906 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with conditions that require innovative drug therapies or genomic analysis, such as various cancers and cardiac diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve drug discovery or genomic screening may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the capabilities of a specialized liquid handling system that uses sound waves to accurately transfer very small amounts of liquids, such as small molecules or genomic probes, between microplates. The Echo acoustic liquid handler can move droplets as small as 2.5 nanoliters in a contact-free manner, which is essential for high-throughput screening applications in drug discovery and genomic research. By replacing an outdated system with a new Echo 650 series handler, the Yale Center for Molecular Discovery aims to support a wide range of biomedical research programs and improve the quality of data generated in these studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of drug discovery and genomic screening processes, leading to better treatment options for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar acoustic liquid handling technologies in enhancing drug discovery and genomic screening processes.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Surovtseva, Yulia — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Surovtseva, Yulia
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.