Cell Phone-based Early Detection of Multi-Organ Injury Biomarkers in Saliva

Rapid diagnosis in conflict areas is a growingmilitary need, as troops areexposed to chemical threats (http://www.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/351235.pdf). Testingfor biomarkers in saliva has recently shown great promisein diagnostics, prognostics, and treatmentefficacy follow-up. In addition to itsconveniencefor field sampling and rapid testing,saliva is a rich body fluid with a number of physiological markers. Intelligent Optical Systems (IOS), in collaboration with Dr.James deLemos of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Craig Miller and Dr.Jeffrey Ebersole of the University of Kentucky, CellmicLLC, and Alfa Scientific, proposes to develop a cell phone-based rapid diagnostic devicefor organ injury biomarkers in saliva. The PhaseI work has demonstrated therapid diagnostics principle of an organ-specific panel forcardiac and liver markers. In PhaseII, IOSwillexpand itscapability to include additional panels for brain and kidneyearly injury markers, and expand clinical validation testing of human saliva samples. IOS hasextensiveexpertise designing, fabricating, and validatingits lateral flow assays (LFA) for point ofcare(POC) applications. The proposed platform will support frequent onsitetesting of troops against organ injuries thatcould result from theirexposureto toxicchemicals.