Fully-Integrated CMOS Biochip Arrays for Multicolor Biomolecular Diagonistics

The proposed effort will develop fundamentals and technology of multiplexed, CMOS-based sensors for biomolecular (DNA and protein) fluorescence-based measurement and detection. Guiding principles include leveraging of economies of scale to provide low-cost devices; optimizing device self-sufficiency and miniaturization to afford maximum portability; developing parallelized designs for detection of multiple target analytes; enabling sensor-level circuits for detection, calibration, and control; and optimizing dynamic range, sensitivity, and speed of detection. Applications include gene expression profiling to connect genetic information to cellular function and response, pathogen detection and identification, classification of diseases and biological cells, forensics, environmental testing/monitoring, and genotyping (e.g. to guide medical treatment). Extensive field studies in the detection of allergens that cause asthma in children will be done as part of this work.