Smart Diagnostics Systems LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.5

Description

Smart Diagnostics Systems (SDS) is creating its diagnostic system with a mission to protect consumers and companies from the dangerous threats and consequences that foodborne pathogens (ex. E.coli, Listeria, Salmonella, etc.) pose on a global basis. The outbreak of foodborne pathogens and foodborne illness is a significant and growing burden. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year nearly 48 million people get sick, nearly 130,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne pathogen illnesses, the biggest cause of illness in the United States annually. In addition to foodborne pathogens effects on the public, foodborne pathogen outbreaks and recalls costs food industry companies billions in losses every year. Due to the huge impact of foodborne pathogen outbreaks and foodborne illness, we are in great need of diagnostics that can rapidly, specifically, accurately, and cost efficiently detect foodborne pathogens throughout the food supply chain. This is why SDS is creating the PathoMeter, a state of the art diagnostic system (made up of a novel assay and optical detector) for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. In our field tests and pilot program SDS will be collecting data to validate the performance of the diagnostic system. Upon successful testing SDS will move forward to the commercialization of the diagnostic system. Commercialization of our diagnostic system will allow SDS to achieve its goal of preventing the outbreak of foodborne pathogens and the occurrence of foodborne illness. This pathogen detection breakthrough will revolutionize how we monitor, diagnose, and track the safety and quality of our food, ultimately protecting companies and saving lives from farm to fork.