Frederick R Haselton

Frederick R. Haselton is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering. His research focuses on developing low-cost, accessible diagnostic technologies for global health challenges, particularly in resource-constrained settings. He leads the Haselton Lab, a multidisciplinary team advancing innovations like Adaptive PCR, coffee ring-based diagnostics, and quantum dot imaging systems.

Education: Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in Mathematics from Haverford College.

Research Interests: Dr. Haselton’s work spans molecular diagnostics, nanotechnology, and global health. Key projects include:

• Adaptive PCR: A revolutionary PCR method using synthetic L-DNA for temperature-independent cycling, enabling point-of-care diagnostics.
• Coffee Ring Diagnostics: Leveraging evaporation phenomena to create simple malaria and tuberculosis tests requiring no electricity.
• Quantum Dot Imaging: Developing multispectral tools for retinal and cardiovascular disease monitoring.
• Global Health Collaborations: Leading LIGHT (Laboratories for Innovation in Global Health Technologies), a cross-disciplinary initiative addressing diagnostic needs in low-resource environments.

Grants & Funding: Haselton has secured major grants from NIH, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others for projects like tuberculosis detection via magnetic bead systems and mobile-connected diagnostic tests.

Labs & Teams: The Haselton Lab collaborates with faculty across engineering, medicine, and chemistry. Current personnel include postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates working on projects ranging from HIV viral load monitoring to SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.