Five next-generation point-of-care technologies have been selected for funding by PORTENT, a Center for Point-of-Care Technologies for Nutrition, Infection, and Cancer at Cornell, focusing on developing enhanced diagnostics, and aimed at reducing delays and improving access for crucial healthcare across the globe.  

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics deliver fast, accurate test results at or near where patients receive care—at home, in clinics, or in low-resource settings. They are especially valuable for underserved populations. Closing the gaps in access to reliable diagnostics for the poor and marginalized remains a global challenge.

PORTENT’s mission supports the development of novel approaches to POC testing and diagnosis.  The center funds and supports validation, deployment, and commercialization of POC systems, helping bring to the field devices that can improve public health and save lives. Previously awarded solutions like AnemiaPhone, licensed to the Indian Council of Medical Research of the government of India, are already improving care.

While these five projects are already being supported, PORTENT will also host an April 14, 2026 information session for its upcoming Year 4 Innovation Award. With up to $100,000 available per project, the session with the PORTENT co-directors will provide details on funding opportunities, application requirements and program priorities for researchers and entrepreneurs interested in developing next-generation point-of-care technologies. Register for the session here.

“Point-of-care solutions have the potential to transform how and where care is delivered,” said David Erickson, PORTENT co-director, professor and S.C. Thomas Sze Director of the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Cornell Duffield Engineering. “These projects reflect innovative approaches to improving diagnosis, guiding treatment and empowering patients and doctors with real-time information.”

Dr. Saurabh Mehta, the Janet and Gordon Lankton Professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences, PORTENT co-director and Founding Director of the Cornell Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health in the College of Human Ecology, said that together, the projects highlight PORTENT’s focus on technologies that are not only scientifically advanced, but also practical, scalable and accessible. “The goal is to meet people and patients where they are seen and to ensure that critical diagnostic and decision-making tools are available beyond traditional health care environments,” he said.

Building on their first two years of funding, PORTENT has selected these five Year 3 projects:

• Antibiotic susceptibility test for UTIs: A project led by Emily Melzer of Latde Diagnostics is developing a paper-based antibiotic susceptibility test for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The device determines whether bacteria are resistant or susceptible to antibiotics without requiring specialized lab equipment. By enabling clinicians to prescribe the right drug quickly, the test could reduce antibiotic misuse and slow the spread of resistance.  
• Battery-free molecular diagnostic platform: Michael Mina’s RT MicroDx is creating a self-contained, battery-free molecular diagnostic platform. Designed for infections such as strep throat, the device replaces conventional power sources with a biodegradable paper-cell battery. The result is a low-cost, environmentally sustainable test platform that can be used at home or in clinics, addressing both cost and infrastructure barriers.
• Portable diagnostic for preeclampsia: Julia Finkelstein of Cornell University is advancing a portable diagnostic tool for preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. Her team’s device measures key biomarkers using a small blood sample and delivers results in under 15 minutes to improve maternal health outcomes.  
• Lab-in-a-tube tuberculosis test: Weijun Zhang of IGDX Inc. (DBA Intelligenome Inc.), is developing a handheld lab-in-tube diagnostic for tuberculosis. The system integrates sample preparation, DNA amplification and CRISPR-based detection into a single device capable of delivering results in less than an hour. Its ability to detect tuberculosis from sample types as diverse as blood, saliva and sputum makes it particularly valuable for diagnosing both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease. 
• Smartphone screen for strep throat: Therese Canares of Curie Dx is expanding “StrepAI,” a smartphone-based screening tool for strep throat. The app uses computer vision to analyze throat images and provide clinical decision support. By adapting the platform for Android devices and multiple languages, the project aims to increase access where limited diagnostic capacity often leads to unnecessary antibiotic use and preventable complications.  

PORTENT is funded by the Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network (POCTRN) program, established by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under contract number 1U54EB034654-01.

Henry C. Smith is communications specialist for Biological Systems at Cornell Research and Innovation.