Biodesign Institute
ASU’s Biodesign Institute addresses critical global challenges in healthcare, sustainability and security. Researchers from many disciplines collaborate to develop solutions inspired by natural systems and translate those solutions into commercially viable products and clinical practices. Health researchers in Biodesign are advancing early detection of disease and other threats, and novel treatment methods after exposure. Three research programs are of particular note:
- $38.8 million U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-funded project (DARPA) to create a field deployable, epigenetic tool to assess if soldiers have been exposed to substances associated with weapons of mass destruction, including biological agents, radiation, chemicals and explosives.
- The first experimental theraputic for Ebola grew out of research studying the use of tobacco plants to make and deliver a promising, high risk treatment for the Ebola virus, funded by the U.S. Army.
- $33 million U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-funded project (BARDA) to commercially develop technologies - a bio-dosimeter - to rapidly assess radiation dose in the event of a nuclear incident.
- HealthTell technology, developed at ASU, uses immunosignaturing for rapid detection of exposure to infectious disease agents before symptoms occur.