Research

At the WeBiT Lab, we are transforming the future of healthcare through cutting-edge innovation in diagnostics, sensing, and bioengineering. Our interdisciplinary research is grounded in three foundational pillars that bridge engineering, biology, and clinical needs: Wearable Biosensors, Point-of-Care Technologies, and Bioreceptor Discovery.

Revolutionizing real-time health monitoring.

Pillar 1: Wearable Biosensors

Wearable biosensors are compact, flexible, and body-adaptive devices designed to non-invasively track physiological and biochemical signals in real time. These sensors are seamlessly integrated into materials such as skin patches, textiles, or wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches), enabling continuous monitoring of biomarkers such as sweat metabolites, vital signs, hormones, and more. At the WeBiT Lab, we design and develop next-generation wearable systems that are: Comfortable, stretchable, and biocompatible Powered by energy-efficient, wireless data transmission Capable of detecting early signs of disease or physiological stress Our goal is to empower individuals and healthcare providers with personalized, actionable data—anytime, anywhere.

Making diagnostics accessible, rapid, and decentralized.

Pillar 2: Point-of-Care (PoC) Technologies

Point-of-care technologies enable diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care, eliminating the need for centralized laboratories and long wait times. These portable, easy-to-use systems are essential for managing infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and acute care in both urban and remote settings. In the WeBiT Lab, we engineer robust PoC platforms that: Detect nucleic acids, proteins, or pathogens with high specificity Integrate with microfluidic systems for sample handling and analysis Offer agent-agnostic, multiplexed capabilities for broader disease coverage Operate with minimal training, power, and reagents Our PoC solutions aim to bridge health inequities, particularly for underserved communities, global health crises, and emergency settings.

The foundation of smart sensing.

Pillar 3: Bioreceptor Discovery

Bioreceptors are biological molecules or engineered elements that specifically bind to a target analyte (e.g., DNA, RNA, proteins, pathogens). They are the key recognition components in both wearable sensors and point-of-care devices, dictating their sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability. Our bioreceptor discovery program focuses on: Identifying and engineering novel nucleic acid-based receptors (e.g., aptamers, CRISPR-Cas systems) Developing synthetic enzymes tailored for field-deployable detection Integrating bioreceptors with nanomaterials and transducers for enhanced signal transduction Validating performance across clinical and environmental sample types We design bioreceptors that work in complex sample matrices and support broad, cross-platform applications.