简介：

David A. Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Director of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Co-Director of the BASF Advanced Research Initiative, Core Faculty Member of the Wyss Institute for Biomedical Engineering, and Member of the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology, Harvard University. Weitz and his group study the physics of soft condensed matter, materials easily deformed by external stresses, electric, magnetic or gravitational fields, and even thermal fluctuations. These materials typically possess structures much larger than atomic or molecular scales; the structure and dynamics at these mesoscopic scales determine the macroscopic physical properties. Prof Weitz is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering, and also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

报告摘要：

This talk will describe the use of microfluidic technology to control and manipulate drops whose volume is about one picoliter.  These can serve as reaction vessels for biological assays.  These drops can be manipulated with very high precision using an inert carrier oil to control the fluidics, ensuring the samples never contact the walls of the fluidic channels.  Small quantities of other reagents can be injected with a high degree of control.  The drops can also encapsulate cells, enabling cell-based assays to be carried out. The use of these devices for precision-medicine applications will be described.