Date: 8 October 020

Time: 10:00-11:30am

Speaker: Prof. David Weitz (Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics, Harvard University)

Moderator: Prof. Anderson Shum, Professor & Associate Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

This talk described the use of drop-based microfluidics for very sensitive detection of biomarkers or cells for diagnostics and pathogen detection. The use of large numbers of small drops improved sensitivity and specificity of the detection. This technology was of particular use in these times of the pandemic. In addition, this talk also showed how the small drops could be used for very high throughput screening applications, which was also of great value in detecting cell variability, both for oncology applications and for studies of pathogens.

Brief bio:

Prof. David Weitz
Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics, Harvard University

Prof. Weitz received his PhD in physics from Harvard University and then joined Exxon Research and Engineering Company, where he worked for nearly 18 years. He then became a professor of physics at the University of Pennsylvania and moved to Harvard at the end of the last millennium as professor of physics and applied physics.

Brief Bio: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/facpages/weitz