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Lab-on-a-chip to replace diagnostic labs

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DQW Bureau
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It is a gem of an idea. One that does away with the need to visit dreary
diagnostic labs. 21-year-old Nitin Phadke, a quintessial Puniete and a molecular
biologist with HandyLab Inc, a Michigan based start up, has developed a ‘lab-on-a
chip’ that can diagnose multiple diseases in 30 minutes flat.

Phadke was in Pune for The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) sum-mit on ‘Pune’s
potential to be the knowledge capital of India’ to present the biochip that
can diagnose AIDS, malaria, TB and hepatitis. The founders of HandyLab Kalyan
Handique and Sundaresh Bramhasandra, students of IIT Powai and Chennai first
developed a DNA testing unit the size of microchip. With 24 employees on board,
the lab has received funding to the tune of $ 8 million till date.

According to Phadke, besides the low cost of usage, the chip is easy to use
and can be manufactured even in rural areas. Moreover, it is among the first
that connects to a palm-pilot and e-mail the results to your doctor.

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How does it work? After sample connection, everything from sample preparation
to detection to results has been integrated on a single chip. The portable
device has two parts–the first component is a cheap disposable chip, which can
identify specified group of diseases, the second is a reusable handheld device
to run the chip.

Phadke is in India to explore possibilities of setting up a R&D center in
India and conducting clinical trials He is also looking at the possibility of
manufacturing the plastic chip here. Although the chip is cheap, the palm-pilot
could prove to be expensive. He is also on the lookout for funding opportunities
for an Indian subsidiary or setting up the company’s Indian operations. Handy
Lab has two exclusive patents for its technologies. 15 additional patent
applications have been filed.

The National Centre for Cell Sciences (NCCS) has developed in vitro models
for toxicology, pharmacology and allied field of biotechnology. These models are
useful for tissue banking and tissue engineering and serve as an alternative to
laboratory animals. The technologies developed by NCSS are ready for transfer to
industry.

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(CyberMedia News Service)

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