Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Scientific instrumentation for Health and Life sciences, particularly diagnostics, is undergoing a revolution. New technologies have emerged that can interrogate individual molecules to enable important new opportunities in healthcare. Further progress toward the era of precision medicine requires the realization of two critical criteria. First, new tools will require ultrasensitivity, to enable detection of just a few copies of a target biomarker in a sample. Second, since the benefit of ultrasensitivity leading to early detection can be lost if the results are delayed and the opportunity to use those results for timely intervention is missed, these tools must also democratize detection, moving from a traditional centralized core lab to more rapid, mobile, low-cost testing on site. Nanopore sensing is the most promising emerging ultrasensitive technology that is amenable to decentralization. Nanopores are inherently single molecule detectors and are entirely electrical in nature, with no need for complex, expensive, and bulky optical components and dyes. As such, they are uniquely suited to provide ultrasensitive detection in a miniaturized, portable and decentralized format.In this proposal, we will address the main 'control points' that would enable the development of an ultrasensitive nanopore-based immunoassay technology amenable to the point of care, by increasing the counting speed of individual molecules to lower the limit of detection for accurate quantification of biomarkers. This project is highly interdisciplinary and uniquely positioned to advance the nanopore sensing field, and to strengthen the Canadian stake in this emerging area and in the larger nanobiotechnologies sector. Many students will be exposed to the challenges of collaboratively developing advanced technology for a rapidly-evolving market. The Canadian economy will also directly benefit as this and future innovations will be commercialized by our partner and other industry players. With this project, Canadians can look forward to better, faster, more precise, and more convenient healthcare, especially in remote settings.