Innovation Anthology #42:
If you need a cancer test, it won’t be long before the doctor may offer you FISH on a chip.
FISH is short for fluorescent in situ hybridization. This is a complex test for cancer that detects mutations in chromosomes. It’s also very expensive , so it’s seldom used in the clinic.
But this may soon change thanks to the research of oncologist Dr. Linda Pilarski and engineer Dr. Chris Backhouse at the University of Alberta.
Using microfluidics, these scientists have developed a way to conduct the FISH test that’s ten times faster and cheaper.
For the last decade, Drs. Pilarski and Backhouse have been refining what’s called "lab on a chip" technology. They’ve invented a hand held device for diagnosing disease that’s similar to the tricorder of Star Trek fame.
In this application, the two scientists have succeeded in shrinking the FISH test to fit their hand held machine.
Tiny amounts of fluid and cells are pushed through microscopic channels on glass slides or "chips" for computer analysis by their device.
Once commercialized, FISH on a chip will give doctors the ability to conduct tests on the spot. And it could revolutionize health care the same way the silicon chip changed the computer industry.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Program Date: 2007-06-21