Point-of-Care, Rapid Diagnostics & Biosensors Asia 2026
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026 - Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Confirmed Speakers
Abraham Qavi, Assistant Professor, Director of Point of Care Testing, Director of Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics, University of California-Irvine
Fangwei Shao, Associate Professor, Zhejiang University
Lifeng Zhou, Assistant Professor, Peking University
Min-Gon Kim, Professor at GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology); CEO of GMDBiotech
Xing Wang, Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Chemistry, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brian Cunningham, Professor and Intel Alumni Endowed Chair, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- Conference Chairperson
Levent Yobas, Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology -- Keynote Speaker + Session Chairperson
Limei Tian, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California
Yoon-Kyoung Cho, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dean, College of Information and Biotechnology UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology) -- Keynote Speaker
Chia-Hung Chen, Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong
Leyla Soleymani, Professor, McMaster University
Martyn Boutelle, Professor of Biomedical Sensors Engineering, Imperial College London
Sai Kiang Lim, Research Director, Paracrine Therapeutics; Associate Research Professor, National University of Singapore
Overview of the Conference
SelectBIO Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Rapid Diagnostics & Biosensors Asia 2026 is being held on April 27-28, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SelectBIO is honored to welcome Professor Brian Cunningham, Professor and Intel Alumni Endowed Chair, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as the Chairperson of the Conference.
This conference brings together researchers and industry participants from across the world -- Asia/Pacific, Europe and US -- in a 2-day intensive conference featuring the most up-to-date science plus advances in technology as well as the latest products in this expanding field.
The conference welcomes researchers to submit abstracts for oral presentations on their research as it relates to the goals of this conference -- featuring the latest research, engaging researchers and companies, and extensive networking and collaboration opportunities.
**Malaysia Government Visa Policy for China Passport Holders**
免签政策：2023年12月1日至2026年底，马来西亚政府对中国公民实施免签政策，中国公民旅游、探亲等事由可免签入境马来西亚30天。进入马来西亚学习、工作等须马方主管部门事先批准的活动，或拟停留超过30天的，仍应按要求在入境前申请与入境目的相符的签证
**China Passport Holders: Please visit this website for details**
Foreign Visitors to Malaysia need to Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) 3 Days Prior to Arrival -- for information, please visit the following website:
https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main
Abstract Submission for Oral Presentations and Posters
Agenda Topics Covered at this Conference
You can also present your research in an oral presentation or a poster while attending the meeting. Submit an abstract for consideration under the Submissions tab of this conference website
Oral Presentation Abstract Submission Deadline: March 30, 2026
Poster Abstract Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026
**Printed Posters are A0 Sized and Portrait Orientation**
Biomarkers
Emerging Technologies for Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Emerging Technologies & Tools for Rapid Diagnostics
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)/Exosomes
Lateral Flow Assays and Devices: Technologies, Products and Advances
Microfluidics as a Platform for Diagnostics Development
Liquid Biopsy for Cancer
Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Sources of Biomarkers for Diagnostics Development
Sensors
Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities at this Conference
Delegate Registrations
Please Register for the Conference on this Page. Once registered you will receive your eTicket to attend the conference. Looking for more than 3 Delegate Passes? Contact us for more information on our special rates for large groups. Payments via Credit Card, Debit Card or Alipay.
Any questions or assistance during registration, please call us at: +1 (510) 857-4865 or e-mail us at: Contact SelectBIO
Gold Sponsors
Exhibitors
Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities
If you require any information about exhibiting or sponsoring at one of our events please contact Jeff Fan using the information below:
Jeff Fan
Exhibition Manager - SelectBIO Conferences
Why Sponsor-Exhibit at a SelectBIO Conference?
Specialists: SelectBIO doesn't organize conferences in shipping, accountancy, textiles etc. – just life sciences. Many of our staff have bioscience qualifications and many years of experience. So, we speak your language and understand your needs.
Superior Customer Service: Our sales team will take care of you with specialist advice and customized packages.
We don’t forget you after you sign on the bottom line either as our customer service team will alert you to all the things you need to think about up to and during the event itself, as well as after the event.
Point-of-Care, Rapid Diagnostics & Biosensors Asia 2026
SelectBIO is delighted to host this Point-of-Care, Rapid Diagnostics & Biosensors Asia 2026 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hilton Garden Inn Puchong
Jalan DM2, Taman Desa Millennia
Puchong, 47150
Malaysia
Telephone +60 3 8084 1299
All conference sessions, exhibition as well as networking reception will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn-Puchong.
SelectBIO has negotiated discounted pricing for conference attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn-Puchong:
Room rates are as below, excluding service tax and tourism tax:
Guestroom (King) at MYR 230.00+ per room per night with 1 breakfast.
Guestroom (King or Twin) at MYR250.00+ per room per night with 2 breakfasts.
**Breakfast is Included in the Above Rate + High-Speed Internet Access in the Room Keeping You Connected 24/7 Throughout Your Stay**
Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant, modern city with an outstanding food scene and a great city to visit. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Airport Code: KUL) is served by Major Airlines and has Connections Across Asia and Around the World.
To make your Hotel Reservations Online:
For any questions with the venue or logistics matters, please kindly contact SelectBIO Conferenes:
Jeff Fan
Events Manager, SelectBIO Conferences
E-mail: Jeff@selectbioconferences.com
SelectBIO has NOT authorized ANY third party company to assist in hotel bookings or any bookings or reservations for this conference. Please do NOT do business with any third party companies. If in doubt, please contact Jeff Fan immediately to clarify.
Register to this conference and also enjoy the following co-located events at no extra charge.
Training Courses
If you would like to submit a proposal for an oral or poster presentation at this meeting, please fill out the form below required for your submission.
Successful applicants will be provided with all necessary information.
Abstract Content:
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Written in English
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Written in the third person
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Include title, name(s) and affiliation(s) of the authors
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Between 100 - 200 words
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Suitable for direct publication in the proceedings pack and on the website
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Related to the subject of the conference
Agenda Topics
Biomarkers
Emerging Technologies for Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Emerging Technologies & Tools for Rapid Diagnostics
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)/Exosomes
Lateral Flow Assays and Devices: Technologies, Products and Advances
Microfluidics as a Platform for Diagnostics Development
Liquid Biopsy for Cancer
Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Sources of Biomarkers for Diagnostics Development
Sensors
Copyrights
The presenting author/person who submitted the abstract assumes full responsibility of the content of the abstract and we assume that all co-authors are aware of this content. Please note that your biography, summary and abstract may be used on this website and conference materials.
Abraham Qavi, Assistant Professor, Director of Point of Care Testing, Director of Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics, University of California-Irvine
Abraham Qavi Biographical Sketch
Abraham Qavi is a physician-scientist and faculty member in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. His expertise focuses on point-of-care diagnostics, biosensing technologies, and clinical laboratory stewardship. Dr. Qavi’s work bridges fundamental sensor development with translational and operational considerations in hospital-based laboratories, emphasizing technologies that can meaningfully impact patient care.
Brian Cunningham, Professor and Intel Alumni Endowed Chair, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- Conference Chairperson
Brian Cunningham Biographical Sketch
Prof. Cunningham has been a faculty member in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the department Bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 2004, following a 15-year career in Industry. Prof. Cunningham’s technical focus is the utilization of photonics for biosensing in applications that include life science research, diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical screening. He has over 90 issued US patents and over 195 peer reviewed journal publications. He is a Fellow of NAI, IEEE, OSA, RSC, AAAS, and AIMBE. He serves as the Director of the Center for Genomic Diagnostics at the Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and as a Program Leader for the Cancer Center at Illinois on the topic of Cancer Measurement Technology and Data Science. In 2023, his technical contributions were recognized by Optica by the Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award.
Chia-Hung Chen, Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong
Chia-Hung Chen Biographical Sketch
Prof. Chia-Hung Chen is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong and a recognized leader in microfluidic biosensors and single-cell technologies. Named a Top 2% Scholar by Stanford University, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and completed postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on soft systems and high-throughput microfluidic platforms for probing cellular heterogeneity in human health and disease, with applications in precision diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, infectious, and autoimmune diseases. Prof. Chen has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Nature Communications, Science Advances, PNAS and JACS has secured more than 25 international competitive research grants. He serves on the editorial boards of Biomicrofluidics and IEEE journals.
Fangwei Shao, Associate Professor, Zhejiang University
Fangwei Shao Biographical Sketch
Dr Fangwei Shao obtained her BS and MS in Physical Chemistry from Fudan University and her PhD in Chemistry from Caltech. After a postdoctoral research program at Harvard Medical School/MGH, She started her independent research at Nanyang Technological University as a Nanyang Assistant Professor Fellowship. In 2019, she joined ZJU-UIUC institute at Zhejiang University as an associate professor. Her research focus on bioinorganic chemistry and nanotechnology of nucleic acids and the applications in biomaterials and biomedicine.
Levent Yobas, Professor, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Levent Yobas Biographical Sketch
Dr Levent Yobas received his BSc degree in electrical engineering from Hacettepe University, Turkey, MSc and PhD degrees both in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, USA. From 2002-2010, he was with the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) under the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) of Singapore. He held adjunct faculty positions with Bioengineering Division at National University of Singapore (NUS) and the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He joined the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as Assistant Professor in 2010 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2015 and Professor in 2022. His research is mainly focused on silicon-based micro/nanofabrication technologies for life sciences, particularly lab-on-a-chip microfluidics for drug discovery and point-of-care diagnostic applications.
Leyla Soleymani, Professor, McMaster University
Leyla Soleymani Biographical Sketch
Dr. Soleymani is a professor at McMaster University. She is dedicated to enhancing human life through innovations in personalized medicine that bridge the fields of engineering, science, and medicine. Her current research focuses on the development of next-generation biological sensors and wearable technologies aimed at improving the understanding and management of health and disease. Dr. Soleymani places a strong emphasis on translational research; she has successfully licensed several technologies to diagnostic companies and founded two startup companies, FendX technologies and Aptec Health, that concentrate on commercialization of engineered surfaces for reducing the spread of infection and wearable protein monitoring technologies, respectively. Her contributions to the field have earned her recognition as a Dorothy Killam Fellow, a University Scholar, a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada (New College of Scholars, Artists, and Scientists).
Lifeng Zhou, Assistant Professor, Peking University
Lifeng Zhou Biographical Sketch
Dr. Lifeng Zhou obtained his Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2017. Afterward, he completed his postdoctoral training at the RNA Institute at The State University of New York at Albany. In 2021, he relocated to the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as an IGB fellow. In March 2023, he joined the Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics at Peking University as an Assistant Professor. His research focuses on DNA nanorobots, biosensors and their applications.
Limei Tian, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
Limei Tian Biographical Sketch
Limei Tian is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Her research interests focus on chemical and biological sensors and soft wearable and implantable devices for biodiagnostics, bioanalytics, and therapeutics. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Washington University in St. Louis in 2014. She was a Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2015 to 2018. She is the recipient of the Materials Research Society graduate student award, Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH NIBIB Trailblazer Award, and NIH NIGMS MIRA R35 Award.
Martyn Boutelle, Professor of Biomedical Sensors Engineering, Imperial College London
Martyn Boutelle Biographical Sketch
Martyn Boutelle is Professor of Biomedical Sensors Engineering in the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, and Associate Provost for Estates Planning for Imperial College. His research group is multidisciplinary comprising bioengineers, scientists, and clinicians. He develops novel analytical science methods using microfluidics, electrochemical sensors / biosensors, and wireless electronics to make portable (sometimes wearable) monitoring devices for use as point of care devices – typically giving continuous real -time displays. He then uses these in a program of clinical science research focusing on the neonatal monitoring, acute traumatic brain injury, pesticide exposure monitoring. Martyn is past president of the International Society for Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience, and a founder of the COSBID organization for studying acute human brain injury. He published > 200 papers, chapters and patents. He obtained a BSc and PhD in Chemistry from Imperial College and worked as an EP Abraham Research Fellow in the University of Oxford.
Min-Gon Kim, Professor at GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology); CEO of GMDBiotech
Min-Gon Kim Biographical Sketch
Dr. Min-Gon Kim is a Professor at GIST and the CEO of GMDBiotech. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from POSTECH. Specializing in biosensors and Lab-on-Paper platforms, he has established a prolific academic record with over 150 publications and 40 patents. Currently, he is leading the development and commercialization of high-sensitivity POCT and digital diagnostic systems.
Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California
Noah Malmstadt Biographical Sketch
Noah Malmstadt is Professor at the University of Southern California. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Caltech and a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington. Following postdoctoral work at UCLA, he joined the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC in 2007. Malmstadt is the recipient of a 2012 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator award. His research focuses on microfluidic strategies to facilitate material fabrication and biophysical analysis. He has pioneered the integration of ionic liquids as solvents in droplet microreactors and the application of microfluidic systems to synthesizing biomimetic cell membranes. Microfluidic analytical techniques he has developed include methods for measuring the permeability of cell membranes to druglike molecules and techniques for measuring ionic currents through membrane proteins.
Sai Kiang Lim, Research Director, Paracrine Therapeutics; Associate Research Professor, National University of Singapore
Sai Kiang Lim Biographical Sketch
I hold a BSc (Hons) from National University of Singapore, a PhD from SUNY at Buffalo and received postdoctoral training at Columbia University. For nearly three decades, I have led independent research groups across multiple institutions in Singapore, with a consistent focus on disease mechanisms and therapeutic development. My current research centers on extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly MSC-derived EVs, exploring their production, characterization, and clinical applications. I was named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2021–2024) and received the 2023 ISEV Special Achievement Award for Stem Cell EV Research. As an inventor, I hold over 100 granted patents across 12 families and have founded three biotech start-ups, one of which completed a Phase 1 clinical trial using topical MSC-exosomes for psoriasis in 2022.
Xing Wang, Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Chemistry, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Xing Wang Biographical Sketch
Dr. Xing Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering, affiliated with the Chemistry Department, IGB, HMNTL, and CCIL at UIUC. He received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from New York University and did postdoc training at Princeton University focusing on RNA biochemistry/biology and noncoding RNA-mediated genome editing. His group invented the DNA Star, DNA Net, and DNA NanoGripper platforms, and conceived the concept of pattern-recognition enabled multivalent molecular interactions. Dr. Wang received the Mikashi Award in 2021, was selected as a Fellow of the Y Combinator Founder Cohort that same year, and earned the Spoke Award in 2024. His research group utilizes nucleic acid and protein engineering to evolve new molecular binders for important and emerging biomarkers, and to design and customize DNA nanostructure-based “plug-and-play” platforms for bioengineering and biomedical applications. Dr. Wang’s research group is mainly supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF).
Yoon-Kyoung Cho, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dean, College of Information and Biotechnology UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology)
Yoon-Kyoung Cho Biographical Sketch
Yoon-Kyoung Cho is currently a full professor in Biomedical Engineering and the dean of College of Information and Biotechnology at UNIST, Republic of Korea. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK), an associate editor of the journal ‘Lab on a chip’, a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and vice president of the Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society (CBMS). She earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1999, following her M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from POSTECH in 1994 and 1992, respectively. Prior to joining UNIST in 2008, she served as a senior researcher (1999–2008) at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). Her current research focuses on lab-on-a-chip systems for detecting rare biomarkers, quantitative analysis of cell migration, and systems analysis of intercellular communication. Discover more at http://fruits.unist.ac.kr.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Jc1mz_EAAAAJ&hl=en
08:00
27 April 2026
Level 7 Foyer HGI-Puchong
Conference Check-In
Conference Registration, Materials Pick-Up, Coffee and Tea
09:00
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Chairperson Introduction
Brian Cunningham, Professor and Intel Alumni Endowed Chair, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America -- Conference Chairperson
Welcome and Introduction to the Conference by Conference Chairperson + Biosensors, Detection Instruments, and Assays for Point of Care Cancer Molecular Diagnostics
Next-generation technologies for genomic sequencing and proteome profiling are revealing the mechanisms of cancer biology, while generating panels of molecular biomarkers that characterize the stage and mechanisms driving disease within individual patients. While “liquid biopsy” samples can be obtained noninvasively and analyzed in centralized laboratory facilities, several clinical and human-centric factors motivate the need to perform cancer molecular diagnostics at the point of care, where obtaining immediate results in settings such as the oncologist’s office can inform initial therapy selection, therapy effectiveness monitoring, and longitudinal monitoring. Enabling such a vision requires development of novel sample preparation, assay methods, and biosensor detection that provides simple and rapid workflows performed on minimally processed samples, miniature and inexpensive detection instrumentation, low detection limits, quantitative accuracy, and multiplexing that incorporates experimental controls. This talk will summarize recent efforts to develop digital-resolution biodetection that utilizes photonic crystal surfaces and nanoparticle tags to amplify molecular detection contrast while utilizing novel biochemistry methods and machine-learning based image processing to detect nucleic acid and protein cancer biomarkers. Utilizing simple one-pot, room temperature assay workflows with <30 minute sample-to-answer time and detection with a ~$1K instrument, we are demonstrating attomolar-level detection limits with high selectivity in serum.
09:45
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Abraham Qavi, Assistant Professor, Director of Point of Care Testing, Director of Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics, University of California-Irvine, United States of America
Engineering Light for Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Rapid, accurate point-of-care diagnostics are increasingly critical for timely clinical decision-making, particularly in settings where reliance on centralized laboratory testing introduces delays that prolong clinical decision points and adversely impact patient care. In this talk, I will discuss how photonic resonators and plasmonic-enhanced sensing strategies can be integrated into compact, scalable diagnostic formats suitable for point-of-care testing. Emphasis will be placed on rapid detection of viral targets and the associated host response. The presentation will also address practical considerations for point-of-care deployment, including assay robustness, regulatory pathways, and integration with existing clinical workflows. Together, these examples illustrate how advanced optical biosensing technologies can move beyond proof-of-concept toward clinically impactful diagnostics.
10:15
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Min-Gon Kim, Professor at GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology); CEO of GMDBiotech, Republic of Korea
High-Sensitivity and Multiplex POCT Sensors Based on Lab-on-Paper Technology
We present advanced lab-on-paper platforms for high-sensitivity POCT. First, we demonstrate an ultrasensitive Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) LFA for Influenza A, achieving PCR-level accuracy. Additionally, we introduce a multiplexed ovarian cancer diagnostic utilizing laser-patterned membranes to simultaneously profile five exosomal biomarkers without concentration. These results highlight our platforms' potential for next-generation precision diagnostics.
10:45
27 April 2026
Exhibit Foyer
Mid-Morning Coffee Break and Networking -- Coffee, Tea and Light Snacks
11:30
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California
3D-Printed Microfluidic Architectures as Platforms for Bioassays
3D printing promises ultra-rapid prototyping for designing microfluidic systems for bioassays and biomanufacturing. In this talk, I discuss design considerations--limits on channel size, materials compatibility, dead volume, etc.--that must be confronted in adapting 3D printing to common microfluidic applications. Examples include flow-based ELISA, automation of molecular biology protocols, and manufacturing of lipid nanoparticles.
12:00
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Leyla Soleymani, Professor, McMaster University, Canada
Combining Functional Nucleic Acids and Electrochemistry for Frequent Health Monitoring
This talk will focus on the work of my group in combining functional nucleic acids, particularly DNAzymes and aptamers, with electrochemistry for a wide range of applications including surveillance, point-of-care diagnostics, and wearable sensing.
12:30
27 April 2026
Together & Co Restaurant
Networking Lunch -- Network and Engage with Colleagues
14:00
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Lifeng Zhou, Assistant Professor, Peking University, China
A Five-finger DNA Nanogripper for Virus Capture
We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of an upgraded DNA‑based nanorobot termed “NanoGripper.” Its structure comprises five rigid fingers connected to a hollow palm via rotatable joints, enabling the fingers to fold inward and adopt a conical configuration. This reconfigurable capability is essential for efficient virus capture. We demonstrate that the redesigned NanoGripper can be functionalized to trap SARS‑CoV‑2 and Dengue virions. Furthermore, the NanoGripper‑aptamer complex blocks viral entry into host cells, underscoring its potential as an antiviral agent. In summary, this customizable five‑finger DNA NanoGripper provides a versatile and effective platform for viral capture, advancing the development of practical nanorobotic tools for biomedical applications.
14:30
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Fangwei Shao, Associate Professor, Zhejiang University, China
G-quadruplex Nanowire and Its Application to Bio-catalysis
G-quadruplex (GQ) as tetrastranded DNA secondary structure, shows unique advantages in self-assembly of one-dimensional nano to micrometer wires. We developed two series of GQ nanowires (GQwire) with discontinuous and continuous backbones and investigated the mechanism of self-assembly. Both GQwires can extend to micrometer length in solution and on the surface. With such high persistent lengths, these GQ wires showed exceptional efficiency in mediating electron and energy transfer. GQwire/hemin DNAzymes showed a remarkable redox catalytic activity under elevated temperature that normal biocatalysts cannot survive. Upon binding to thiazole orange (TO), GQwires can enhance the turn on efficiency of TO fluorescence via energy transfer from both G-quartet stacks and distant TO molecues. These work highlights the potential of GQwire as conductive bio-wires for electric and photoelectric nanodevices.
15:00
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Limei Tian, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, United States of America
Plasmonic Sensors for Biodiagnostics and Bioanalytics
Plasmonic sensing technologies enable powerful approaches for biodiagnostics and bioanalytics by offering high sensitivity, molecular specificity, and compatibility with complex biological environments. This presentation will highlight recent advances in plasmonic sensor platforms designed for noninvasive, wearable diagnostics and in situ bioanalytical measurements, addressing key challenges associated with stability, sensitivity, and system perturbation in conventional biosensors.
I will first introduce a wearable plasmonic paper-based microfluidic platform for continuous sweat analysis. By combining label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with controlled microfluidic transport, this system enables quantitative monitoring of sweat loss, sweat rate, and metabolites while providing chemical fingerprinting for analyte identification. The soft and flexible device conformally interfaces with skin, demonstrating its potential for continuous and noninvasive health monitoring. I will then present an ultrasensitive plasmonic-fluorescent biosensing strategy for multiplexed protein analysis in complex biofluids. Operating in a digital detection mode, this platform enables in situ monitoring of low-abundance cytokines with high temporal resolution while minimizing perturbation to biological systems. Together, these examples illustrate how plasmonic sensors can enable robust, noninvasive, and highly sensitive biodiagnostics across diverse biofluids and application contexts.
15:30
27 April 2026
Exhibit Foyer
Mid-Afternoon Coffee Break and Networking -- Coffee, Tea and Light Snacks
16:00
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Keynote Presentation
Yoon-Kyoung Cho, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dean, College of Information and Biotechnology UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology), Republic of Korea
Engineering Liquid Biopsy: From Automated Exosome Analysis to Hand-Powered Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Liquid biopsy is transforming precision medicine by enabling minimally invasive access to circulating biomarkers for disease detection and monitoring. Among these biomarkers, extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer exceptional promise due to their molecular richness and stability. However, widespread clinical and global deployment of liquid biopsy technologies remains limited by challenges in sensitivity, automation, cost, and accessibility.
In this talk, I will present our engineering approach based on centrifugal microfluidics to address these challenges across diverse clinical settings, spanning fully automated laboratory systems to hand-powered point-of-care diagnostics. First, I will describe our lab-on-a-disc platforms for high-performance EV analysis, which enable rapid and automated isolation of nanoscale EVs from biological fluids. Building on this foundation, I will introduce a digital EV profiling strategy that allows direct, amplification-free detection of tumor-derived EV RNAs from unprocessed plasma, substantially improving sensitivity for clinically relevant mutations and treatment monitoring.
I will then expand beyond centralized laboratories to introduce hand-powered centrifugal diagnostic tools designed for extreme point-of-care environments. These platforms harness manual rotation to perform bacterial enrichment and nanoplasmonic sensing, enabling rapid, electricity-free identification of infectious pathogens with high precision.
Together, these technologies illustrate how microfluidic engineering can unify advanced molecular diagnostics with scalable, low-cost solutions, accelerating the translation of liquid biopsy and precision diagnostics from the laboratory to real-world clinical and global health applications.
16:45
27 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Panel Discussion Chaired by Professor Brian Cunningham:
**Challenges and Opportunities in the POC & Rapid Dx Space -- Sensors, Liquid Biopsy and Beyond**
17:30
27 April 2026
Together & Co Restaurant
Networking Reception with Beer
18:30
27 April 2026
Close of Day 1 of the Conference
08:00
28 April 2026
Exhibit Foyer
Coffee, Tea and Networking
09:00
28 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Keynote Presentation
Levent Yobas, Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology -- Session Chairperson
Session Chaired by Professor Levent Yobas -- Topics Addressed in this Session + Scientific Presentation by Professor Yobas
A Point-of-Care Pathogen Detection Using Reagent-Free Nucleic Acid Purification
Rapid diagnosis of infectious pathogens requires technologies that integrate sample preparation, nucleic acid purification, and detection without compromising sensitivity or turnaround time. Yet most point-of-care molecular assays remain constrained by complex reagent workflows and slow purification steps that limit true sample-to-answer operation. In this talk, I present a compact microfluidic system that performs reagent-free electrophoretic purification and colorimetric LAMP detection of MRSA directly from human serum. Central to the platform is a micropillar sieve that employs selectively focus and enrich nucleic acids while removing proteins and serum contaminants under rotating electric fields, without beads, membranes, or chemical wash buffers. By integrating on-chip enzymatic lysis, electrophoretic purification, and isothermal amplification, a 45-minute sample-to-answer workflow is enabled with a limit of detection of 1 CFU per reaction, surpassing most existing microfluidic systems. The system further demonstrates species-level specificity for MRSA, MSSA, and E. coli using targeted primer sets, enabled by a low-cost optical readout. Our work introduces a molecular diagnostic that advances point-of-care pathogen detection.
09:45
28 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Chia-Hung Chen, Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong
Living Surface–Anchored Microfluidic Immunosorbent Assay Enables Deep Single-Cell Phenotyping and Functional Sorting
Precision medicine requires addressing not only inter-patient variability but also the profound cellular heterogeneity within tumors. However, the molecular and secretory functional diversity of single cells remains poorly characterized, largely due to the lack of technologies that combine high sensitivity, throughput, and speed to isolate rare functional cell subsets. Here, we present the microfluidic Living Surface-Anchored Immunosorbent Assay (LISA), a high-throughput platform for multiplexed single-cell secretion analysis with nanomolar sensitivity. LISA enables deep phenotyping and sorting of up to 10⁷ single cells within 30 minutes, exceeding the throughput of existing droplet-based methods by more than ten-fold. Using LISA, we identified rare immune cells with ultra-high cytokine secretion, complex surface marker profiles, and potent cytotoxicity, together with their distinct transcriptional signatures. LISA enables scalable functional single-cell analysis and advances precision oncology and immunotherapy.
10:15
28 April 2026
Brooklyn & Longwood, Level 7
Xing Wang, Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Chemistry, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
Designer DNA Architectures for Disease Diagnosis
Biological entities such as viruses and cells present distinct spatial patterns of surface proteins. Such protein marker features can be selectively recognized by various binders, including aptamers, nanobodies, and antibodies. We have created a suite of designer DNA nanostructures (DDNs), including the DNA Star, DNA Net, DNA NanoGripper, that present multiple protein-targeting binders in two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) configurations. These architectures offer pattern recognition-enabled multivalent interactions, resulting in significantly enhanced binding avidity and selectivity toward target viruses or cells. Using this strategy, we design highly effective molecular probes and targeted delivery platforms for achieving advanced biosensors and therapeutic candidates.
In this talk, I will introduce the principle of pattern recognition-enabled multivalent interactions that my group has proposed and established. I will then highlight our recent efforts in (1) developing DNA Net-enabled lateral flow assay biosensing platforms for rapid, low-cost, ultrasensitive detection of human and animal virus infections in at-home-, self-, or on-farm test settings; and (2) designing and synthesizing a human hand-like DNA nanorobot (called NanoGripper) for the recognition and capture of nanometer scale objects, including virus particles.
10:45
28 April 2026
Exhibit Foyer
Mid-Morning Coffee and Snacks Break and Networking