L2M Launch: Development of screening tool for Cardiovascular Disease risk and the semi-quantification of salivary proteins.

Over 30% of deaths globally are reported to be caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD), making CVDs recognized as one of the leading causes of death annually by the World Health Organization.1 The high prevalence of CVD, in combination with the demographic shift towards an ageing population with high incidence of chronic diseases, make CVD a significant threat for society, necessitating accessible screening for CVD and early diagnosis of the disease. Toward that end, the development of affordable, accurate, and timely CVD screening is critical. The industry partner organization, Sparked Inc, has developed a rapid test using an instrument-free microfluidic paper-based analytical device. The device offers a semi-quantitative determination of a target salivary protein and indicates the users level of risk for CVD conditions such as vascular inflammation, endothelial injury, and heart disease. The current device capabilities would be extended through the partnership with Mitacs, allowing the device to capture additional salivary target biomarkers and improving the risk score associated with CVD that is provided to users.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Glogauer

Student:

Partner:

DMZ Ventures Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: