We seek to create point-of-care platforms that share common standards for use, development and integration.  This will enable diagnostic devices that are lower cost, easier to use, more readily accepted, more thoroughly disseminated and more appropriate for health care in the developing world.

We hope to achieve the design and initial proof-of-principle for a POC platform with a target product profile (TPP) that includes the following characteristics:

• Quick time-to-answer;
• Simple readout;
•  Low cost;
• Good sensitivity and specificity;
•  Able to be used by minimally trained personnel;
• The ability to function above 30 °C and at high humidity;
• The ability to be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration;
• The ability to conduct tests without the need for local reagents/water and/or specialized laboratory equipment;
• The ability to detect multiple pathogens or to distinguish between different pathogens and/or strains and subtypes.

In order to create common diagnostic platforms with common performance, training and logistics aspects suitable for low-resource settings, it is important to achieve the following objectives:

1. Develop a framework for collaboration by recommending a common set of technical and business standards for the development and integration of diagnostics components;
2. Advance the state of the art in critical component technologies consistent with the business and technical standards developed under this program; 
3.  Integrate best-in-class component technologies into diagnostic platforms under the framework of standards developed in this program.

Detailed information on each of these objectives can be found in the Rules and Guidelines document.

This grant program will consist of two phases:

Phase I of this effort will be focused on achieving Objectives 1 and 2: developing standards related to component integration, user experience and logistics requirements and conducting proof-of-principle investigations into component technologies.  

Phase II will be dedicated to integrating component technologies from Phase I or elsewhere to demonstrate POC platform concepts, performance, and operation.