LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: ODCDC

Description

The goal of this project is to solicit the innovative development of diagnostic testing platforms that can simultaneously detect antigens of multiple pathogens and different antibody isotypes and or immune factors against those pathogens in a single multiplex assayThe pathogens of interest includebut are not limited tothose with a high potential for causing global disease outbreaks that affect vulnerable populationse gchildrenpregnant womenthe elderlyetcand those targeted for global disease elimination or eradicationBy combining antigen and antibody detection to multiple pathogens in a single multiplex assayboth clinical and public health professionals would be empowered to determine the clinical stages of infection and treatment outcomes amongst affected individualsAdditionallythe burden of disease within specific populations could be assessed and monitored so that targeted disease interventions and prevention programs can be monitored for their efficacyA multiplex assay that detects both antigens and immune responses to several pathogens would be of great interest to both the clinical and the public health sectorsSuch an assay would be useful in a clinical setting to rule out or confirm potential disease etiologiesand useful in a population setting to determine specific foci for interventions to improve community health and prevent disease outbreaks