Prof. Scott R Manalis

The Manalis group applies microfabrication technologies towards the development of novel methods for probing biological systems. Current projects focus on using electrical and mechanical detection schemes for analyzing DNA and proteins.

The overall goal of Professor Manalis research program is to develop quantitative, high throughput, real-time measurement techniques for measuring molecular interactions in biological systems. This laboratory uses standard silicon microfabrication principles to develop novel molecular detection schemes and apply them to biomolecular recognition. Successful validation of these methods requires the integration of engineering and biological approaches, and hence this work is thriving within the interdisciplinary environment of CSBi. Many critical characteristics of a living system can be discovered by monitoring parameters such as DNA sequence variation, gene expression, and protein interactions as a function of time, physiological response, and disease state. The most sensitive assays available today rely on fluorescent or radioactive labeling, which require multistep sample preparation methods and relatively large sample volumes. Hence, assay development and throughput can represent critical bottlenecks for large-scale applications. Therefore, we are developing sensitive and efficient label-free methods for measuring specific proteins and DNA that will be suitable for very large numbers of very small samples.