Multiplexed Live Cell Profiling

Due to an inherent biological heterogeneity across individuals and within a disease, it is extremely challenging to identify robust biomarkers that can accurately represent molecular status of the body for disease diagnostics. To solve this intractable problem, we have developed microfluidic platforms and molecular tools that enable high throughput, multiplexed profiling of biomarkers (e.g. cells, extracellular vesicles; EV). We achieved high throughput profiling by combining sequencing with parallelization of microchip technologies and droplet microfluidics. We overcame the variability of any individual biomarker between individual patients, by developing tools that can measure multiple markers and we applied machine learning to identify signatures that persist across this variability. To resolve cell and EV heterogeneity, we have recently developed an ultra-fast cycling method for single cell analysis and an ultra-high sensitive microfluidics that can achieve single particle detection sensitivity, enabling individual EV measurements.