Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network

New Announcement: The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) fast-track program for COVID-19 test development has been launched. For information and how to apply see POCTRN/RADx .

The evolving healthcare system includes new delivery models in which primary care physicians and nurses are assuming more significant roles, with the patient more involved in decision-making and self-care. These changes require the development of inexpensive and easy-to-use medical devices and information sharing tools that provide timely health status information at the point of care (POC). NIBIB created the Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network (POCTRN) to drive the development of point-of-care diagnostic technologies through collaborative efforts that merge scientific and technological capabilities with clinical need. Together with NIBIB the POCTRN Network is supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institution, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Fogarty International Center, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, Office of AIDS Research, and Office of Disease Prevention.

Each POCTRN Center performs the following functions:

• Assessment of clinical and user needs to inform device design

• Evaluation of POC devices for performance and potential for clinical impact

• Completion of clinical testing to facilitate translation and commercialization

• Training and education of relevant stakeholders in the development and utilization of POC technologies

• Development of partnerships with industry and other stakeholders to facilitate commercialization

Visit www.poctrn.org for more information.

Join the NIBIB Point of Care Technologies listserv to receive email notices regarding point of care technology announcements and POCTRN center solicitations.

POCTRN Network Centers

  • PI: John Parrish, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    The center maintains a sustainable national network that pairs unmet needs in the delivery of primary care with promising emerging technologies, and provides resources needed to accelerate clinical application of technologies developed by the four Research Centers.

  • PI: Charlotte Gaydos, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

    The long-term goals of the center include addressing the epidemics of STDs/HIV in the U.S. and in resource-poor settings by developing novel point-of-care tests and accelerating use of current ones to reduce health inequities and improve the sexual health of individuals, worldwide.

  • PI: Robert L. Murphy, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

    The center will support development of a pipeline of needs-based point-of-care technologies critical for improved management of HIV/AIDS infected individuals in low and middle-income countries. The center will harness the existing expertise of a 17-year research and clinical network of collaboration addressing infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • PI: Wilbur A. Lam, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

    The center will support inventors from across the country who are developing microsystems-based point-of-care technologies for cardiac, pulmonary, hematologic and sleep applications. The center will define their specific clinical needs, conduct clinical validation, and refine their technology, with the objective of accelerating the path to translation from proof-of-concept to clinical use.

  • PI: David D. McManus, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

    The center will evaluate and support point-of-care technologies in heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders for diagnosis, monitoring, and interventional delivery by addressing unmet medical needs, supporting pathways to adoption at the point of care, and training of and dissemination to relevant stakeholders.