EazeBio and UC Santa Cruz partner to advance instrument-free diagnostic platform

31 Oct 2025

Product news

Reem Mahrat, CEO & Founder of EazeBio

Reem Mahrat, CEO & Founder of EazeBio

EazeBio has announced a strategic partnership with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) to advance and commercialize a groundbreaking instrument-free diagnostic platform. The collaboration will co-develop an innovative cortisol biosensor for stress and metabolic health testing, combining EazeBio’s expertise in affordable, scalable biotechnology with UC Santa Cruz’s deep research capabilities.

The partnership represents a key milestone in EazeBio’s mission to democratize access to clinical-grade testing, bringing rapid diagnostics to the point of care in both developed and resource-limited settings. Together, they aim to accelerate the development of next-generation, lab-independent testing for global health applications.

Rooted in UC Santa Cruz’s cutting-edge biosensing research , the platform represents a significant leap forward in point-of-care diagnostics — combining innovative detection chemistry with luminescent biosensors, modular assay design, and AI-guided interpretation. It is engineered for speed, affordability, and accessibility — requiring no instrumentation, refrigeration, or specialized training. The result: lab-quality performance without the need for traditional laboratory infrastructure.

Designed for real-world deployment in both high-resource and underserved settings, this flexible system can be rapidly customized for a wide range of applications, including:

  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection
  • Viral outbreak response (e.g., influenza, RSV, novel coronaviruses)
  • Hormonal monitoring (e.g., cortisol, fertility, stress, endocrine disorders)
  • Cancer biomarker detection for early-stage screening
  • Biothreat and emergency response in public health scenarios

"My group is developing lab prototypes with real translational potential, and it’s deeply rewarding to hear from patients who need these sensors to improve their health," said Andy Yeh, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering.

"AI-based protein design now lets us tackle questions once thought impossible, and I’m excited to see EazeBio translating this technology and driving progress toward making a meaningful difference in people's lives," he added.

"At EazeBio, we are committed to transforming the way diagnostics reach people," said Reem Mahrat, CEO and Founder of EazeBio. "Our partnership with UC Santa Cruz brings together world-class science and mission-driven innovation to create a platform built not just for performance — but for global health equity. This latest technology brings the lab to the patient, not the other way around."

Want the latest science news straight to your inbox? Become a SelectScience member for free today>>

Tags

Point of Care SolutionsPoint of care solutions provide medical diagnostics and treatments at or near the site of patient care. These technologies offer rapid results, helping healthcare providers make quick decisions. From glucose monitors to molecular diagnostics, point of care solutions are transforming healthcare delivery by reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes. Explore the best point of care products in our peer-reviewed product directory, compare options, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)Cancer DiagnosticsThere are a wide variety of diagnostic tests for cancer available, and this range continues to expand as our knowledge of cancer improves. Current diagnostic methods include biopsy, imaging and blood tests for known biomarkers. New methods in research development include liquid biopsies and cancer breathalyzers.Infectious DiseaseInfectious disease diagnostics refers to the isolation and identification of causative agents, such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. Diagnostic tests include bacterial culture, microscopy, chemistry assays, molecular diagnostics and MALDI-TOF. Tests can be carried out in the laboratory or at the point-of-care.
EazeBio and UC Santa Cruz partner to advance instrument-free diagnostic platform