Individualized Medicine at the Molecular Level

Early detection and accurate diagnosis are imperative for delivering optimal treatment to patients. Thanks to technology developed by the UNC Center for Computer-Integrated Systems for Microscopy and Manipulation and commercialized by Department of Computer Science start-up Redbud Labs, individualized diagnostics are moving from the bench to the clinic to the bedside.

Redbud Labs — founded by UNC professor Rich Superfine, former professor Russell Taylor and alumnus Richard Spero ’10 (Ph.D.) — is a microfluidic chip (biochip) manufacturer whose patented technology allows precise manipulation of cells to advance biological research more quickly, efficiently and economically. Mimicking the conditions of complex biological systems, microfluidic devices have wide applicability in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics and drug development.

Redbud’s new microfluidic mixing technology, called MXR, enables scientists to perform point-of-care molecular diagnostics, analyzing thousands of genes simultaneously at speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. In hospitals, for example, MXR can purify and concentrate pathogens from whole blood to reveal if patients have picked up a life-threatening infection during their stay.

MXR is the world’s first microfluidic mixing module designed specifically for use with diagnostic products. One chip can house multiple chambers, which reduces the number of components and the cost of materials