Location: Woolsey Hall, Room 134

Speaker
Arwa Fraiwan, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, Case Western Reserve University

Abstract
Disposable lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices recently emerged as a new paradigm for clinical diagnostics. These devices incorporate advanced micro-sized biosensors and microfluidics, which require small reagent volume and minimized power consumption. Thus enabling effective and rapid point-of-care (POC) testing even in challenging field conditions. A key challenge is to develop miniaturized power sources for operating those POC devices in resource-limited settings.

In this seminar, I will present my main research projects in two parts. First, I will overview several paper-based bacteria-powered batteries that I developed during my doctoral studies in an effort to develop efficient paper-based biobatteries using micro-sized microbial fuel cells. Second, I will introduce the design, development, manufacturing and clinical validation of a novel POC hemoglobin test, HemeChip, a paper-based, microchip electrophoresis technology developed at CWRU and commercialized globally as Gazelle^TM. The technology currently tests for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Future tests include anemia, diabetes and COVID-19. Finally, I will describe my future research and teaching visions.

Biography
Dr. Arwa Fraiwan is a senior research associate in the Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University. She received her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Binghamton University. To date, she has co-authored 43 publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and refereed conference proceedings. She is a co-inventor on three US patents and two more pending. Her research interests include BioMEMS, biofuel cells, biosensors, POC diagnostics and mHealth.