Weihua Guan

Weihua Guan is an active faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Penn State University's College of Engineering. His research is centered on developing advanced diagnostic technologies for point-of-care and point-of-need applications, particularly in low-resource settings. He is affiliated with the Health and the Environment research theme and contributes to cutting-edge work in nanopore-based sensing, nucleic acid testing, and microfluidics.

Research Interests: Dr. Guan’s work bridges nanotechnology, molecular biology, and biomedical engineering. His primary focus includes solid-state nanopores, CRISPR-based detection, isothermal amplification (e.g., RT-LAMP), and machine learning for diagnostic accuracy. He develops compact, portable devices for diseases such as HIV, malaria, and monkeypox, enabling lab-free, sample-to-answer testing using whole blood or saliva.

His recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a strong trend toward integration of nanoscale sensors with molecular assays, emphasizing purification-free workflows, multiplexing, and self-administered testing. Many articles appear in high-impact journals like ACS Sensors, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and Nature Biomedical Engineering, indicating significant contributions to translational diagnostics.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF Early Career Award (mentioned in news release, 2022)

Dr. Guan leads a dynamic research group focused on next-generation diagnostics. His team has developed handheld, portable, and multiplexed devices that eliminate the need for lab infrastructure, supporting global health equity. While specific grant details are not listed, the scale and scope of the research suggest substantial external funding, likely from NSF, NIH, or similar agencies. Frequent co-authors such as M. A. Ahamed, A. Kshirsagar, M. Dong, and T. Liu may represent key members of his research team.

Labs and Research Teams: Although not explicitly named, Dr. Guan’s lab is clearly engaged in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of nanotechnology and diagnostics. The lab develops integrated systems combining microfluidics, nanopores, CRISPR, and machine learning for real-world health applications.