FAST Diagnostics: Collaborative Effort Yields Groundbreaking Results

Developed by researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine’s Indiana Center for Biologic Microscopy, Indianapolis-based FAST (Filtration Assessment and Surveillance Technology) Diagnostics provides accurate and rapid measurement of the rate by which kidneys filter waste products from the bloodstream, the true glomerular filtration rate and the primary indicator of injury, disease progression. No accurate and rapid diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease currently exists despite the fact that AKI remains a serious and deadly disease process affecting 7 percent of all hospitalized patients with a mortality rate often exceeding 50 percent and affecting 15 percent of Intensive Care Unit patients, with a mortality rate that can reach 80 percent.
FAST Diagnostics benefits from incubation assistance at Indiana University’s Emerging Technology Center in Indianapolis. This promising life-science start-up is getting further assistance from technical partner, Rose-Hulman Ventures.

FAST Diagnostics turned to Rose-Hulman Ventures to develop a medical instrumentation prototype combining optical, mechanical and electronic technologies to convert the measured optical signal into a readable format for
health professionals. Under the direction of Robert Bunch, Ph.D., professor of physics and optical engineering at Rose-Hulman, students are refining the optical sub-system layout, designing mechanical mountings and developing the electrical system circuit boards that include LED modulation drivers, detection circuits, and programming for the device firmware. As development work has progressed, nine undergraduates from five different disciplines along with two RHV project managers round out the technical team.

This collaborative effort between Indiana University’s world-class research
efforts and Rose-Hulman commercialization assistance has created a powerful
catalyst for FAST. Additional partners include Indiana University Medical Group,
the METACyt Fund, with exposure from Purdue University Life Science Business
Plan Competition and the Venture Club of Indiana Venture Idol competition.