# Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME POCT)

> **NIH NIH U54** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $1,618,350

## Abstract

Overall ACME POCT Project Summary / Abstract
Since the advent of POC diagnostics several decades ago, one class of novel medical technologies that has
shown promise for POC applications is microsystems diagnostics, that is, microchip-enabled tests ranging from
microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)-based sensors, microfluidics, to smartphone-based systems. Notable
for their small size, low power requirements, and high sensitivity, microsystems provide portability that is vital for
POC testing. Since 2018, the Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered POC Technologies (ACME POCT)
has assisted inventors who have developed microsystems-based POC technologies in defining their specific
clinical needs, conducting clinical validation, and refining their technology, with the objective of accelerating the
path to translation and clinical adoption. The ACME POCT uniquely leverages Atlanta’s nationally top-ranked
clinical programs at Emory’s hospitals and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), one of the nation’s largest
pediatric hospital systems, as well the internationally acclaimed microsystems expertise at Georgia Tech, which
includes the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN). The PIs of the ACME POCT uniquely balance
the engineering and clinical sides of the Center and comprise Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD, a pediatrician at
Emory/CHOA and a Georgia Tech bioengineer with a personal track record in microfluidics and POC diagnostic
development and commercialization; Oliver Brand, PhD, a renowned microsystems engineer and head of
Georgia Tech’s IEN; and Greg Martin, MD, MSc, an internationally known clinical pulmonologist/intensivist at
Emory with system-level clinical research leadership experience. Over the last 4 years, the ACME POCT has
applied a “disease inclusive” approach by fostering the development of 22 microsystems-based POC
technologies for all clinical applications. As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and the NIH established the Rapid
Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative to assess, validate, and scale-up production of POC COVID-19
diagnostics for the entire country, the ACME POCT served as the national Test Verification Core. As such, the
ACME POCT established itself as a center of excellence in diagnostics evaluation by developing an efficient yet
comprehensive test verification strategy by progressively assessing technologies in various laboratory then
clinical settings, with parallel assessments of usability and regulatory strategy. Importantly, our Atlanta bio-
innovation ecosystem has also flourished, including the launch of an Emory-based center that is dedicated to
developing POC tests for achieving health equity among underserved populations, and a program that develops
clinical mobile apps, often as companion technologies for POC diagnostics. With our distinctive role in RADx
combined with our uniquely enhanced expertise, ecosystem and infrastructures, the ACME POCT is now
especially well positioned to apply our lessons...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10715493
- **Project number:** 2U54EB027690-06
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Wilbur A Lam
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $1,618,350
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-18 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10715493

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10715493, Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME POCT) (2U54EB027690-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10715493. Licensed CC0.

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