About - POCTRN

About POCTRN

The goal of the Point Of Care Technology Research Network is to develop technologies with clinical applications using a network model that enhances complementary strengths and builds multidisciplinary partnerships.

Each POCTRN Center performs or facilitates five core functions:

Conducts in-house clinical testing of prototype point-of-care devices
Collaborates with physical, biochemical and computational scientists, and engineers on exploratory technology development projects
Completes clinical needs assessments in areas anticipated to advance the field of point-of-care testing and disseminates this information to the technology development community
Provides training to technology developers on clinical issues related to the development of point-of-care devices
Provides an adequate administrative structure to ensure that the large complex Center achieves its goals

History

The NIBIB created POCTRN in 2007 after a NIH workshop and the subsequent article, "Improving Healthcare Accessibility through Point-of-Care Technologies", published in Clinical Chemistry that same year. It was created:

To facilitate the development of a pipeline of point-of-care technologies with commercialization potential
Utilizing a center structure that enables incorporation of clinical and user needs in the development process
To provide expertise and resources to address early barriers to commercialization and implementation

Thus far, there have been 3 award cycles spanning 5 years each.

2007 Award Recipients

Point-of-Care Center for Emerging Neurotechnologies, University of Cincinnati
Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
Center for Point-of-Care Technologies for Disaster Readiness, University of California, Davis
Center to Advance POC Diagnostics for Global Health, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)

2012 Award Recipients

Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
Center for Innovation in Point of Care Technologies for the Future of Cancer Care, Boston University
Point of Care Technology Research Center in Primary Care, CIMIT

2018 Award Recipients

Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Emory University
Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
Center for Innovation in Point of Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS at Northwestern, Northwestern University
Center for Advancing Point of Care in Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Diseases, UMass Medical School

RADx: Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx^sm) initiative was formed to accelerate the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care and home-based tests, as well as improvements to clinical laboratory tests, that can directly detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

ABOUT RADx