{"id":"CU20204","slug":"nucleic-acid-biosensor-system--CU20204","source":{"id":"CU20204","dataset":"techtransfer","title":"Nucleic acid biosensor system for point-of-care diagnostics","description_":"<p>This technology is a transposition-based system for rapidly detecting target nucleic acid sequences that can be used for infectious diseases.</p>\r\r<h2>Unmet Need: Simple, rapid detection system of specific nucleic acid sequences</h2>\r\r<p>Current in vitro diagnostics for infectious diseases are time-consuming and costly, requiring centralized laboratories. While point-of-contact technologies improve accessibility, many approaches sacrifice sensitivity or require additional amplification steps and complex workflow. Nucleic-acid biosensors have emerged as promising point-of-care diagnostics; however, many remain limited by insufficient sensitivity, challenges with complex clinical samples and lack of availability for many major pathogens. Therefore, there is a need for simple, sensitive and rapidly adaptable diagnostic platforms capable of detecting diverse pathogens outside traditional laboratory environments.</p>\r\r<h2>The Technology: Transposition-based detection system for single-stranded RNA and double stranded DNA molecules</h2>\r\r<p>This technology is a programmable nucleic acid detection platform that uses a CRISPR RNA-guided Cas-transposase system to detect specific single-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA sequences. The Fluid Enzymatic/Electronic Transposon-Based (FET) detector uses targeted transposition events to identify nucleic acid sequences and can be integrated with point-of-need FET Strip or an instrument-operated FET Multiplexor. Combined with colorimetric lateral flow assays or single-molecule field-effect transistors, this platform enables rapid and adaptable detection of targeted pathogens in diverse settings.</p>\r\r<p>A prototype has been tested with adenovirus dsDNA and influenza ssRNA targets. </p>\r\r<h2>Applications:</h2>\r\r<ul>\r<li>Point-of-care diagnostics for infectious diseases and pathogens </li>\r<li>Laboratory-based nucleic acid diagnostics</li>\r<li>Cancer-associated nucleic acid diagnostics</li>\r<li>Environmental biosurvelliance and monitoring</li>\r<li>Agriculture pathogen monitoring</li>\r<li>Public health and biosafety surveillance</li>\r<li>Sensitive contamination testing</li>\r</ul>\r\r<h2>Advantages:</h2>\r\r<ul>\r<li>Increases sensitivity of nucleic acid detection</li>\r<li>Enables cost-effective detection workflows</li>\r<li>Provides rapid diagnostic results</li>\r<li>Detects both single-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA molecules</li>\r<li>Rapidly adaptable for detection of emerging pathogens</li>\r</ul>\r\r<h2>Lead Inventor:</h2>\r\r<p><a href=\"https://www.biochem.cuimc.columbia.edu/profile/samuel-sternberg-phd\">Samuel Sternberg, Ph.D.</a> </p>\r\r<h2>Patent Information:</h2>\r\r<p>Patent Pending (US <a href=\"https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230059683A1/en\">20230059683</a>)</p>\r\r<h2>Related Publications:</h2>\r\r<ul>\r<li><p><a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31189177/\">Klompe SE, Vo PLH, Halpin-Healy TS, Sternberg SH. “Transposon-encoded CRISPR-Cas systems direct RNA-guided DNA integration” Nature. 2019 Jul; 571(7764): 219-225.</a></p></li>\r<li><p><a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31853065/\">Halpin-Healy TS, Klompe SE, Sternberg SH, Fernández IS. “Structural basis of DNA targeting by a transposon-encoded CRISPR-Cas system” Nature. 2020 Jan; 577(7789): 271-274.</a></p></li>\r</ul>\r\r<h2>Tech Ventures Reference:</h2>\r\r<ul>\r<li><p>IR CU20204</p></li>\r<li><p>Licensing Contact: <a href=\"mailto:techtransfer@columbia.edu\">Cynthia Lang</a> </p></li>\r</ul>\r","tags":["Acid","Adenoviridae","Biosafety","CRISPR","Colorimetry","Nucleic acid","Pathogen","Public health","Workflow"],"file_number":"CU20204","collections":[],"meta_description":"A CRISPR-transposase nucleic acid biosensor enables rapid, sensitive, point-of-care detection of RNA and DNA pathogens.","apriori_judge_output":"{\"scores\":{\"novelty\":5.0,\"potential_impact\":5.0,\"readiness\":3.0,\"scalability\":4.0,\"timeliness\":4.0},\"weighted_score\":4.35,\"risks\":[\"Significant novelty claims but needs independent validation for CRISPR-guided transposase platform\",\"Potential regulatory and biosafety hurdles for clinical/diagnostic deployment\",\"Reliance on specialized readouts (FET, colorimetric LF) may affect mass adoption\",\"Market competition from existing CRISPR-based diagnostics; need clear path to approvals\"],\"one_sentence_take\":\"High novelty with strong potential impact and solid readiness, but commercial viability hinges on validation, regulatory clearance, and scalable integration of readouts; watch biosafety and competitive landscape.\"}","inventors":["Harris Wang","Kenneth Shepard","Samuel H. Sternberg","Samuel Sia Ph.D.","Siddarth Arumugam","Xuebing Wu"],"manager":"Cynthia Lang","depts":["Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics","Biomedical Engineering","Electrical Engineering","Systems Biology"],"divs":["Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC)","Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)"],"date_released":"2026-06-26"},"highlight":{},"matched_queries":null,"score":0.0}