[BiO BB] Talk in Cambridge, MA: Applications, Design, and Development of Biochips

[J.W. Bizzaro]

Abstract: Control Systems and SSCS Joint Meeting - 6:00PM, Wednesday 16
January 2002

Title:  Applications, Design, and Development of Biochips
Speaker:  Manish Deshpande, Coventor, Inc. 

The tremendous impact that biotechnology will have on modern society is just
now beginning to be felt.  One of the driving forces in the field of
biotechnology is the increasing availability of ever more powerful
diagnostic and analytic techniques and information processing tools, which
have allowed such feats as the decoding of the human genome.  In recent
years, many biochemical processing and analysis operations have benefited by
the development of microscale biochemical devices.  Often called "biochips,"
these microscale devices hold the promise of reduced analysis cost and time,
while simultaneously improving the quality of resulting information.
Applications of biochips include such diverse areas as DNA and protein
diagnostics, high throughput drug screening, and detection of biological and
chemical warfare agents.  The embodiment of biochips can encompass many
forms, ranging from simple plastic devices to complex silicon-based MEMS
structures that incorporate microscale mechanical moving parts, electronic
circuits, and on-chip biochemical detection and processing.

This presentation will describe the different applications of biochips and
will contrast the performance of these microscale systems with more
conventional approaches.   In addition to describing many of the
applications of biochips, this discussion will focus on aspects of their
design and development.  Issues such as materials compatibility, integration
of electronics and optics with biochemical processing systems, applications
of MEMS in biotechnology, and fabrication issues associated with biochips
will be discussed.  Due to the inherent interdisciplinary nature of the
development of biochips, design methodologies and design tools have been
developed to facilitate interdisciplinary biochip development efforts.  The
appropriate role and use of such methods and tools will be examined in the
context of industrial and academic examples of biochip development efforts.

Speaker Biography:

Dr. Manish Deshpande is the Manager of the Biotechnology and Microfluidics
group at Coventor, Inc, in Cambridge (www.coventor.com).  Coventor provides
software design tools and design services for MEMS and microscale
biotechnology and fluidics product development.

Dr. Deshpande joined Coventor (formerly Microcosm Technologies) in 1996
after completing his Ph.D. and post doctoral studies in Mechanical
Engineering at Penn State University.  His research at Penn State University
primarily involved work in the field of computational fluid dynamics and its
application to a wide range of problems including cavitation, combustion and
multiphase flow.   Dr. Deshpande is currently managing numerous biochip
design and fabrication projects at Coventor and has a unique understanding
of the issues that are confronting biochip technology development.

Location and Directions:

The Boston Chapter of the IEEE Control Systems Society and SSCS along with
the ACM will meet at 6:00PM on 16 January 2002 at the U.S. Dept. of
Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway
St., Cambridge, MA. Parking is generally available on the small street
behind the Volpe Center (check with the guard inside if you need
assistance). The small parking lot in front of the Volpe Center is closed to
the meeting (closes at 6:00PM).  Complete directions to the Volpe Center
(just a one block walk through the Marriott hotel from the Kendall Square
Redline exit) can be viewed at their website at:

     http://www.volpe.dot.gov/about/visiting.html

Due to heightened security everyone will have to enter the building through
the side door, and there will be plenty of signs directing you to it.  

Light refreshments will be available at 6:00PM; the talk will begin at
6:15PM. Optional (you pay) dinner with the speaker may follow at a
restaurant nearby. For more info contact either George  Anagnostopoulos
(Anagnostopoulos at volpe.dot.gov) or Allan Kleinman (akleinman at drc.com) or
Bruce Hecht (bruce.hecht at analog.com).

CENTERFOLD SUMMARY:
  ------------------
Control Systems and SSCS --WEDNESDAY, 16 January 2002

Applications, Design, and Development of Biochips
Manish Deshpande, Coventor, Inc.

This presentation will describe the many applications of biochips in such
areas as DNA and protein diagnostics, high throughput drug screening and
detection of biological and chemical warfare agents.  Aspects of biochip
design such as issues of material compatibility, integration of electronics
and optics with biochemical processing systems, applications of MEMS in
biotechnology and biochip fabrication issues will be discussed.  Examples
will be provided of the interdisciplinary nature of the development of
biochips, design methodologies and design tools in both the industrial and
academic setting.

Meeting at 6:00PM in the Volpe NTSC/DOT in Cambridge. An optional dinner
with the speaker may follow at a nearby restaurant. For further information
contact George Anagnostopoulos (Anagnostopoulos at volpe.dot.gov) or  Allan
Kleinman (akleinman at drc.com) or Bruce Hecht (bruce.hecht at analog.com).