Overview

• The lab-on-a-chip platform developed by UC engineers measures cortisol and DHEA from saliva, providing objective diagnostics for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
• Prototypes for cortisol, DHEA, cardiac troponin, and COVID-19 tests have been successfully demonstrated, with results transmitted to smartphones for real-time analysis.
• The cortisol-to-DHEA ratio test offers a noninvasive method to identify chronic stress, supplementing psychometric questionnaires with biochemical data.
• The device's cardiac troponin test detects heart attack biomarkers from a drop of blood, enabling rapid and actionable diagnostics for cardiac events.
• Researchers are collaborating with psychiatrists and medical practitioners to validate the platform through clinical trials, aiming to scale its use in diverse healthcare settings.