
On the Cover
Penny-sized lab-on-a-chip device capable of quickly detecting the amount and severity of microvascular occlusion, or blood vessel blockage, from a blood droplet taken from people with sickle cell anemia. That blockage, a hallmark of the disease, can lead to organ damage and other complications. Called the microfluidic impedance red cell assay (MIRCA), the device may help test the effectiveness of medicinal treatments and curative therapies for sickle cell disease and ultimately improve outcomes. The device was developed by NHLBI grantee Dr. Umut Gurkan, a biomedical engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University. September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Umut Gurkan; artist: Grace Gongaware