# Administrative Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $191,905

## Abstract

Administrative Core 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:** 10928735
- **Project number:** 5U54EB027690-07
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Wilbur A Lam
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $191,905
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-18 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10928735

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10928735, Administrative Core (5U54EB027690-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10928735. Licensed CC0.

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