Office of Undergraduate Research

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Emphasizing equitable and inclusive access to research opportunities, the University of Maryland's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) empowers undergraduates and faculty to engage and succeed in inquiry, creative activity, and scholarship. This collection includes materials shared by undergraduate researchers during OUR events. It also encompasses materials from Undergraduate Research Day 2020, Undergraduate Research Day 2021, and Undergraduate Research Day 2022, which were organized by the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research.

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Author: search.filters.author.Adane, YedidyaSubject: search.filters.subject.First-Year Innovation and Research Experience

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    Portable Sensor for One-Pot Ligation LAMP Assay to Detect miRNA Biomarkers
    (2025) Adane, Yedidya; Berdia, Jason; Bhargava, Aayush; Fernandes, Catarina; Pallavajjala, Roshni; Vitievsky, Mark; Spirito, Catherine; Hilton, Shannon
    microRNAs (miRNAs) are short sequences of non-coding RNA that play a vital role in the regulation of gene expression in cells and tumorigenesis. Previous research has identified specific miRNAs can be used as biomarkers, as patients with cancer exhibited elevated concentrations of miRNA in blood samples. Patients can have poor prognosis rates without early detection; however, current detection methods are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. In this study, we have developed a point-of-care screening tool to detect miRNA using ligation-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (ligation-LAMP) and a 3D-printed sensor. Specifically, we designed a colorimetric ligation LAMP assay that has high sensitivity and specificity to miRNA-155, a cancer biomarker, and created a One-Pot system using Thermally Responsive Alkane Partitions (TRAPs). Furthermore, we have developed a portable sensor for the assay, with controlled heating and real-time quantification, to make the assay more accessible at the point of care. Combining the One-Pot assay with the portable sensor allows for rapid and inexpensive detection of miRNA biomarkers.