Cortex Announces Collaboration with Purdue University and Raytheon

July 20th, 2020

Cortex Announces Collaboration with Purdue University and Raytheon

New COVID-19 Point of Care Test Kit Aims to Make Testing Cheaper, Faster, and More Accessible.

Cortex Design, a turnkey medical device design and engineering company, has partnered with a group of organizations including Raytheon BBN Technologies, Purdue University, LaDuca LLC and PortaScience on a new COVID-19 point of care test kit.

An associate professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue, Mohit Verma, had been researching new methods to diagnose Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), which affects beef cattle. Verma developed particular assays that use biosensors to isolate certain nucleic acids specific to BRD -- a method which made the test cheaper and quicker than previous solutions, and doesn't require a medical professional to administer them.

Now, Verma has adapted the concept to use the same biosensor technology to detect COVID-19 nucleic acids in human patients instead. Users apply a saliva sample to a paper-based biosensor, before placing it in a portable heating device that produces a colour change within 45 minutes to indicate a positive result. It's still early days, but the test is performing well in lab trials, raising the promise of a home test that will drastically increase the accessibility of COVID-19 screening.

Cortex has joined an all-star lineup of collaborators for this project, including Raytheon BBN Technologies, who is marshalling a new data analysis tool towards the test's screening methodology, PortaScience, who will assist with manufacturing and commercialization, LaDuca LLC, who will provide regulatory support, and Purdue University.

Cortex Design is responsible for the user interaction, industrial design and engineering for the team as the test proceeds through development and to the marketplace.

The collaborative group will seek Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on an emergency basis for the test -- aiming to bring this quick, accessible, and cost-effective diagnostic tool to the fight against COVID-19 in the coming months.

About Cortex:

Cortex Design is a turnkey product design company working to develop human-centred products that improve people’s lives. We visualize better human experiences, design the products that support those experiences, and manufacture the solution.

To learn more about Cortex and our award-winning work in the medical device space, head to cortex-design.com or email Cortex VP of Business Development Mohsen Tayefeh at [email protected].