About - POCTRN

About POCTRN

The goal of the Point-of-Care Technology Research Network is to develop technologies with clinical applications using a network model that enhances complementary strengths and builds multidisciplinary partnerships.

Each POCTRN Center performs or facilitates five core functions:

  • Conducts in-house clinical testing of prototype point-of-care devices
  • Collaborates with physical, biochemical and computational scientists, and engineers on exploratory technology development projects
  • Completes clinical needs assessments in areas anticipated to advance the field of point-of-care testing and disseminates this information to the technology development community
  • Provides training to technology developers on clinical issues related to the development of point-of-care devices
  • Provides an adequate administrative structure to ensure that the large complex Center achieves its goals

History

The NIBIB created POCTRN in 2007 after a NIH workshop and the subsequent article, "Improving Healthcare Accessibility through Point-of-Care Technologies", published in Clinical Chemistry that same year. It was created:

  • To facilitate the development of a pipeline of point-of-care technologies with commercialization potential
  • Utilizing a center structure that enables incorporation of clinical and user needs in the development process
  • To provide expertise and resources to address early barriers to commercialization and implementation

Thus far, there have been 4 award cycles spanning 5 years each.

2023 Award Recipients

  • Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Emory University
  • Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
  • Center for Innovation in Point of Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS at Northwestern, Northwestern University
  • Center for Advancing Point of Care in Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Diseases, UMass Medical School
  • Point of Care Technologies for Nutrition, Infection, and Cancer for Global Health (PORTENT), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
  • Center for Innovation and Translation of Point of Care Technologies for Equitable Cancer Care (CITEC), Rice University, Houston
  • CIMIT - POCTRN Coordinating Center, Boston, MA

2018 Award Recipients

  • Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Emory University
  • Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
  • Center for Innovation in Point of Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS at Northwestern, Northwestern University
  • Center for Advancing Point of Care in Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Diseases, UMass Medical School
  • CIMIT - POCTRN Coordinating Center, Boston, MA

2012 Award Recipients

  • Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
  • Center for Innovation in Point of Care Technologies for the Future of Cancer Care, Boston University
  • Point of Care Technology Research Center in Primary Care, CIMIT

2007 Award Recipients

  • Point-of-Care Center for Emerging Neurotechnologies, University of Cincinnati
  • Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Johns Hopkins University
  • Center for Point-of-Care Technologies for Disaster Readiness, University of California, Davis
  • Center to Advance POC Diagnostics for Global Health, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)

RADx: Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) initiative was formed to accelerate the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care and home-based tests, as well as improvements to clinical laboratory tests, that can directly detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

ABOUT RADx

In the News 

Two New Over-the-Counter At-Home COVID-19 Tests Brought to U.S. Market Quickly by Biden-Harris Administration

New HHS actions add to Biden administration efforts to increase access to easy-to-use over-the-counter COVID-19 tests

NIH RADx initiative expands COVID-19 testing innovation for additional types of rapid tests

The need for new test verification and regulatory support for innovative diagnostics

NIH-funded screening study builds case for frequent COVID-19 antigen testing

RADx partnerships speed new COVID testing

One Year of RADx Tech Success

Publication reveals essential ingredients of the groundbreaking NIH RADx national diagnostics effort 

Innovative COVID-19 Testing RADx Tech Reports Unveiled in Special Issue of IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology

Luminostics Announces FDA Authorization and Production Scale-Up of US-Manufactured Smartphone-Based COVID-19 Rapid Test

RADx Expects COVID-19 Portfolio to Accelerate an Era of At-Home Infectious Disease Testing (Login Required)

VIC Foundry, Inc. Receives NIH RADx Funding for Development of an At-home Molecular Diagnostic Test for COVID-19

Ceres Nanosciences Opens Advanced Particle Manufacturing Plant in Northern Virginia to Expand Nanotrap® Particle Manufacturing Capacity for COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 Testing: Three Breakthrough Solutions in the RADx Initiative

NIH Director: Collaboration Amid Chaos, and Biden’s First 100 Days - How Francis Collins sees the COVID response changing with the new administration

The National Strategy From the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

Winners of HHS Design-a-thon to Develop Innovative Digital Health Tools for COVID-19 At-Anywhere Diagnostic Tests Announced

The Need for More and Better Testing for COVID-19