Aman Russom

Microfluidics is a technology used for handling liquids at a micro and nanometre scale. The domain is seen as an important and growing field for creating new, ultra-small laboratories (“labs on chips”) that can carry out complex, biochemical analyses of, for example, blood samples.

Patient-centred analyses, i.e. point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics, are one of the most promising applications for microfluidic systems. Using mobile, miniature labs, diagnoses can be made without access to a traditional, clinical laboratory and wherever the patient happens to be. Diagnoses made using PoC tests have the potential to result in quicker and more cost-efficient care. Even if a number of innovative solutions have recently been developed, sample preparation remains the foremost challenge as regards bringing complete laboratories closer to the patient.

Using the latest development in micro and nanotechnology, Aman Russom’s research group is developing tools for handling and analysing cells ahead of diagnoses. It is also developing methods for the specific and highly precise sorting of living, atypical cells directly from blood and other system fluids. The research group is at the cutting edge as regards understanding and handling the physical phenomena arising at these small scales. Its work has a strong focus on developing new, clinical applications.