Diagnostics For All is a 501(c)(3) non-profit enterprise established to create and deploy low-cost, easy-to-use, point-of-care diagnostic devices designed specifically for the developing world. DFA is neither an aid-organization nor a for-profit biotech firm, and it relies on strategic partnerships, grant-giving organizations, and individual donors to support its mission.
DFA's mission is to save lives and improve health in the developing world using elegantly simple technology to create diagnostic devices meeting the needs of those living in resource poor regions. Back to Top »
DFA has been established as a non-profit enterprise so that it can maintain its focus on saving and improving the lives of people in resource-poor settings. For-profit firms are obligated to deploy resources to maximize returns to their shareholders, and this obligation would inevitably pull DFA away from its mission. But we are as purposeful and goal-driven as any for-profit firm. Back to Top »
DFA benefits from a broad spectrum of financial donations and pro-bono contributions that help to support everything from our technology development to our regular organizational operations. We rely on strategic partnerships, grant-giving organizations, and individual donors to support our work. For example, DFA is a designated subcontractor in a 5-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded to Harvard University. DFA also holds the exclusive license to diagnostic technologies relevant to resource-poor settings that has been developed in the Harvard University laboratories of George Whitesides. We intend to generate revenue through licensing of this technology for use in the developed world to supplement our philanthropic support. Back to Top »
Our success will be measured in how broadly we can made a difference in how healthcare is delivered in the developing world and in how many lives we can save and improve through our diagnostic devices. Back to Top »
Diagnostics are critical to improving global health. As broader ranges of treatments for infectious and parasitic diseases are extended to larger numbers of people in the developing world, the ability to accurately diagnose diseases and monitor the effects of these treatments becomes increasingly important. While 60% of the population in the developing world lives in rural areas beyond the reach of well-equipped urban hospitals, there are few diagnostic devices available that are affordable and adequately sensitive and reliable in these settings. Back to Top »
DFA has exclusive license from Harvard University to a technology platform developed by Professor George Whitesides and his researchers at Harvard University. And we are always alert to opportunities to expand the range of technologies that we can bring to bear to create inexpensive diagnostic devices specifically tailored to the needs of resource-poor regions of the world. Back to Top »
While DFA's devices are being designed with the developing world in mind, we believe that there will be many situations in the developed world where low cost, rapid, semi-quantitative, point-of-care devices will be useful, particularly in pediatrics, emergency response, public health screening, environmental control, veterinary medicine, and for the military. Back to Top »
DFA’s diagnostic devices are designed specifically for use in resource-poor settings. Our point-of-care devices are inexpensive to manufacture, and they are self-contained so that they can be used independently of existing medical infrastructure. They are lightweight, durable, and require no auxiliary equipment or electricity to function or to process a sample. They are also user-friendly and require minimal training, are minimally invasive, and can be safely disposed of through incineration, with practically no environmental impact. Back to Top »
Yes! DFA’s diagnostic devices will provide output in forms readily interfaced with cell phones and other telemetric devices. Back to Top »
DFA envisions establishing a network of partnerships and relationships, through licensing and direct contractual arrangements, to manufacture and distribute its devices throughout resource-poor regions of the developing world. Back to Top »
DFA’s first project is a rapid, low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic device used to monitor liver function – which is critical in the developing world for monitoring the adverse side effects of the powerful drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS and TB, and for managing the treatment of viral hepatitis. From a single drop of whole blood, DFA’s device will allow the semi-quantitative determination of two key liver enzymes that are routinely used to measure liver toxicity among patients receiving antiretroviral medications. The test will determine whether blood levels of these two enzymes are baseline/normal, greater than 2x baseline/normal, and greater than 5x baseline/normal, important ranges for clinical decisions. Back to Top »
In time, we will develop devices for broader assessments of patient health and for a range of important diseases such as TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes. For example, we plan to extend the functionality of the liver diagnostic device to detect kidney disease as well. And we will remain alert to other technological innovations that would extend our ability to create low cost diagnostic devices suitable for the developing world. Back to Top »
Beyond its full-time staff, DFA benefits from the efforts of a large number of individuals and organizations that share in its mission to improve global health through new diagnostics. Founded by a group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and students, DFA owes much of its progress to George Whitesides and his research group at Harvard University, who continue to be a rich source of technical innovation from which DFA can draw and build upon. Back to Top »
