Septic shock is a significant worldwide health problem that affects millions, but is complicated to treat since many of the signs and symptoms are non-specific and common to other non-infectious sources of systemic shock. Patient care would be improved by a rapid test to monitor key biomarkers and determine whether antibiotic use is appropriate. We propose to deliver a quantitative, multiplexed biomarker assay panel on a portable, inexpensive, easy-to-use cartridge-and-reader platform, with results provided in 10 minutes. MBio has already demonstrated a quantitative, portable, multiplexed platform for sensitive detection of biomarkers in a point-of-care test. This technology will be transformative for monitoring host-pathogen interactions in near real time, and it would enable personalized therapeutic interventions during acute severe infection such as sepsis. MBios technical innovations are directed at simplicity of the user experience and producing rapid results while not compromising on performance. In a Phase I award, we will measure procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6. In a Phase II award, this panel of biomarkers will be expanded to include a wide range of other relevant host response biomarkers such as cytokines, hemopexin, and PAMPs, and interferon gamma-induced protein-10.
