CFD Research Corporation has been selected by NASA GRC to develop an on-chip, nanoplasmonics based sensor system to detect level of proteins in body fluids (urine, blood) in a micro-gravity environment for monitoring astronaut health during space exploration. This prestigious award was one of only 16 STTR awards nationwide and the only one in the state of Alabama.
Long-term exposure to microgravity and radiation during space exploration can pose a critical threat to the health of a flight crew. Real-time monitoring of urine protein levels is an effective way to follow the onset and progress of many diseases and guide the prompt selection of proper therapy.
The CFDRC effort is designed to provide NASA a reusable on-chip nano-plasmonics based urine protein assay cartridge (PAC) that can be easily integrated with existing astrobiological instrumentation to keep track of astronaut health during planetary exploration. Furthermore, it may provide a technological backbone to develop microfluidic processing systems and nano-biosensors for a variety of applications in healthcare and the life sciences.
The NASA STTR Press Release can be found here.
Link to Huntsville Times Article can be found here.
