International Research and Development in Biosensing: WTEC Panel Report

Abstract : This report reviews international research and development activities in the field of biosensing. Biosensing includes systems that incorporate a variety of means, including electrical, electronic, and photonic devices; biological materials (e.g., tissue, enzymes, nucleic acids, etc.); and chemical analysis to produce detectable signals for the monitoring or identification of biological phenomena. This is distinct from "biosensors" that employ only biological materials or mechanisms for sensing. In a broader sense, the study of biosensing includes any approach to detection of biological elements and the associated software or computer identification technologies (e.g., imaging) that identify biological characteristics. Topics covered include the national initiatives, interactions between industry and universities, technology and manufacturing infrastructure, and emerging applications research. The panel's findings include the following: Europe leads in development and deployment of inexpensive distributed sensing systems. Europe also leads in integration of components and materials in microfabricated systems. Europe and Japan both have much R&D on DNA array technology, but the impact is likely to be only incremental. The United States leads in surface engineering applied to biosensing and in integration of analog-digital systems. Both Europe's and Japan's communication infrastructures are better suited for networked biosensing applications than those of the United States. Integrated bio sensing research groups are more common in Europe and Japan. Additional findings are outlined in the panel's executive summary.