In the Microelectrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Microfluidics Lab in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, we’re actively working on projects developing new MEMS and microfluidic technologies.

The three main areas include point-of-care diagnostic devices, MEMS actuators and sensors, and organ-on-a-chip.

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Professor Lake-Speers’ doctoral work developed an MEMS high-speed underwater actuator for cell sorting applications. She worked with other engineers to develop the math modeling, design, fabrication protocols, and testing to characterize the actuator performance. She is interested in applying her skill set in developing MEMS actuators for other healthcare applications besides cell sorting. At CWRU, Ian is working on new MEMS devices for different healthcare applications. 

Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Lake-Speers’ postdoctoral work focused on developing thermoplastic point-of-care devices compatible with a smartphone-based diagnostic platform. She worked on interdisciplinary teams of biologists and engineers toward making these devices translatable to the end user. Development includes sample preparation processes, working with manufacturers to make prototypes for field studies, and making the devices easy-to-use. At CWRU, Victor is working on new point-of-care diagnostic devices for cancer applications.