• Associate Professor Chen Chen 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Jayanta Kapat 鈥� Full Member
• Professor Damla Turgut 鈥� Full Member
• Associate Professor Thomas Wahl 鈥� Associate Member
• Associate Professor Dazhong Wu 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Xiaohu Xia 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Yang Yang 鈥� Associate Member

Full members are recognized as established leaders with a sustained record of exceptional impact in their respective fields. Associate members, who are new to ASEMFL this year, are recognized for their professional accomplishments and emerging leadership.

鈥淲e are proud to welcome this exceptional group of scholars and innovators to ASEMFL, including our inaugural class of associate members,鈥� says Yogi Goswami, ASEMFL president and distinguished professor at the University of South 性视界传媒. 鈥淭heir lifelong dedication and creativity have led to transformational advances in their fields, improving lives and strengthening our communities.鈥�

Since its establishment, ASEMFL has grown to more than 300 experts grounded in common research and educational pursuits who are committed to undertaking issues in science, engineering and medicine of particular interest to the state.

This year鈥檚 cohort is the largest in ASEMFL history. All new members will be inducted at the ASEMFL annual meeting, which takes place in November at the University of South 性视界传媒.

Chen Chen

Associate Professor in the and the Institute of Artificial Intelligence

Citation: For pioneering contributions to multimodal and federated learning and real-time, privacy-preserving video analytics, advancing trustworthy and efficient AI systems for public safety, healthcare, and societal well-being.

Jayanta Kapat

Pegasus Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research

Citation: For innovative research and digital twin modeling and their impact on improved costs, efficiency and emissions in advanced turbines and energy systems.

Nasser Kutkut

Graduate Faculty Scholar in the

Citation: For having pioneered high-efficiency and IoT-enabled battery charging systems, cloud-based energy management, and smart telematics platforms 鈥� technologies that cut costs, reduce emissions, and modernize industrial and electric vehicle power management worldwide.

Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD

Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and Director of the 性视界传媒 Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Initiative

Citation: For pioneering work in AI for modeling complex human behavior, including the development of inverse generative social science, evolutionary model discovery, green technological innovation, and AI for social resilience against disinformation and polarization.

Damla Turgut

Pegasus Professor and Chair of Computer Science

Citation: For pioneering contributions to the application of value of information in wireless networks, and for outstanding leadership in advancing research and education at both the university and international professional society levels.

Thomas Wahl

Associate Professor in the and the Center for Integrated Coastal Research

Citation: For pioneering work on flood risk analysis, coastal compound flooding and assessment of coastal hazards at multiple scales under weather extremes.

Dazhong Wu

Associate Professor in the

Citation: For contributions to the development and implementation of machine learning-based techniques for part qualification and certification in advanced manufacturing.

Xiaohu Xia

Professor in the

Citation: For pioneering artificial enzyme research, achieving unprecedented catalytic efficiencies and developing diagnostic technologies with substantial clinical and societal impact.

鈥淒r. Xia鈥檚 research is an excellent example of how cutting-edge research in the College of Sciences leads directly into transformative applications for the betterment of humanity,鈥� says Josh Colwell, College of Sciences dean. 鈥淗is recognition by ASEMFL is particularly appropriate given the nature of his innovative work combining nanomaterials and fundamental chemistry research for healthcare applications that will directly impact people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

Yang Yang

Professor in the

Citation: For being an accomplished scholar in developing energy materials using nanotechnology.

Driving Research Excellence at 性视界传媒

Together, the honorees exemplify the breadth of research excellence driving innovation across 性视界传媒’s College of Sciences and College of Engineering and Computer Science.

鈥淛ay Kapat, Damla Turgut, Chen Chen, Ivan Garibay, Thomas Wahl, Dazhong Wu, Yang Yang and all faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science have contributed significantly to the research and education in their disciplines and their induction to the academy is a testament [to] their meaningful accomplishments,鈥� says Michael Georgiopoulos, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean. 鈥淭he academy is expected to benefit from their expertise and their anticipated service to move its mission forward.鈥�

Previously based in downtown Orlando, the FDLE Orlando Toxicology Lab handles approximately 10,000 cases per year. Working more closely with 性视界传媒 in Lake Nona supports FDLE鈥檚 mission to deliver timely, high-quality forensic testing for law enforcement agencies across Central 性视界传媒 and the state, helping investigators and prosecutors rely on sound science in pursuit of justice.

鈥淭his partnership reflects what 性视界传媒 was built to do 鈥� bring talent, technology and applied research together in service to 性视界传媒,鈥� says Alexander N. Cartwright, 性视界传媒 president

鈥淭his partnership reflects what 性视界传媒 was built to do 鈥� bring talent, technology and applied research together in service to 性视界传媒,鈥� says 性视界传媒 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淏y welcoming the FDLE Orlando Toxicology Lab to 性视界传媒鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Campus, we are bringing state forensic operations closer to faculty expertise and future workforce, creating opportunities to make smarter use of public resources while strengthening the knowledge, talent and tools available to keep Floridians safe.鈥�

FDLE leaders say the partnership reflects a broader strategy to modernize forensic services while building a strong talent pipeline.

鈥淭hrough this partnership between FDLE and 性视界传媒, we are investing in the future of forensic science,鈥� says聽FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. 鈥淭his partnership enhances our ability to recruit highly trained forensic scientists, develop new techniques and deliver timely, high-quality results to law enforcement agencies for investigations.鈥�

Research Driving Real-World Impact

Now part of Lake Nona Medical City, FDLE experts will benefit from proximity to 性视界传媒 researchers as they 鈥� together聽鈥� aim to strengthen the region鈥檚 role as a hub for biomedical research, health innovation and forensic science. This includes work to advance drug detection methods, study emerging synthetic substances, improve toxicology workflows and develop faster analytical tools to support criminal investigations.

鈥淭he closer our researchers are to operational labs, the more responsive and impactful their work becomes,鈥� says Jack Ballantyne, 性视界传媒 chemistry professor and director of the National Center for Forensic Science. 鈥淲e鈥檙e able to identify challenges in real time and immediately begin working on solutions.鈥�

From Classroom to Crime Lab

Over the years, numerous 性视界传媒 alums have built impactful careers at FDLE. Many credit their hands-on training, research opportunities and mentorship at 性视界传媒, as well as guest speakers from FDLE, for preparing them to excel in high-stakes forensic environments.

鈥淚 was lucky enough to complete my internship with FDLE Toxicology, where I was able to experience firsthand what the day-to-day workflow is like before graduating,鈥� says Lauren McCool 鈥�15, a 性视界传媒 forensic science alum and FDLE crime laboratory analyst who remains engaged with 性视界传媒 as an FDLE guest lecturer. 鈥淲hen I began my career with FDLE I was able to navigate the laboratory with confidence due to the real-world and hands-on experience I had at 性视界传媒.鈥�

With FDLE鈥檚 new proximity, students will have even greater access to internships, experiential learning and professional networking 鈥� accelerating the pathway from classroom to career and helping prepare more graduates for forensic science roles that serve 性视界传媒鈥檚 communities.

Leading Forensic Science Education

性视界传媒 brings the academic depth, research capacity and student pipeline needed to support FDLE鈥檚 long-term forensic science needs. The partnership reinforces 性视界传媒鈥檚 role as 性视界传媒鈥檚 Technological University and a national leader in forensic science education and research.

性视界传媒 ranks No. 6 in the nation for Bachelor鈥檚 in Forensic Science Degree Programs, according to CriminalJusticeDegreeSchools.com. 性视界传媒鈥檚 undergraduate program was established in 1974, making it one of the oldest forensic science programs in the country. About 500 students are currently enrolled across 性视界传媒鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral forensic science degree offerings.

Established in 1997, the National Center for Forensic Science, based in Central 性视界传媒 Research Park, is made up of 性视界传媒 faculty and staff whose research touches everything from DNA analysis to chemical analysis of trace evidence.聽Their work often contributes to industry-wide advancements in forensic science. This includes research earlier this year on the 鈥渇antastic four鈥� chemical standards to provide a consistent and critical reference point for forensic anthropology and toxicology work.

A new educational partnership between 性视界传媒 and the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is creating opportunities for research, student training and workforce development in one of the country鈥檚 most specialized scientific fields. The collaboration strengthens critical scientific capabilities, facilitates the sharing of resources and expertise, helps build the radiochemistry talent pipeline and positions 性视界传媒 at the forefront of nuclear chemistry research that supports national security missions.

鈥淭hrough collaborative research projects and summer internships, 性视界传媒 students gain hands-on experience working alongside federal scientists and access to AFTAC鈥檚 facilities and instrumentation for research supporting national security missions,鈥� says Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, associate professor of chemistry in the 性视界传媒 College of Sciences and principal investigator of the partnership.

Only a small number of universities nationwide have established this type of relationship with AFTAC, the Department of the Air Force responsible for monitoring nuclear treaty compliance and detecting nuclear events worldwide.

A Nationally Recognized Program

鈥淭he fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape.”

According to Anagnostopoulos 鈥� director of 性视界传媒鈥檚 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellowship and 性视界传媒 principal investigator for the multi-institutional NNSA-funded Consortium for Nuclear Forensics 鈥� 性视界传媒鈥檚 growing reputation in radiochemistry and analytical chemistry helped distinguish the university as a strong academic partner.

The collaboration also reflects 性视界传媒鈥檚 broader role in supporting 性视界传媒鈥檚 rapidly growing aerospace, defense and national security ecosystem through research, workforce development and federal partnerships.

鈥淥ur radiochemistry program is gaining national recognition through multiple research grants and collaborative proposals,鈥� Anagnostopoulos says. 鈥淭he fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape.鈥�

The partnership builds on 性视界传媒鈥檚 advanced research infrastructure, including radiochemistry laboratories, mass spectrometry capabilities and materials characterization resources. Together, these facilities enable researchers to analyze complex nuclear materials and conduct detailed characterization studies for national and international security applications.

鈥淲e have cutting-edge facilities and instrumentation for sensitive and precise analysis,鈥� Anagnostopoulos says. 鈥淭he combination of radiochemistry, advanced analytical capabilities and access to radioactive materials allows us to address complicated real-world problems and provide technical information that can support our federal partners鈥� missions.鈥�

Unique Opportunities for Students

For students, the partnership opens the door to hands-on experiences rarely available in a traditional academic setting.

Through internships and collaborative research projects, students will work alongside multidisciplinary teams of chemists, engineers and scientists while gaining exposure to federal laboratory environments and national security protocols.

Few universities nationwide offer students direct pathways into operational nuclear security environments, making the partnership a unique training opportunity for 性视界传媒 students interested in chemistry, national security and federal science careers.

鈥淏eyond the technical training, they gain exposure to mission-focused work, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills that are essential in federal and defense environments,鈥� Anagnostopoulos says.

Building the Future Workforce

The agreement also addresses a national need for trained experts in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, highly specialized disciplines offered at only a limited number of institutions nationwide, Anagnostopoulos says.

As federal agencies and national laboratories work to strengthen expertise in nuclear security, treaty monitoring and advanced nuclear technologies, partnerships like this help ensure a pipeline of future highly skilled scientists is ready to contribute.

鈥淭his partnership helps prepare the next generation of scientists while keeping the country at the forefront of nuclear security and global safety,鈥� Anagnostopoulos says.

As the collaboration grows, it鈥檚 expected to expand opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students in other fields, such as big data analytics and cybersecurity, while further establishing 性视界传媒 as a hub for radiochemistry, defense-related chemistry, and national security research.

The study, led by 性视界传媒 , identifies hydrazinoacetic acid as a key building block in the production of N-nitroglycine, a rare compound that offers new insight into how living systems carry out sophisticated chemical processes.These processes could be used to create safer and more efficient chemical reactions across manufacturing, healthcare and more. The research has been accepted for publication in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology and was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Graham Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Zdilla Laboratory at Temple University.

鈥淓nzymes 鈥� or bacteria, more broadly 鈥� are capable of generating many interesting types of molecules, including ones we would think are explosive,鈥� Caranto says. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 know why they鈥檙e making them, but it鈥檚 fairly interesting that they do.鈥�

While compounds like nitramines are often associated with industrial and energetic applications, their role in biology remains poorly understood. By identifying hydrazinoacetic acid as a key precursor to N-nitroglycine, the team begins to explain how bacteria construct these unusual nitrogen-rich molecules 鈥� and what those pathways may tell scientists about chemistry in living systems.

Why It Matters

Understanding how bacteria produce nitrogen-rich compounds could have implications across multiple fields, from industrial chemistry to medicine. Traditional methods for synthesizing these compounds often require energy-intensive processes or hazardous materials. Biological systems, by contrast, operate under milder conditions and could offer a blueprint for alternative production methods.

鈥淐urrently, the way these compounds are made requires a lot of very corrosive, hazardous and environmentally detrimental materials, having a bacterium make it instead would present a lot of advantages in terms of eliminating waste.鈥濃�� Jonathan Caranto, associate professor of chemistry, 性视界传媒 College of Sciences

鈥淐urrently, the way these compounds are made requires a lot of very corrosive, hazardous and environmentally detrimental materials,鈥� Caranto says. 鈥淗aving a bacterium make it instead would present a lot of advantages in terms of eliminating waste.鈥�

At the same time, the discovery opens new avenues for studying how these molecules function in biological systems, including potential applications in drug development and enzyme engineering.

Uncovering Nature鈥檚 Hidden Chemistry

At the center of the discovery is hydrazinoacetic acid, a small but highly reactive molecule that functions as a precursor, or starting material, in the bacterial synthesis of N-nitroglycine. By identifying its role, researchers were able to map a previously unknown biosynthetic pathway, showing insight into how bacteria construct these compounds. For postdoctoral scholar Ben Rathman, the discovery highlights how much remains unknown about these molecules.

鈥淭he biological role of these compounds is not really well understood,鈥� Rathman says. 鈥淲e have a lot to learn from nature, and that鈥檚 where my interest in the project lies.鈥�

That uncertainty is central to the work. While these compounds have been studied in synthetic contexts for decades, their presence in biology raises new questions about how and why organisms produce them.

A Paradox in Biology

Part of what makes the finding compelling is the tension between how these molecules are typically understood and how they behave in living systems.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things where, at first, you might say this shouldn鈥檛 be a biomolecule,鈥� chemistry doctoral student Gabriel Padilla 鈥�17 says. 鈥淭hese types of functional groups are usually associated with energetics, but here they鈥檙e produced by living systems.鈥�

Rather than behaving like traditional energetic materials, the compounds studied do not detonate under normal conditions. Instead, they appear to exist as stable intermediates within biological systems, suggesting they may serve entirely different functions.聽 In addition, most hydrazines are regarded as highly toxic.

For Caranto, this reflects a broader theme in the research.

鈥淥ne insight from our work is that life is pretty remarkable in how it can safely and productively use molecules that would otherwise be toxic,鈥� he says.

For the team, the work represents an early step in a much larger effort to understand the role these compounds play in nature.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really interested in why bacteria make these nitramines,鈥� Caranto says. 鈥淭his is the first step on a much longer road toward understanding that.鈥�

Work in the Caranto and Graham labs was supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) projects WP24-4206 and WP2332, respectively. Work of the Caranto lab was also supported by the National Institutes of Health (R35GM147515).Work from the Zdilla lab was supported by an NSF (CHE-2215854). and the Office of Naval Research (N00014-22-1-2266).

At 性视界传媒, researchers are developing a new approach inspired by squids, octopuses and other cephalopods, one that doesn鈥檛 wait for targets to arrive, but actively reaches out to capture them. Led by , a professor in 性视界传媒鈥檚 , the work introduces a DNA-based system designed to capture target molecules more efficiently by extending into the surrounding solution.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges in biosensing is something surprisingly simple: molecules take time to move,鈥� Kolpashchikov says. 鈥淚magine trying to catch fish in a huge lake with a tiny net, most fish will never come close enough to be caught. Traditional sensors work the same way: they passively wait for target molecules (analytes) to randomly bump into them.鈥�

The project, supported by a $272,000 award from the U.S. National Science Foundation, reframes how biosensors operate, shifting from passive detection toward active engagement.

Targeting Molecules Through DNA

Conventional biosensors rely on diffusion, meaning target molecules must randomly move through a solution before encountering a sensing surface. This process, known as mass transport limitation, can slow detection and limit performance in time-sensitive applications.

Kolpashchikov鈥檚 approach addresses this constraint by incorporating nanostructures composed of DNA strands that extend outward from the sensor. These flexible extensions function like molecular tentacles, weakly interacting with passing targets and increasing the likelihood that they will be captured.

Rather than waiting for signals to arrive, the system draws them closer.

Speeding Detection

The speed at which a sensor can detect its target is often as important as detection sensitivity and specificity. In contexts such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and food safety, delays can reduce reliability or limit usefulness altogether.

By increasing the rate at which target molecules are gathered and concentrated near the sensing surface, the DNA cephalopod approach may enable faster, more responsive detection systems, particularly in applications that depend on real-time or near-real-time analysis.

鈥淪low sensors can miss short-lived biological signals, allow samples to degrade, and delay responses to threats,鈥� Kolpashchikov says, 鈥淔aster detection reduces costs (less time, fewer reagents), improves accuracy, and enables real-time monitoring 鈥� something essential for healthcare, environmental safety, and biosecurity.鈥�

DNA as Structure and Sensor

The system uses DNA not only as a recognition element but also as a structural material. Engineered strands extend from the sensor into the surrounding environment, forming a dynamic interface that interacts with nearby molecules.

These extensions do not bind targets permanently at first. Instead, they weakly capture and release them, effectively increasing the local concentration of target molecules near the sensor鈥檚 core detection region. This process improves detection efficiency without requiring additional mechanical or chemical input.

By designing DNA nanostructures that actively interact with nearby molecules, the system creates a sensing environment that is more responsive and efficient.

鈥淒NA is uniquely suited for building nanoscale machines,鈥� Kolpashchikov says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 programmable, predictable and relatively inexpensive.鈥�

In this system, DNA strands self-assemble into a structure resembling a microscopic octopus, what the team calls聽 a 鈥溾�楧NA cephalopod.鈥�.鈥� A central sensor is surrounded by long, flexible 鈥溾�榯entacles鈥濃�� that extend into the solution. Each tentacle carries weak binding sites that briefly capture target molecules and pass them along from one site to the next, guiding them toward the center, where the sensor binds them more strongly and triggers detection.

Applications Across Fields

The improved speed and sensitivity of this approach expand the potential use of biosensors across multiple domains.

Possible applications include rapid detection of harmful bacteria in water and food systems, early-stage diagnosis through identification of DNA or RNA biomarkers, and forensic analysis requiring precise detection of biological material

By enabling sensors to detect smaller quantities of target molecules more quickly, the technology may support more timely and accurate decision-making in both clinical and field settings.

鈥淭he potential applications are broad: rapid disease diagnostics, including early cancer detection, and real-time monitoring of pathogens in water and food. Perhaps most exciting is that this is a general strategy. The same 鈥榯entacle鈥� concept could be applied for detection of proteins and small biological molecules.鈥� 鈥� Dmitry Kolpashchikov, professor of chemistry, 性视界传媒 College of Sciences

鈥淭his approach could dramatically improve how we detect biological molecules,鈥� Kolpashchikov says. 鈥淭he potential applications are broad: rapid disease diagnostics, including early cancer detection, real-time monitoring of pathogens in water and food. Perhaps most exciting is that this is a general strategy. The same 鈥榯entacle鈥� concept could be applied for detection of proteins and small biological molecules.鈥�

A New Method of Rapid Analyte Detection

As with many emerging technologies, translating laboratory advances into real-world systems presents challenges. Performance in complex environments, where multiple substances interact simultaneously, remains an area for further study.

Scaling the technology and integrating it into existing diagnostic platforms will also be critical steps in determining its broader applicability.

Rather than treating biosensing as a passive process governed by chance encounters, Kolpashchikov鈥檚 work suggests a different model, one in which sensors actively engage with their environment, reaching into the surrounding space to capture what drifts.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award No. 2555933. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

性视界传媒鈥檚 College of Sciences and its National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS) are at the heart of the real science behind the real-life cases, along with the larger field that goes beyond criminal justice.

Why This Research Matters

Now, thanks to the work of 性视界传媒 researchers, the field of forensic science around the world is receiving a massive boost of knowledge through the release of the 鈥渇antastic four鈥� chemical standards; the four, hard biomaterials 鈥� nails, hair, bones and teeth 鈥� that provide a consistent and critical reference point for forensic anthropology and toxicology work.

鈥淭he creation of these standards is important because every aspect 鈥� especially in toxicology 鈥� is helpful to quantify data when looking at these biomaterials in the field,鈥� says Matthieu Baudelet, an associate professor of chemistry at 性视界传媒 affiliated with NCFS. 鈥淵ou have a sample you want to mimic and now there is a reference with these 鈥榝antastic four鈥� that you can use for analysis. We can help crime labs around the world to be more precise, avoiding wrong decisions when looking at evidence.鈥�

Baudelet undertook the work of creating these standards in 2018 because he says it was a complex puzzle to solve and the work was necessary for improvements in forensic science.

鈥淎t the time, no one was working on this and we dared to find the answer and fill this scientific need in the field,鈥� Baudelet says. 鈥淔orensic science is important today because there is always a need for answering questions on a number of topics. In our case, the research revolves around anthropology and toxicology. In forensic anthropology, work is often about solving crimes, but there’s also work in parallel to repatriate fallen soldiers from previous wars.鈥�

Baudelet says that the new chemical standards will open doors to solve issues in toxicology or biomedical applications; for instance, the burgeoning market for hair analysis, which needs these standards.

How Laser Technology Is Shaping Forensic Science

Baudelet has led the development of these new standards through his work at NCFS. His background is in physics, optics and spectroscopy, and he鈥檚 found that interdisciplinary collaboration has helped move the field forward.

鈥淟aser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are widely accepted techniques for direct sampling of biological materials for elemental analysis, with increasing applications being reported over the recent years,鈥� according to a study by Baudelet and his former postdoctoral scholar, Mauro Martinez, that was published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.

LIBS is an analytical and versatile technique that utilizes a high-energy laser pulse to generate a plasma, which emits light, on the surface of a sample to help identify the elemental composition of the material. These laser-based techniques have provided opportunities for two doctoral students working alongside Baudelet on these standards to see better results.

鈥淭he portability of LIBS makes it useful worldwide,鈥� says Kristen Livingston, who graduates this fall with her doctoral degree in chemistry. 鈥淚鈥檝e traveled with the portable laser instrument to Romania and Hawaii and had the opportunity to work with bones and other skeletal remains in a variety of environments. The new standards and technology have the potential to make a global impact.鈥�

Details about the new references have been published in Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy and the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.

鈥淗aving a reference material is important because you can compare new measurements to a known measurement, which facilitates a reliable outcome, especially in forensic science,鈥� Livingston says. 鈥淵ou need trustworthy and reliable data to compare new measurements back to a known measurement.鈥�

Applying Science to Justice

Kaitlyn Bonilla 鈥�20 鈥�24MS, a chemistry alum and doctoral student graduating this fall, has worked on developing the chemical standard for hair samples. Her passion for forensic science began in high school watching one of her favorite television shows, Law & Order.

鈥淎 lot of people learn about forensics through TV shows and I was no different,鈥� Bonilla says. 鈥淚 wanted to be the next Olivia Benson [an NYPD officer from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]. I initially wanted to be a detective. I was interested in science and math and after taking a forensics class in high school, I thought, why don’t I apply science to the law?鈥�

As an undergraduate student at 性视界传媒, she took a course in microscopy and learned about hair as a biologic material in forensic science.

鈥淗air as a matrix is so interesting because it provides a chronological record with its growth,鈥� Bonilla says. 鈥淎s hair grows, information grows along a hair strand. Using lasers, we can see that record of information.聽It鈥檚 been exciting to learn more about it.鈥�

Bonilla says she is the first scientist in her family, and her studies have been supported through a National Institute of Justice fellowship, one of only eight 性视界传媒 students selected since the fellowship鈥檚 inception in 2000.

鈥淭hanks to this NIJ fellowship, I have been able to attend conferences and share my work, as well as conduct my studies in toxicology analysis,鈥� Bonilla says.

Decoding Bones Through Chemistry

Baudelet鈥檚 other graduate student working on the 鈥渇antastic four鈥� chemical standards is Kristen Livingston, who was similarly interested in forensic science watching it on TV.

鈥淚 watched NCIS and admired Abby [a chief forensic scientist] on the show,鈥� says Livingston. 鈥淚 appreciated the work that happened on those shows and how it made an impact on the community and in the justice system.鈥�

She says that her interest in forensic science intersected with her English class during her senior year in high school.

鈥淲e had to write a paper about a topic we were passionate about and I wrote about The Innocence Project and how DNA is used to exonerate innocent individuals from prison sentences,鈥� Livingston says. 鈥淭hese sentences may have resulted from improper forensic practices, so I wanted to improve the field of forensic science.鈥�

She says the work she鈥檚 doing is important because applying chemistry to forensic anthropology provides another level of information about bones.

鈥淭ypically, forensic anthropologists study the physical bone 鈥� the shape or morphology 鈥� and they can get answers from the bones themselves. But chemically, there’s another world of information,鈥� says Livingston. 鈥淏ones are an important matrix to study; if you think about tissues left behind when individuals die, bones last the longest. They can give you a lot of information about the individual they belonged to.鈥�

Livingston says she鈥檚 not the first chemist in my family; her father inspired her as well.

鈥淢y father worked in the field of nuclear chemistry and I grew up seeing his passion and love for this process,鈥� says Livingston. 鈥淏eing able to have these conversations with him about my research and being able to bond with him over his love for chemistry, has meant a lot to me.鈥�

Funder Information
This project was supported by Award No. AWD00005982, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.

Researcher Credentials
Matthieu Baudelet joined 性视界传媒鈥檚 Department of Chemistry and the National Center for Forensic Science in 2015. His work focuses on developing lased-based spectroscopic techniques for forensic applications, including the analysis of tire skid marks, pollen, and anthropological remains. He also leads efforts to create matrix-matched biomaterial standards for LIBS and LA-ICP-MS to improve quantitative analysis in forensic and biomedical research. Originally from France, Baudelet earned his Ph.D. in Laser and Spectroscopy from the University of Lyon.

That鈥檚 why infectious disease experts and chemists at the 性视界传媒 College of Medicine and College of Sciences were recently awarded a $537,619 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a low cost, accurate test that detects Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV at the same time.

The researchers are working to repurpose an existing electrochemical biosensor and apply that technology to quickly identify the viruses at the RNA level and quantify viral loads in resource-limited settings.

There is a worldwide need for such a test, as more than 300 million people live with the two forms of hepatitis and more than 40 million live with HIV, World Health Organization data shows. Access to faster and easy-to-use testing can reduce the spread of both viruses and help patients catch hepatitis earlier, reducing their risks of developing liver failure, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Simultaneous testing also has potential to remove barriers to patient care and help doctors better refine treatment plans.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to detect those viruses in the same sample because those viruses share the same route of transmission and it increases the chance that the same person may get multiple viruses,鈥� says Yulia Gerasimova, an associate professor of chemistry working on this project. to know how to tailor the treatment for patients depending on if they have a co-infection or not.鈥�

Quicker Results, Healthier Patients

Current diagnostics for both viruses require a blood test and analysis by a clinic or hospital lab. For that reason, testing is difficult in remote and resource-limited areas of the world, where getting results can take months.

During that time, undiagnosed patients get sicker and the disease may spread.

鈥淚 think the goal is to have something that’s accessible worldwide 鈥� regardless of the environment,鈥� says College of Medicine researcher Daniel Ram, an assistant professor of infectious disease who is working on the project. 鈥淗aving the capacity to detect multiple viruses at once really has potential to benefit everyone.鈥�

Ram recalls growing up in Guyana where his mother was the director of a national clinic that could not process such patient samples on site.

鈥淚n order to quantify viruses and patient samples, we would have to ship the samples out to Miami or sometimes Trinidad and Tobago,鈥� he says. 鈥淒uring shipping, those samples degraded and the possibility for failure is high. In the meantime, doctors didn鈥檛 know how to best treat the patients.鈥�

The researchers hope to reshape patient care by creating a more accessible and affordable diagnostic that can be used at low resource settings, says Karin Chumbimuni-Torres associate professor of chemistry and project lead.

The Science Behind New Tests

Instead of the current blood test that measures the body鈥檚 immune response to each virus and the distinct viral load of each virus, the 性视界传媒 researchers want to repurpose an existing electrochemical biosensor and apply that technology to quickly identify both viruses at the RNA level. They envision that collected samples, such as blood, can be screened with the sensor.

Chumbimuni-Torres developed similar technology to detect dengue fever and the Zika virus, and her preliminary positive results allowed her to receive the NIH grant for hepatitis and HIV.

The HIV virus often mutates so the 性视界传媒 scientists programed their sensor to detect any strain of the disease.

鈥淭his is key,鈥� Chumbimuni-Torres says. 鈥淗IV can mutate a lot so we made a technique that can detect any of the mutations.鈥�

Because the biosensors conduct genetic testing on the viruses, the scientists can target all the different genetic sequences of both viruses.

鈥淲e want to quantify the virus so doctors can know how to treat patients,鈥� Chumbimuni-Torres says.

Through this research, the team hopes to develop the technology that would work regardless of the source of viral genomes, Gerasimova says.

鈥淲e鈥檙e using something called isothermal amplification to amplify viral nucleic acids for them to be detected with virus-specific probes,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his project is more or less exploratory and we鈥檙e developing and fine tuning our technique along the way.鈥�

鈥淲e want to be test whether or not the sensors can detect certain amounts of virus and how that would relate to how that may manifest in patients,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or this round of experimentation, we need to validate with cell cultures and having different quantified amounts of the viruses. Knowing how many viral particles it鈥檚 able to detect will allow us to move forward in assessing a patient cohort.鈥�

As their research progresses, Ram says he sees the potential for the test to greatly improve the lives of patients worldwide

鈥淭his technology has immediate benefit if we can show it to work effectively in detecting multiple viruses,鈥� he says.

Researchers鈥� Credentials:

Chumbimuni-Torres is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at 性视界传媒. She earned her master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at the University of Campinas, S茫o Paulo, Brazil. After graduating, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue University and the University of California, San Diego. During that time, she also worked at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. Before joining 性视界传媒, she served as a research associate at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research interests focus on understanding, characterizing and developing chemical sensors for biological applications such as analyzing microRNAs, RNA and DNA. Her group is also interested in studying the interactions at the interface of biomolecules and nanomaterials.

Gerasimova is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, where she leads the Nucleic Acid Function and Diagnostics Laboratory. She earned her doctoral degree in bioorganic chemistry from the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Russia. Gerasimova joined 性视界传媒 in 2010 as a postdoctoral researcher and transitioned to a faculty role in Fall 2016.

Ram is an assistant professor of medicine at 性视界传媒鈥檚 Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. His lab studies the role of infection and disease on the modulation of splicing, leading to dysfunctional immune responses.聽 Ram earned his doctoral degree in immunology at Tufts University in 2016, then trained as a postdoctoral research fellow for four years at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He subsequently served as an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School prior to joining 性视界传媒 in 2023.

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released by cells that can carry information which contain proteins, DNA and other molecules from the cells that created them. They serve as messengers giving a view of what鈥檚 happening inside the body, which makes them promising tools for early, noninvasive disease detection.

Led by principal investigator Kiminobu Sugaya, professor and head of the neuroscience division at the College of Medicine, and Qun Huo, professor and graduate program director in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Sciences, the team created a streamlined alternative. Their new method uses basic lab tools to collect and concentrate exosomes from cell samples in under an hour. The findings were recently published in the American Chemical Society鈥檚 Applied Bio Materials journal.

鈥淥ur method eliminates the need for ultracentrifugation, precipitation kits or affinity-based labeling,鈥� Huo says. 鈥淚nstead, we use a size-selective filtration and direct optical analysis technique that can isolate and characterize exosomes within a single step. This not only reduces the processing time significantly鈥攆rom hours to minutes鈥攂ut also minimizes sample loss and experimental variability.鈥�

With this form of characterization, the researchers add specific antibodies, which are proteins that bind to target disease-related proteins on the exosomes. If the antibodies find a match, the exosomes cluster, causing a measurable increase in size. This change can be quickly detected using dynamic light scattering (DLS), a light-based measurement technique.

鈥淲e chose DLS not only for its ability to measure particle size distribution rapidly and non-destructively, but also for its sensitivity in detecting molecular interactions,鈥� Huo says. 鈥淭he resulting change in hydrodynamic size, as measured by DLS, serves as a direct indicator of antigen-antibody interaction.鈥�

Hannah Ambrosius, a chemistry doctoral student, worked closely on the study as part of her thesis and shares that she quickly recognized the potential beyond just speeding up the isolation process.

鈥淕iven that exosomes contain specific biomarkers that can be used for disease detection, like cancer, it’s imperative that the exosome is efficiently isolated and purified before further analysis,鈥� Ambrosius says. 鈥淲ith this protocol, we’ve moved on to human samples and have made some very interesting discoveries that we’re excited to soon share with the research community.鈥�

The researchers tested the method on exosomes from three types of cells: human embryotic kidney cells, genetically modified cells with green fluorescent protein and brain cancer stem cells from a patient with glioblastoma. In all three cases, the method successfully isolated the exosomes and identified their surface proteins with great reliability.

鈥淲hile exosome research is often associated with neurodegenerative diseases, the original purpose of this project was to develop a diagnostic tool for glioblastoma鈥攐ne of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors,鈥� Sugaya says. 鈥淥ur method offers a rapid, non-invasive way to detect glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by analyzing surface markers on exosomes, which reflect tumor-specific antigens.鈥�

Sugaya says this technique is part of an ongoing effort to not only improve diagnosis but also advance new approaches to treatments.

鈥淭his diagnostic platform complements a novel therapeutic strategy we recently developed: an exosome-based drug delivery system that delivers non-nucleic-acid medicines directly to GBM cells,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his approach has shown strong potential as a curative therapy, and the diagnostic system we created will also serve as a valuable tool for monitoring treatment response and disease progression.鈥�

The researchers on the team across the two colleges agree that interdisciplinary collaboration was key to achieving results.

鈥淐ollaboration allowed us to integrate biological insight with technological innovation,鈥� Huo says. 鈥淭he synergy enabled us to optimize both the design and function of the isolation platform.鈥�

Ambrosius says as a student researcher, the collaboration opened valuable doors.

鈥淔rom the perspective of a graduate student, it’s interesting to learn that the research field isn’t always about how much you know, but also who you know,鈥� she says. 鈥淧rogress is nothing short of a team effort.鈥�

About the Researchers

Sugaya has dedicated over 40 years to neuroscience research focused on Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, with an emphasis on stem cells for the last 26 years. He moved to the U.S. after receiving his Ph.D. from the Science University of Tokyo in 1988. He joined 性视界传媒 as a professor in 2004. His cancer research began in 2010 when he discovered stemness gene expressions, the self-renewing and differentiating property that allows cancer stem cells to grow and spread. He has become recognized as an expert in the field of exosome research and recently received 性视界传媒 Innovation Funding from the State Department of Health for his studies.

Huo鈥檚 current research focuses on the development of new analytical and diagnostic technologies to address the health issues of humans, animals and agriculture. Huo received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in polymer science from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1991, master鈥檚 degree in chemistry from Sun Yatsen University in 1994 and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Miami in 1999. Her laboratory has developed a rapid blood test to measure the immune health of humans and animals. She collaborates extensively with biomedical scientists, medical doctors, animal scientists, veterinarians and plant scientists to develop innovative solutions for practical and challenging problems.

Mangroves are crucial because they naturally protect coastal shores from storm damage and serve as vital wildlife habitats around the world.

Scientists at the University of Central 性视界传媒 are working to preserve mangroves in 性视界传媒 and across the world from an increasingly prevalent disease-causing variety of fungi that lies dormant but become active when the tree is exposed to stressors such as temperature fluctuation, pests or other diseases.

The disease does not yet have an official name, but it is being referred to by scientists as 鈥淢angrove CNP.鈥� It is caused by a group of fungal pathogens, including Curvularia, Neopestalotiopsis, and Pestalotiopsis, that causes yellowing and spots, and gradually weaken the mangrove until it ultimately dies.

Melissa Deinys, a 性视界传媒 undergraduate researcher, and Jorge Pereira, a 性视界传媒 graduate research assistant, are working to help turn the tide by developing and testing a promising nutritional cocktail comprised of nanoparticles to strengthen mangroves and counter the pathogens. The work is through 性视界传媒 professor Swadeshmukul Santra鈥檚 (MISA) center at 性视界传媒, which is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agricultural recognized Center of Excellence.

Mangrove CNP in 性视界传媒 was first identified as causing mangrove die-offs by Deinys in 2019 in Miami through her work with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Later, the Marine Resources Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of 性视界传媒鈥檚 Indian River Lagoon, verified and cited her efforts.

Deinys and collaborators with the MRC and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden have determined that about 80% of the mangroves they had sampled have tested positive for at least one of the fungal pathogen species. She says they have sampled over 130 mangroves between the Indian River Lagoon and Miami mangrove populations.

The researchers are treating the mangroves by soaking them in a nutrient solution called 鈥淢ag Sun鈥� (MgSuN), which is comprised of magnesium and sulfur nanoparticles. The mixture is a refinement of a previous graduate student鈥檚 formula that destroyed bacteria on tomatoes, Pereira says.

鈥淭he reason why we choose magnesium is because it is more environmentally friendly, and plants need a lot of magnesium,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 combined our magnesium formulation with a sodium polysulfide. Sulfur is one of those elements that is ubiquitous in the environment, and the idea is that you can combine both to actually enhance the anti-microbial capacity for both bacteria and fungi and you also supply key nutrients to the plants so that they can grow greener and leafier.鈥�

During lab tests, the researchers say they observed growth inhibition of up to 95% when treated with MgSuN at varying concentrations compared to the untreated control.

The formula acts as a sort of antibiotic and multivitamin, and it has shown great potential in bolstering the health of infected mangroves at nurseries across 性视界传媒, Pereira says.

鈥淲e鈥檝e done some experiments, and we have tested both in vitro and in plants,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working with the nurseries, and we鈥檝e seen it does kill the pathogens with no detrimental effects to the mangroves while kickstarting their health. They look great after treatment.鈥�

Deinys is continuing her work with the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, MRC and nurseries across 性视界传媒 while staying the course on her path to graduation and furthering her research at 性视界传媒.

She began studying the fungal pathogens in 2018 in Miami prior to being enrolled at 性视界传媒 and has seen the mangroves become increasingly affected by the pathogens鈥� opportunistic nature.

鈥淏ack at the botanical gardens where I started, I would see the plants have these pathogens but not to a detrimental effect where we now see these organisms collapsing,鈥� she says. 鈥淎 mangrove nursery [The Marine Resources Council] had reached out to us, and they told us they had an insect infestation and then the whole population got wiped out by the pathogen. We鈥檙e also getting reports from places like Tampa that say areas that have more runoff are having more pathogen-related deterioration compared to 10 years ago.鈥�

The fungi have been well-documented for some time, but volatile temperature changes, frequent storms and other increasing stressors open the door to the fungi taking a hold of the mangroves, Deinys says.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e called opportunistic, and they鈥檙e called that for a reason,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey see a change in the plant and that鈥檚 when they start to take effect.鈥�

How the pathogens are acquired is something that remains unclear, Deinys says. Researchers hypothesize it may be introduced through water, wind or insects, but further studies are needed to determine how it is acquired since it poses threat to mangrove health.

鈥淵ou have to study all possibilities to determine what is the vector,鈥� Deinys says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen papers and literature in other countries that have shown these pathogens for a long time. It鈥檚 been difficult because there is a disconnect in mangrove communities because we鈥檙e worlds apart and with different languages.鈥�

The MgSuN nutrient solution is a treatment, but not a cure, Deinys says. There still are ample stressors that should be managed and mitigated, such as human-caused habitat destruction, in addition to treating the pathogens.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a big restoration effort to repopulate mangroves,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut first we need to look at the health of these mangroves and the health of the ecosystem before we determine what more we should do. We鈥檙e working with mangrove nurseries to see if we can together develop solutions.鈥�

Maintaining and restoring mangroves is an essential component of ecological stewardship, and it鈥檚 a passion that Deinys hopes to continue throughout her career.

鈥淚 started this project my freshman year,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to leave what I was doing, and I came here with a mission. I met with Dr. Santra, our PI, and he wanted to help. He gave me a lot of freedom, and I鈥檓 really grateful.鈥�

Deinys says that her research at 性视界传媒 has been incredibly gratifying.

鈥淭here is a sense of community here that I found,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 joined the lab, and it felt like I found my family and that鈥檚 one of the best things to have come out of this experience. This has been one of my life鈥檚 passions, and I hope I鈥檒l always stay with this project even after.鈥�

Santra is encouraged by the research conducted by Pereira and Deinys, and he is hopeful it continues to bolster mangrove ecosystems.

鈥淭he 性视界传媒 MISA center is dedicated to solving global problems that threaten agricultural sustainability,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e are excited to have another crop protection tool in our toolbox for protecting mangroves. I see the future of MagSun as a broad-spectrum fungicide, where GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) materials are empowered through nanotechnology.鈥�

Further studies are needed to pinpoint which stressors are affecting the mangroves the most so that scientists can better preserve them, Pereira says.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to understand the stressors, and we need to really address if it鈥檚 a change in temperature, if it鈥檚 runoff or if it鈥檚 an additional pathogen,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n the meantime, we need to do something to prevent this damage from occurring.鈥�

Researchers鈥� Credentials

Deinys graduated from BioTECH @ Richmond Heights High School, a conservation biology magnet school, where she began her research journey at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and specialized in botany. In Fall 2022, Deinys joined 性视界传媒 and became a member of the Santra Lab the following spring. She is an undergraduate research assistant working towards her bachelor鈥檚 degree in biotechnology.

Pereira graduated from Universidad Nacional Aut贸noma de Honduras with a degree in industrial chemistry. He joined Santra鈥檚 lab in 2020 and is currently a graduate research assistant and working toward his doctoral degree in chemistry.

Santra holds a doctorate in chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. After graduating, he worked at the University of 性视界传媒 (UF) as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a research assistant professor at the UF Department of Neurological Surgery and Particle Engineering Research Center. In 2005, Santra joined 性视界传媒 as an assistant professor at the , the and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. He is the director of the 性视界传媒 Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture center, a USDA-NIFA-recognized Center of Excellence.

Early discovery of debilitating diseases such as cancer or dementia is critical in determining treatment and saving lives.

Associate Professor Xiaohu Xia recently received a $1.3 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his promising nanoparticle research that could drastically improve disease detection accuracy by more than 300-times.

The NIH awards R01 grants to investigators for mature research projects that are hypothesis-driven with strong preliminary data like Xia鈥檚.

鈥淚n our preliminary laboratory results, we have demonstrated that our nanoparticle-based artificial enzymes are able to improve the detection sensitivity by about 300 times better than the current assets in the market,鈥� he says.

His research spans four years, and it focuses on enhancing the diagnostic efficacy of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing by using specially tailored nickel-platinum nanoparticles that will bind to specific disease biomarkers 鈥� such as proteins and hormones 鈥� in bodily fluid samples.

Xia is the sole principal investigator, but he will oversee postdoctoral and graduate students who will assist him.

Although there has been some experimentation with substituting nanoparticles in ELISA testing, there hasn鈥檛 been a monumental advancement in diagnostic sensitivity in decades, and Xia says he aims to make the leap through his nanoparticle research.

鈥淓LISA technology is one of the most popular technologies used for screenings of a variety of different diseases,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or example, when you go to the doctor鈥檚 office and do your annual physical exam, the bloodwork may use ELISA to detect a variety of different biomarkers. But to breakthrough this technology, you have to completely replace the natural enzyme with something else.鈥�

The switch from using traditional peroxidase found in horseradish root to artificial enzyme 鈥渕imics鈥� comprised of nanoparticles could result in numerous benefits, the researcher says. Xia says the nanoparticles are significantly more stable and active, which could mean more reliable and accurate ELISA test results.

鈥淚n commercial technology, people are using natural enzymes that are extracted from plants,鈥� Xia says. 鈥淚n our technology, we鈥檙e going to replace the natural enzyme with our artificial enzymes which are made of metal nanoparticles. The artificial enzymes are much more efficient than natural enzymes so that means were going to have a stronger color signal which can substantially improve the detection sensitivity of this technology.鈥�

In this study, Xia endeavors to build and maximize the nanoparticles鈥� capabilities while demonstrating and confirming their efficacy in clinical use by testing different disease biomarkers in human blood samples. He says he plans to fine-tune the structure of the nanoparticles to engineer the most optimal artificial enzymes for diagnostics.

It will be the first time his nanoparticles will interact with clinical samples, Xia says.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to further improve the sensitivity by using the unique nanoparticles and to use two cancers for demonstration,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n this project, we propose to detect prostate cancer and colorectal cancer in the early stages in blood. With our new technology, we hope to achieve early diagnosis of these cancers.鈥�

The nanoparticles will serve as enhanced artificial 鈥渕imics鈥� of conventional enzymes to bond and react in a way that will show color when combined with bioreceptors, such as antibodies, if the target disease biomarkers are present.

When a biomarker is detected, the test generates a visible color output that can be used to quantify its concentration. The stronger the color is, the stronger the concentration. The tests must be highly sensitive to prevent false negatives that could delay treatment or interventions.

Xia is hopeful his research will reveal that the nanoparticles will have record efficiency in providing quicker results and more definitive contrast in the coloring of samples while simplifying the procedures and devices needed for testing.

鈥淒etection sensitivity is critical for diagnostics for significant diseases,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or the very early stages, the concentration of biomarkers may be very low and not detected by conventional ELISA. With our new technology, were aiming to substantially improve the sensitivity so we can detect even low concentrations of biomarkers in patient samples.鈥�

He aspires to use the foundational knowledge gained from his initial research in 2021 to impact the general field of in vitro diagnostics by offering a type of ultraefficient artificial enzymes that are suitable for many diagnostic technologies even beyond ELISA.

鈥淭he ultimate goal we want to achieve is early detection of significant diseases like cancer and in the future, we also want to detect some other very challenging diseases like maybe even Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease,鈥� Xia says.

Researcher鈥檚 Credentials

Xia joined 性视界传媒鈥檚 Department of Chemistry, part of 性视界传媒鈥檚聽College of Sciences, in 2018. He has a joint appointment in 性视界传媒鈥檚聽. Prior to his appointment at 性视界传媒, he worked at Michigan Technological University as an assistant professor and at Georgia Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral researcher.