We are thrilled to announce the Purdue University and Pronucleotein, Inc. teams as the winners of the 2014 FDA Food Safety Challenge! As the grand prize winner, Purdue University will receive $300,000 in prize money. Pronucleotein, Inc., the runner-up winner, will receive $100,000 in prize money.

The Purdue University team’s winning submission is a physical method for concentrating Salmonella to detectable levels using automated microfiltration, which could decrease sample preparation time from 24-48 hours to a range of two to three hours.
The Pronucleotein, Inc. team’s runner-up winning submission features a portable device for rapid pathogen screening using DNA aptamer-magnetic bead sandwich assays. It promises a total assay processing and analysis time of about 30 minutes.
The Challenge represents a new approach of engaging different expertise and perspectives to bring cutting edge science into the FDA. A warm thank you to the other Finalist teams for their dedication and hard work: Auburn University, Dr. Bart Weimer/U.C. Davis/Mars, Inc., and University of Illinois/Purdue University.
– The 2014 FDA Food Safety Challenge Team

To see the original article Click Here