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Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a monoclonal antibody for treating and diagnosing T cell lymphoma in dogs as well as monoclonal antibodies targeting c-KIT for treating and diagnosing mast cell tumors in dogs.

      Biologics are antibodies produced by genetically engineered cells and are widely used in therapeutic applications. Examples include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq), both employed in cancer immunotherapy as checkpoint inhibitors to restore T- cell immune responses against tumor cells. These biologics are produced by engineered cells in bioreactors in a process that is highly sensitive to the bioreactor environment, making it essential to integrate process analytical technologies (PAT) for closed-loop, real-time adjustments. Recent trends have focused on leveraging integrated circuit (IC) solutions for system miniaturization and enhanced functionality, for example enabling a single IC that monitors O2, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), temperature, and glucose levels. However, no current technology can directly and continuously quantify the concentration and quality of the produced biologics in real-time within the bioreactor. Such critical measurements still rely on off-line methods such as immunoassays and mass spectrometry, which are time-consuming and not suitable for real- time process control.       UC Berkeley researchers have developed a microsystem for real-time, in-vivo monitoring of antibody therapeutics using structure-switching aptamers by employing an integrator-based readout front-end. This approach effectively addresses the challenge of a 100× reduction in signal levels compared to the measurement of small-molecule drugs in prior works. The microsystem is also uniquely suited to the emerging paradigm of “living pharmacies.” In living pharmacies, drug-producing cells will be hosted on implantable devices, and real-time monitoring of drug production/diffusion rates based on an individual’s pharmokinetics will be crucial.

      Current clinical practice for detecting low-concentration molecular biomarkers requires sending samples to centralized labs, leading to high costs and delays. Successful point-of-care (POC) diagnostic technology exist, such as the paper-based lateral-flow assay (LFA) used for pregnancy tests and SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests, or miniaturized instruments such as the Abbot i-Stat Alinity. However, the former provides binary results or limited quantitative accuracy, and the latter is too expensive for in-home deployment. A promising approach for POC diagnostics, offering tailored circuit optimization, multiplexed detection, and significant cost and size reductions, is millimeter-sized CMOS integrated circuits coupled with microfluidics. Recent demonstrations include protein, DNA/RNA, and cell detection. The current complexity of system packaging (e.g., wire/flip-chip bonding) makes integrating microfluidics with more sophisticated functions challenging, and often-required syringe pumps and tubing are operationally unfriendly, limiting current approaches.       UC Berkeley researchers have developed a fully integrated, multi-mode POC device that requires single-step assembly and operates autonomously. Drawing inspiration from RFID technology and implantables, they have introduced inductively-coupled wireless powering and communication functionality into a CMOS bio-analyzer. With the chip being fully wireless, the die can be easily integrated into a substrate carrier, achieving a completely flat surface that allows for seamless bonding with the microfluidic module. In the final product, the device will be sealed in a pouch inside a vacuum desiccator. The user tears the pouch, adds a drop of sample, and the system automatically begins operation. The operation window can last up to 40 minutes, making the process insensitive to time delays. The present CMOS bio-analyzer integrates pH-sensing and amperometric readout circuits for both proton-based and redox-based immunoassays.

      Integrating microelectronics with microfluidics, especially those implemented in silicon-based CMOS technology, has driven the next generation of in vitro diagnostics. CMOS/microfluidics platforms offer (1) close interfaces between electronics and biological samples, and (2) tight integration of readout circuits with multi-channel microfluidics, both of which are crucial factors in achieving enhanced sensitivity and detection throughput. Conventionally bulky benchtop instruments are now being transformed into millimeter-sized form factors at low cost, making the deployment for Point-of-Care (PoC) applications feasible. However, conventional CMOS/microfluidics integration suffers from significant misalignment between the microfluidics and the sensing transducers on the chip, especially when the transducer sizes are reduced or the microfluidic channel width shrinks, due to limitations of current fabrication methods.       UC Berkeley researchers have developed a novel methodology for fabricating microfluidics platforms closely embedded within a silicon chip implemented in CMOS technology. The process utilizes a one-step approach to create fluidic channels directly within the CMOS technology and avoids the previously cited misalignment. Three types of structures are presented in a TSMC 180-nm CMOS chip: (1) passive microfluidics in the form of a micro-mixer and a 1:64 splitter, (2) fluidic channels with embedded ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) and Hall sensors, and (3) integrated on-chip impedance-sensing readout circuits including voltage drivers and a fully differential transimpedance amplifier (TIA). Sensors and transistors are functional pre- and post-etching with minimal changes in performance. Tight integration of fluidics and electronics is achieved, paving the way for future small-size, high-throughput lab-on-chip (LOC) devices.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is a method for quickly determining the most effective antibiotic therapy for patients with bacterial infections. These techniques enable the detection and quantification of antibiotic-resistant and susceptible bacteria metabolites at concentrations near or below ng/mL in complex media. Employing bacterial metabolites as a sensing platform, the system integrates machine learning data analysis processes to differentiate between antibiotic susceptibility and resistance in clinical infections within an hour. With the results, a clinician can prescribe appropriate medicine for the patient's bacterial infection.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have identified a genetic discovery associated with the physical conformation and gait performance in horses.

         Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful tool both in biomedical research and clinical patient care, particularly in the diagnosis of cancer, search for metastases, cancer treatment monitoring, diagnosis of diffuse diseases causing dementia, or metabolic blood flow imaging. However, the poor efficiency of current PET detectors (1-2%) requires large radiotracer doses and integration times, driving both cost and patient exposure per scan. High detector capital cost also renders PET scanners prohibitively expensive. Finally, while time-of-flight PET can enhance the spatial resolution of PET by measuring temporal correlation of detected gamma photons, the modality is limited by the latency of current gamma radiation detectors (timing resolutions of ~200-500 ps). Overall, the expense and inefficiency of available gamma radiation detectors hinder the full technological capabilities of PET and its affordable use in patient care.         To address these problems, researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a new gamma radiation detector architecture with the potential for an order of magnitude improvement in both time resolution (down to 10 ps) and efficiency. The design uses novel perovskite nanomaterials and well-established nanotechnology manufacturing methods to produce a detector at a fraction of the cost of current offerings. Together, the high efficiency and timing resolution of the nanophotonic detector design should drastically improve the spatial resolution (including by time-of-flight measurements) of PET scanners and dose-suitability for elderly patients. Benefits in affordability are multiple, lowering detector cost and as well as required radiotracer dose.

Measurement of electrical activity in nervous tissue has many applications in medicine, but the implantation of a large number of sensors is traditionally very risky and costly. Devices must be large due to their necessary complexity and power requirements, driving up the risk further and discouraging adoption. To address these problems, researchers at UC Berkeley have developed devices and methods to allow small, very simple and power-efficient sensors to transmit information by backscatter feedback. That is, a much more complex and powerful external interrogator sends an electromagnetic or ultrasound signal, which is modulated by the sensor nodes and reflected back to the interrogator. Machine learning algorithms are then able to map the reflected signals to nervous activity. The asymmetric nature of this process allows most of the complexity to be offloaded to the external interrogator, which is not subject to the same constraints as implanted devices. This allows for larger networks of nodes which can generate higher resolution data at lower risks and costs than existing devices.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a system to assess, estimate and devise a comprehensive control and prevention plan for bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed monoclonal antibodies with multiple applications relevant to canine PD-1 and PD-L1.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a program based on machine learning algorithms to aid in diagnosing hypoadrenocorticism.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a method of detecting canine left atrial enlargement as an early sign of mitral valve disease by applying machine learning techniques to thoracic radiograph images.

UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed a highly sensitive, wearable hormone monitoring platform.

The CRISPR-Cas system is now understood to confer bacteria and archaea with acquired immunity against phage and viruses. CRISPR-Cas systems consist of Cas proteins, which are involved in acquisition, targeting and cleavage of foreign DNA or RNA, and a CRISPR array, which includes direct repeats flanking short spacer sequences that guide Cas proteins to their targets.  Class 2 CRISPR-Cas are streamlined versions in which a single Cas protein bound to RNA is responsible for binding to and cleavage of a targeted sequence. The programmable nature of these minimal systems has facilitated their use as a versatile technology that is revolutionizing the field of genome manipulation.  Current CRISPR Cas technologies are based on systems from cultured bacteria, leaving untapped the vast majority of organisms that have not been isolated.  There is a need in the art for additional Class 2 CRISPR/Cas systems (e.g., Cas protein plus guide RNA combinations).     UC Berkeley researchers discovered a new type of Cas 12 protein, CasPhi.  Site-specific binding and/or cleavage of a target nucleic acid (e.g., genomic DNA, ds DNA, RNA, etc.) can occur at locations (e.g., target sequence of a target locus) determined by base-pairing complementarity between the Cas12 guide RNA (the guide sequence of the Cas12 guide RNA) and the target nucleic acid.  Similar to CRISPR Cas9, Cas12 enzymes are expected to have a wide variety of applications in genome editing and nucleic acid manipulation.    

Despite many recent improvements in dialysis treatment, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis continue to experience an annual mortality rate of approximately 20%, a rate worse than many cancers. Researchers at UCI have identified an association between increased levels of endocannabinoid (EC) in ESRD patients’ serum and decreased risk of death thereby providing a potential therapy to enhance survival times for patients.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a diagnostic method to identify dogs that are at risk for chondrodystrophy and/or intervertebral disc disease.

The inventors at the University of California, Irvine, have developed an automated, easy-to-use digital PCR system that can be used at the time of sample collection, making it highly effective in microbial pathogen analysis in resource-limited settings and extreme conditions.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have cultured a titi monkey adenovirus (TMAdV,) and used the virus to develop a model of human respiratory disease.

The present invention relates to portable Spirometry system that uses sound to transmit pulmonary airflow information to a receiver.

The present invention describes a component package that enables a microfluidic device to be fixed to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or other substrate, and embedded within a larger microfluidic system.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a new and simple, label-free method to detect milligram levels of RNase activity in undiluted biological samples that is selective, accurate and scalable.

UCLA researchers in the department of electrical engineering have developed a compact and lightweight platform for conducting automated semen analysis using a lens-free on-chip microscope.

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Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a novel high resolution imaging technique, referred to as Photo-Magnetic Imaging (PMI), that combines the abilities of optical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems. Images are created with PMI by heating tissue with a light (e.g. laser) and measuring the resulting temperature change with MR Thermometry. This change in temperature can then be related to a tissue’s absorption, scattering, and metabolic properties. PMI addresses the limitations of current optical imaging techniques by providing a repeatable, non-contact, high resolution optical image with increased quantitative accuracy. This technique can be used for a wide-range of applications including but not limited to imaging of small animals for research purposes. This technique may also be used in imaging the tissue and organs of a patient.