when I was five years old I lived in Poland and I remember this one time I
Poland and I remember this one time I
Poland and I remember this one time I had a conversation with my father and I
had a conversation with my father and I
had a conversation with my father and I asked him where I would go to school he
asked him where I would go to school he
asked him where I would go to school he said that I would go to a very good
said that I would go to a very good
said that I would go to a very good local school in Poland so I asked him
local school in Poland so I asked him
local school in Poland so I asked him well then he said then after you finish
well then he said then after you finish
well then he said then after you finish school you will go and do a PhD at MIT I
asked him what is MIT he said MIT is the
asked him what is MIT he said MIT is the best technology University in the world
best technology University in the world
best technology University in the world so I said well that’s great and what
so I said well that’s great and what
so I said well that’s great and what then he said then you will go and build
then he said then you will go and build
then he said then you will go and build a company as big as Microsoft so no
a company as big as Microsoft so no
a company as big as Microsoft so no pressure
20 years went by and I got accepted to a
20 years went by and I got accepted to a ph.d program both at MIT and at Yale
ph.d program both at MIT and at Yale
ph.d program both at MIT and at Yale before moving across the ocean to
before moving across the ocean to
before moving across the ocean to another country to pursue this fantastic
another country to pursue this fantastic
another country to pursue this fantastic opportunity I talked to one of my
opportunity I talked to one of my
opportunity I talked to one of my mentors and I asked him these are some
mentors and I asked him these are some
mentors and I asked him these are some of the best universities in the world
of the best universities in the world
of the best universities in the world with some of the smartest people what
with some of the smartest people what
with some of the smartest people what happens if I fail he said nothing
happens if I fail he said nothing
happens if I fail he said nothing nothing will happen you will stand up
nothing will happen you will stand up
nothing will happen you will stand up and go and you will do it all over again
and go and you will do it all over again
and go and you will do it all over again it is all in your head just focus on
it is all in your head just focus on
it is all in your head just focus on what you do best so I went to Yale
what you do best so I went to Yale
what you do best so I went to Yale not to MIT sorry dad and that is where I
not to MIT sorry dad and that is where I
not to MIT sorry dad and that is where I started working on models such as this
started working on models such as this
started working on models such as this one this is what we physicists do for a
one this is what we physicists do for a
one this is what we physicists do for a living we work with equations to
living we work with equations to
living we work with equations to understand how the world really works so
understand how the world really works so
understand how the world really works so I started working with all of these
I started working with all of these
I started working with all of these different models basic working on basic
different models basic working on basic
different models basic working on basic science and I started asking myself has
science and I started asking myself has
science and I started asking myself has it even happened to you that you got
it even happened to you that you got
it even happened to you that you got sick did it take you too long a time to
sick did it take you too long a time to
sick did it take you too long a time to recover and in 2011 an outbreak of
recover and in 2011 an outbreak of
recover and in 2011 an outbreak of bacterial contamination in Europe
bacterial contamination in Europe
bacterial contamination in Europe happened that was the big one were just
happened that was the big one were just
happened that was the big one were just within a few weeks thousands of people
within a few weeks thousands of people
within a few weeks thousands of people got sick and people died from eating
got sick and people died from eating
got sick and people died from eating contaminated food and water
contaminated food and water
contaminated food and water hospitals were overfilled and the
hospitals were overfilled and the
hospitals were overfilled and the officials had trouble getting this
officials had trouble getting this
officials had trouble getting this outbreak under control because it took
outbreak under control because it took
outbreak under control because it took too long to detect bacteria in food it
too long to detect bacteria in food it
too long to detect bacteria in food it takes days to detect bacterial
takes days to detect bacterial
takes days to detect bacterial contamination in samples in the 21st
contamination in samples in the 21st
contamination in samples in the 21st century we still rely on growing
century we still rely on growing
century we still rely on growing bacteria on culture plates to provide us
bacteria on culture plates to provide us
bacteria on culture plates to provide us with information if there are bacteria
with information if there are bacteria
with information if there are bacteria in a sample or not this is the same
in a sample or not this is the same
in a sample or not this is the same technology which hasn’t really changed
technology which hasn’t really changed
technology which hasn’t really changed that much over the last hundred forty
that much over the last hundred forty
that much over the last hundred forty years and this problem of not having
years and this problem of not having
years and this problem of not having information on time goes way beyond food
information on time goes way beyond food
information on time goes way beyond food testing every day we read in newspapers
testing every day we read in newspapers
testing every day we read in newspapers about contaminated food ice cream water
about contaminated food ice cream water
about contaminated food ice cream water and bacteria causing deadly infections
and bacteria causing deadly infections
and bacteria causing deadly infections just in the United States alone in 2015
just in the United States alone in 2015
just in the United States alone in 2015 there were 626 recalls of food due to
there were 626 recalls of food due to
there were 626 recalls of food due to bacterial contamination globally this
bacterial contamination globally this
bacterial contamination globally this problem is much bigger every year
problem is much bigger every year
problem is much bigger every year 1.8 billion people drink contaminated
1.8 billion people drink contaminated
1.8 billion people drink contaminated water and thousands of people die
water and thousands of people die
water and thousands of people die because of by
because of by
because of by contamination so I thought we have this
contamination so I thought we have this
contamination so I thought we have this hundred fourth year of technology which
hundred fourth year of technology which
hundred fourth year of technology which is the source of the problem and whether
is the source of the problem and whether
is the source of the problem and whether there is something we can do about that
there is something we can do about that
there is something we can do about that I thought that maybe we can replace this
I thought that maybe we can replace this
I thought that maybe we can replace this hundred forty year old petri dish with a
hundred forty year old petri dish with a
hundred forty year old petri dish with a microchip so I figured I will build an
microchip so I figured I will build an
microchip so I figured I will build an electronic device which would solve this
electronic device which would solve this
electronic device which would solve this problem there was one small issue
countless scientists have tried before
countless scientists have tried before me and failed to do that for over
me and failed to do that for over
me and failed to do that for over hundred years
hundred years
hundred years fortunately at Yale professor T P ma
fortunately at Yale professor T P ma
fortunately at Yale professor T P ma taught us how to challenge the status
taught us how to challenge the status
taught us how to challenge the status quo he invented the next generation of
quo he invented the next generation of
quo he invented the next generation of transistors which are widely applied
transistors which are widely applied
transistors which are widely applied today and were others saw a limitation
today and were others saw a limitation
today and were others saw a limitation he saw an opportunity so I followed his
he saw an opportunity so I followed his
he saw an opportunity so I followed his example and started working on
example and started working on
example and started working on understanding how bacteria move in
understanding how bacteria move in
understanding how bacteria move in fluids started experimenting with
fluids started experimenting with
fluids started experimenting with theoretical models understanding how to
theoretical models understanding how to
theoretical models understanding how to separate bacteria from samples and using
separate bacteria from samples and using
separate bacteria from samples and using this method I figured out a way using
this method I figured out a way using
this method I figured out a way using electric forces to control bacterial
electric forces to control bacterial
electric forces to control bacterial motion in water in a way no other
motion in water in a way no other
motion in water in a way no other scientist has ever tried before and also
scientist has ever tried before and also
scientist has ever tried before and also in a way people thought was not possible
in a way people thought was not possible
in a way people thought was not possible so with a theoretical model complete I
so with a theoretical model complete I
so with a theoretical model complete I set out to build a prototype now that is
set out to build a prototype now that is
set out to build a prototype now that is easier said than done it took me three
easier said than done it took me three
easier said than done it took me three years to and many many months of failure
years to and many many months of failure
years to and many many months of failure to build a device what I did not realize
to build a device what I did not realize
to build a device what I did not realize as a graduate student is that going
as a graduate student is that going
as a graduate student is that going against established science and
against established science and
against established science and university professors is asking for
university professors is asking for
university professors is asking for trouble
trouble
trouble I had to learn to write my own grant
I had to learn to write my own grant
I had to learn to write my own grant applications to fund my own research
applications to fund my own research
applications to fund my own research to pay for the patent filings and also
to pay for the patent filings and also
to pay for the patent filings and also even to pay for my own laboratory time
even to pay for my own laboratory time
even to pay for my own laboratory time and that is all I needed to do to be
and that is all I needed to do to be
and that is all I needed to do to be able to even approach the problem I met
able to even approach the problem I met
able to even approach the problem I met with the Dean of the school who believed
with the Dean of the school who believed
with the Dean of the school who believed in me and encouraged me to submit this
in me and encouraged me to submit this
in me and encouraged me to submit this invention to a student competition
invention to a student competition
invention to a student competition unfortunately a few days before there
unfortunately a few days before there
unfortunately a few days before there was a power outage at Yale which damaged
was a power outage at Yale which damaged
was a power outage at Yale which damaged the equipment in the laboratory for me
the equipment in the laboratory for me
the equipment in the laboratory for me that meant I had no access to the
that meant I had no access to the
that meant I had no access to the specialized equipment and resources I
specialized equipment and resources I
specialized equipment and resources I needed to complete this project so
needed to complete this project so
needed to complete this project so encouraged by the Dean I applied to a
encouraged by the Dean I applied to a
encouraged by the Dean I applied to a nearby research facility learned new
nearby research facility learned new
nearby research facility learned new techniques and within just four weeks I
techniques and within just four weeks I
techniques and within just four weeks I was able to build the device and now I
was able to build the device and now I
was able to build the device and now I would love to show you how it works what
would love to show you how it works what
would love to show you how it works what we are looking at are small green dots
we are looking at are small green dots
we are looking at are small green dots our e.coli bacteria and the red orange
our e.coli bacteria and the red orange
our e.coli bacteria and the red orange balls are red blood cells when a doctor
balls are red blood cells when a doctor
balls are red blood cells when a doctor takes a sample from a patient who is
takes a sample from a patient who is
takes a sample from a patient who is sick there are only about few bacteria
sick there are only about few bacteria
sick there are only about few bacteria five-to-ten bacteria and billions of red
five-to-ten bacteria and billions of red
five-to-ten bacteria and billions of red blood cells so it’s almost impossible to
blood cells so it’s almost impossible to
blood cells so it’s almost impossible to find these few bacteria among billions
find these few bacteria among billions
find these few bacteria among billions of red blood cells and here is how we do
of red blood cells and here is how we do
of red blood cells and here is how we do it we apply electric forces on bacteria
it we apply electric forces on bacteria
it we apply electric forces on bacteria and capture them on the circles and let
and capture them on the circles and let
and capture them on the circles and let the red blood cells flow by in this step
the red blood cells flow by in this step
the red blood cells flow by in this step just within few minutes we are able to
just within few minutes we are able to
just within few minutes we are able to capture bacteria from blood and separate
capture bacteria from blood and separate
capture bacteria from blood and separate them and determine if the patient is
them and determine if the patient is
them and determine if the patient is sick or not using this method these
sick or not using this method these
sick or not using this method these mathematical models and simulations I
mathematical models and simulations I
mathematical models and simulations I was able to find a way to control
was able to find a way to control
was able to find a way to control bacterial motion
bacterial motion
bacterial motion and build an entire device around this
and build an entire device around this
and build an entire device around this physics this is the device which we call
physics this is the device which we call
physics this is the device which we call fluid screen the user puts in the sample
fluid screen the user puts in the sample
fluid screen the user puts in the sample presses the button and in just 30
presses the button and in just 30
presses the button and in just 30 minutes the device processes
minutes the device processes
minutes the device processes sample and displays the result on a
sample and displays the result on a
sample and displays the result on a smartphone the technology potential is
smartphone the technology potential is
smartphone the technology potential is much broader to what I just described we
much broader to what I just described we
much broader to what I just described we have data which show we can detect and
have data which show we can detect and
have data which show we can detect and capture bacteria from such different
capture bacteria from such different
capture bacteria from such different samples as water blood and urine that
samples as water blood and urine that
samples as water blood and urine that means we can use this technology to test
means we can use this technology to test
means we can use this technology to test water in swimming pools drinking water
water in swimming pools drinking water
water in swimming pools drinking water water in the beach clinical samples from
water in the beach clinical samples from
water in the beach clinical samples from sick patients and also food in food
sick patients and also food in food
sick patients and also food in food processing plants well this device does
processing plants well this device does
processing plants well this device does it shortens over 24 hours of laboratory
it shortens over 24 hours of laboratory
it shortens over 24 hours of laboratory testing into just 30 minutes it replaces
testing into just 30 minutes it replaces
testing into just 30 minutes it replaces an entire complicated laboratory process
an entire complicated laboratory process
an entire complicated laboratory process with a simple device which fits at your
with a simple device which fits at your
with a simple device which fits at your fingertips what does it mean to you that
fingertips what does it mean to you that
fingertips what does it mean to you that means if you do get sick and you go to
means if you do get sick and you go to
means if you do get sick and you go to the doctor the doctor will take a sample
the doctor the doctor will take a sample
the doctor the doctor will take a sample and in half an hour we’ll know which
and in half an hour we’ll know which
and in half an hour we’ll know which antibiotic will help you and in your
antibiotic will help you and in your
antibiotic will help you and in your home you can take this device and test
home you can take this device and test
home you can take this device and test the water you drink and the food you eat
the water you drink and the food you eat
the water you drink and the food you eat to make sure that it is free from
to make sure that it is free from
to make sure that it is free from contamination and safe for you globally
contamination and safe for you globally
contamination and safe for you globally that means that over 1.8 billion people
that means that over 1.8 billion people
that means that over 1.8 billion people will know that the water they drink is
will know that the water they drink is
will know that the water they drink is safe with all of that in mind I started
safe with all of that in mind I started
safe with all of that in mind I started a company with a goal to bring this
a company with a goal to bring this
a company with a goal to bring this technology to market from my childhood
technology to market from my childhood
technology to market from my childhood in Poland I certainly believe that life
in Poland I certainly believe that life
in Poland I certainly believe that life can be serendipitous when I decided to
can be serendipitous when I decided to
can be serendipitous when I decided to study physics I never thought I would
study physics I never thought I would
study physics I never thought I would build microprocessors to address
build microprocessors to address
build microprocessors to address infectious diseases and I didn’t go to
infectious diseases and I didn’t go to
infectious diseases and I didn’t go to MIT for my PhD however now my office
MIT for my PhD however now my office
MIT for my PhD however now my office overlooks MIT
overlooks MIT
overlooks MIT and that makes my father very happy
and that makes my father very happy
and that makes my father very happy thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
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[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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