After the PCR step, a capillary electrophoresis chip is used to separate out the barcode-like DNA fragments and identify the pathogen against a known database of biothreat agents. All of the equipment fits into a mobile van. The whole biothreat identification process was completed on-site and information relayed to emergency response units in less than forty-five minutes.
On a second day of activities involving the Biodesign Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn became the scene of a triage center for "dirty bomb" victims. In the event of a dirty bomb, a radioactive plume can widely disperse over a metropolitan area. Any response system must be able to measure quickly and accurately an individual's biological damages from low dose radiation exposure (e.g. cell damages and DNA breaks) while accounting for the surge in patient volume.
The center's biodosimetry devices are currently under development through a multi-institute consortium led by Columbia University and which is sponsored by a $25 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that will develop high-throughput biodosimetry systems and rapid radiation exposure tests for screening large population groups.
During the Coyote Crisis Campaign, the Biodesign team worked with ASU's College of Design for designing a portable biodosimetry system of reusable tester cartridges, devices, products and procedures to rapidly identify, track
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Contact: Joe Caspermeyer
joseph.caspermeyer@asu.edu
480-727-0369
Arizona State University
2-May-2006