Su Discusses New Optical Sensors On Anti-Doping Podcast

BME assistant professor Judith Su recently spoke on The Anti-Doping Podcast about how she is developing new sensors that use light to detect extremely low concentrations of substances. In her Little Sensor Lab, Su is developing novel sensors that can detect down to single molecules, which allows for smaller sample sizes and earlier detection. 

"Currently in our lab, we're using it to detect proteins, DNA and any sort of biomarker that is present in bodily fluids like saliva," Su said on the podcast. "And we also have a project with the Department of Defense looking at chemical threat sensing and chemical threat agents, their surrogates and their precursors. So essentially anything that changes the index of refraction, we can detect."

The ability to identify low concentrations of substances is especially useful for detecting microdosing and drugs with a short half life, which are often found in cases of athlete doping. 

Listen to Su on the Anti-Doping Podcast on iTunes