Subscribe & listen on Soundcloud, iTunes and Google Play.
The rapid emergence of the Zika virus on the world stage calls for a detection system that is just as quick. In this episode of Disruptive, Wyss Core Faculty member and MIT professor Jim Collins and University of Toronto Assistant Professor Keith Pardee discuss how they developed a low cost, paper-based diagnostic platform that can rapidly detect the Zika virus. The full team, comprising of researchers from several institutions, also developed a workflow that will enable them to use this same platform to respond to future pandemics. In response to an emerging outbreak, a custom tailored diagnostic system could potentially be ready for use in the field within one week.
[4/4/17] Selected from over 13,000 entries, Disruptive: Rapid, Low-Cost Detection of Zika & Future Pandemics has been honored for Best Podcasts & Digital Audio Science & Education in the 21st Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of Internet industry experts, including Executive Creative Director at Refinery29 Piera Gelardi, Musicians Questlove & Grimes, Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram Eva Chen, Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone, Gimlet Media CEO Alex Blumberg, and Jimmy Kimmel.