SHARP Diagnostics: From deep science to a real-world product

Synopsis

How does a question in a lab morph into a company and product changing an industry? In this talk, I’ll share my journey from studying molecular motors as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University to founding SHARP Diagnostics, a company developing technologies for ultra-fast and portable detection of viruses, bacteria, and cancer biomarkers.

SHARP technology uses a novel bioengineered molecular motor to amplify DNA or RNA, eliminating a thermocycler in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This enables testing that is faster, more portable, and more scalable than traditional PCR. I’ll start with the fundamental research that inspired the technology and explain how we translated the concept into an early prototype, secured IP, and prepared for commercialization. I’ll then discuss the transition from academia to startup life: licensing the technology, building the team and advisory network, joining the Activate Fellowship, and securing initial funding. Finally, I’ll walk through the building and launch of our initial product in 2025, early sales, and how fundraising, market response, and ongoing R&D are shaping our next steps.