This grant program seeks 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.

To accomplish these three objectives, 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.