SMART-BioMEMS is a research project titled “Development of an integrated MEMS based DNA analysis chip with Active Flow Control Components”.

 

It is funded within the IST Programme of the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) under contract number IST-016554. The project started on 1^st December 2005 and is expected to conclude on 30^th November 2008.

 

The SMART-BioMEMS project aims at developing a novel micro total analysis system with fully integrated functionalities for diagnostic genotyping of point mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Since cancer is a particularly important field, first prototype device is being developed for genotyping of clinically important mutations and common SNPs of the p53 gene (TP53) using tag-array minisequencing.

A complete genetic analysis will be carried out on-chip by exploiting the benefit deriving from the development of lab-on-a-chip technologies to achieve fast, cost-efficient and reliable genetic testing. Active Flow Control (AFC) components are specifically designed and integrated for appropriate control of heating and flow within a system of channels and reaction chambers inside of a polymer based microfluidic chip.