Digvijay Singh, MSE | Drizzle Health; Bonolo Mathekga, MSE
Competition Sponsor: National Academy of Medicine
Awardee Year: 2025
CDC estimates 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases each year in the United States. Expectedly, it also disproportionately threaten older adults, whose weakened immune systems lead to 3-10 times higher hospitalization rates and increased mortality. We propose a paradigm-shifting pathogen detection system that transforms food safety from selective, reactive testing to continuous, proactive surveillance at a food supply chain level (right at the production plants). Our innovative three-part approach integrates: (1) a polymer-based millifluidic capture system that concentrates bacteria without reagents or external power, (2) a vertical polarimetric scanning system that analyzes bacterial light scattering patterns to provide species-specific signatures within seconds, and (3) machine learning algorithms that enable automated pathogen recognition with continuously improving accuracy. By eliminating the need for specialized training and time-consuming procedures, our technology makes comprehensive monitoring economically viable throughout entire food supply chains. We hypothesize this system will long-term reduce pathogen-induced illness in adults by at least 30%.