Univ of Illinois Micro + Nanotechnology Lab 2016 Highlights Report | Page 17

MNTL Industry Affiliates Program

ElectroCyt , a start-up company founded by Bioengineering Professor Rashid Bashir and alumnus Bobby Reddy ( PhD 2012 ) and based on their novel microfluidic and electrical sensing technology , received stage 1 funding from the VentureWell student grant program in 2016 . The ElectroCyt team has created a diagnostic tool that will improve accuracy when diagnosing sepsis , a lifethreatening condition that occurs when harmful bacteria and toxins enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory response throughout the body . ElectroCyt ’ s first-degree sensing technology can detect and prevent a number of diseases and conditions well before debilitating symptoms present themselves . The company also developed the world ’ s first handheld Complete Blood Count ( CBC ) diagnostic platform .

ElectroCyt ’ s differential immune-capture biochip takes whole blood as input , eliminating the need of off-chip sample preparation and effectively reducing the assay time .
ElectroCyt ’ s first-degree sensing technology can detect and prevent a number of diseases and conditions well before debilitating symptoms present themselves .

MNTL Industry Affiliates Program

In 2016 , MNTL launched a new Industry Affiliates Program to facilitate technical interactions between company researchers and Illinois faculty and students . With membership rates based on company size and level of interest , the IAP enables companies to partner with faculty on pre-competitive research projects , providing a cost-effective approach for gaining insight into commercial applications of university research . The IAP is also developing an MNTL graduate student industry recruiting pipeline , connecting uniquely qualified students with company internships and full-time employment .
micro + nanotechnology lab | 15 | 2016 highlights report