As the COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the world, the U.S. military has been forced to conduct hundreds of emergency medical evacuations from war zones, pause training exercises, and struggle with healthcare. This challenging process has presented an opportunity to question the military’s pandemic preparedness and develop strategies for possible future threats. Today, researchers have moved past the panic over the pandemic and are working to develop new technologies that can be rapidly diagnosed and contained, focusing on the next potential pandemic threat, Pathogen X. One of these technologies is the GeneCapture device, in which the U.S. military has invested heavily.
GeneCapture was developed as a biological threat detection device to rapidly and cost-effectively diagnose potential biological weapons such as Pathogen X. The main idea behind the development of GeneCapture was to be able to rapidly detect the genetic traces of pathogens, namely their RNA. This technology determines which organisms are present in the body and detects living organisms that have colonized the body within an hour. In this way, it can make a diagnosis in just one hour, at a cost of $72, significantly reducing the 160-hour time and approximately $20 cost of traditional tests.
The development of the GeneCapture device is driven by the goal of providing greater preparedness against biological threats. The Army has invested approximately $12 million to date to develop the technology to make the device deployable and portable. The majority of this investment has come from the Chemical Biological Defense Program (CBDP) and the Defense Health Agency. The usability of GeneCapture for any military mission or emergency could significantly speed up medical evacuations and battlefield medical support.
The GeneCapture device is particularly notable for its ability to test blood or fluid samples without the need for temperature control. This feature increases its portability and effectiveness on battlefields around the world. The Army believes that this device will be a vital piece of equipment for soldiers in war zones. Retired Colonel Dave Zimmerman, a former medical evacuation pilot and now an independent consultant for GeneCapture, made a significant statement about how critical this device could be for future wars. Having experienced many situations in war zones where patients were treated without being diagnosed in the past, Zimmerman believes that GeneCapture will be of great benefit.
The technology used in the development of the GeneCapture device is a method called “direct RNA capture.” This technology analyzes the genetic signatures of pathogens, revealing the unique genetic signature of each pathogen. Peggy Sammon, CEO of GeneCapture, describes this technology as very different from Theranos. While Theranos is known for pseudoscience and fraud, GeneCapture is a technology built on scientific foundations and supported by real data. Sammon stated that GeneCapture has been awarded eight military technology development contracts as a proof of this verification.
However, the potential of GeneCapture is not only important in the military field, but also in civilian areas. In particular, research is ongoing in the diagnosis of medical threats such as urinary tract infections, bacterial and fungal wounds, as well as potential threats such as biological weapons, coronavirus, influenza and even Pathogen X. The FDA is showing great interest in the potential areas of use of GeneCapture. This device offers the ability to perform portable and practical diagnostics without the need for a laboratory environment.
The inventor of the technology, Dr. Krishnan Chittur, sought to develop a faster and more effective diagnostic method after his young daughter was diagnosed with an infection. This search laid the foundation for the development of GeneCapture. Today, this technology has the potential to make a major impact in both the military and healthcare sectors. Research in the military and civilian fields shows that this device could be an important preventive tool against future health threats.
Future wars and pandemics will be full of unknowns. In this new era where enemies may counterattack with new weapons, mysterious threats and variants, it is critical for medical professionals to be able to diagnose diseases quickly and accurately. This is where GeneCapture comes into play, potentially saving lives on the battlefield and in civilian environments.
