Washington Entrepreneurial Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub

The overarching goal of the partnership between NIH and the University of Washington (UW) EntrepreneurialCenter for Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (referred to as WE-REACH) is to facilitate andaccelerate the transformation of health research innovations into products. This NIH funded WE-REACHCenter is a National Center of REACH in the Northwest region. Two key objectives of the Center are to (1)assist investigators with innovative technologies to establish proof-of-product concept definition (2) facilitating the formation of spinout companies on track to a self-sustaining structure. With well-established expertise,know-how and infrastructure to assist the Research and Development of the following two Covid-19 technical-ready Covid-19 research and develop projects intended to verify proof-of-product concepts with workingprototype.(1) Aptamer-based highly sensitive biosensors for salivary COVID-19 antigen detection (Pun)(2) Broad-spectrum detection of VOC and non-VOC biomarkers from patient exhalant using biomimeticmultiplexed eNose biosensor for COVID-19 diagnosis (Saikaya)The two technically sound approaches employ by the point-of-care device candidates intend to detect viralantigen in saliva and exhalant biomarker signatures from infected subjects without having to send sample to acentralized facility or a long wait-time for results. WE-REACH will assist the investigators in developingmilestone-driven, stage-gated, activity-based project planning and tracking to accelerate proof-of-productconcept studies within 2-year of funding. The study results will provide measurable outcomes that are deemedsufficient for upscaling and appropriate for follow-on funding.