Melik Demirel, professor of engineering science and mechanics is one of four researchers receiving a QED Proof-Of-Concept grant from the University City Science Center in Philadelphia.
The QED program funds novel university technologies with market potential, bridging the gap between academic research and product commercialization.
Demirel is using proteins to coat the surfaces of biomedical swabs, allowing the proteins to bind with DNA in a sample. These swabs will allow gene analysis from even tiny amounts of blood or other biological samples. The DNA swab indusry is the primary market for this product, which might be used in forensics, geneological studies and medicine.
Three other researchers, one from the University of Delaware and two from Rutgers University, will share in this year's $600,000 award. The grants will be matched by the respective universities.
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