NEWS
UH President’s Circle Honors Cullen Professors
Willson and Vu Recognized for Leadership in Diagnostics
Professors Richard Willson and Binh Vu were honored at the 2025 UH President’s Circle Awards for their influential work in diagnostics, molecular engineering, and biomedical innovation. Read Here
25 Years of Innovation: Vu’s Diagnostic Journey
Reflecting on a Career in Biosensing and Medical Technology
CHBE Professor Vu was featured for his 25-year career at UH, highlighting his contributions to biosensors, diagnostics, and the mentorship that helped shape Willson Lab’s interdisciplinary focus. Read Here
Featured in DailyMail
Glow Stick-Inspired Diagnostics Catch Global Attention
The DailyMail covered UH researchers’ development of a field-ready test that uses glow chemistry to detect dangerous viruses and bacteria—potentially a game-changer for military and medical use. Read Here
Featured in Fox News
Glow Stick Chemistry Adapted for U.S. Navy Biothreat Defense
Fox News highlighted research from Willson Lab that uses glow stick reactions for biothreat detection, part of a U.S. Navy collaboration aiming to develop fast, portable pathogen sensors. Read Here
UH Cullen College Reports on Field-Deployable Diagnostics
Glow Stick Tech Developed for Pathogen Sensing
CHBE researchers at UH were featured for adapting glow stick reactions to power highly sensitive biothreat detection devices, potentially useful in national security and field medicine. Read Here
UH News Covers Navy Collaboration
Glow Stick Chemistry for Biothreat Detection
UH News featured Willson Lab’s collaboration with the U.S. Navy to develop diagnostic tools based on chemiluminescent glow stick reactions. The goal is to rapidly detect bacterial and viral biothreats in the field. Read Here
UH News Highlights Glow-Based COVID Test
A Smartphone-Compatible, Instrument-Free Diagnostic
UH News highlighted Willson Lab’s development of a COVID-19 test using glow chemistry, offering a low-cost diagnostic option with visual readout via smartphone. Read Here
Successful PhD Defense
Congratulations to Suman (now Dr. Nandy) for successfully defending his PhD dissertation on December 2023 titled: Developing novel applications of engineered protein A: Bioseparations, Diagnostics, and Process Analytics. Congratulations on his new job!
Paper Published in Analyst
Smartphone-read phage lateral flow assay for point-of-care detection of infection.
Paper Published in Frontiers in Immunology
A novel technology for home monitoring of lupus nephritis that tracks the pathogenic urine biomarker ALCAM | UH news article
Paper Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Expression and Characterization of Intein-Cyclized Trimer of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A Domain Z
Paper Published in Biosensors
Flash Characterization of Smartphones Used in Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Successful PhD Defense
Congratulations to Kristen (now Dr. Brosamer) for successfully defending her PhD dissertation on December 2022 titled: Lateral Flow Assays for Clinically-Relevant Targets: Rational Design and Sensitivity Enhancement Strategies. Congratulations on her new job!
Paper Published in Analytical Biochemistry
Protein A-Nanoluciferase fusion protein for generalized, sensitive detection of immunoglobulin G
Successful PhD Defense
Congratulations to Atul (now Dr. Goyal) for successfully defending his PhD dissertation on August 2022 titled: Detection of Biomolecules using Novel Approaches. Congratulations on his new job!
Successful PhD Defense
Congratulations to Victoria (now Dr. Hlavinka) for successfully defending her PhD dissertation on April 2022 titled: Biomolecular Detection Assays. Congratulations on her new job!
Successful PhD Defense
Congratulations to Rongwei (now Dr. Lei) for successfully defending her PhD dissertation on August 2022 titled: The Application of Biomarkers in Point of Care Testing. Congratulations on her new job!
Dr. Willson receives the Alan S. Michaels Award
Dr. Willson receives the Alan S. Michaels Award in Recovery of Biological Products for 2021 from the American Chemical Society Biochemical Technology Division. He is the 9th recipient of this honorary award. Congratulations!
Katerina receives her first federal grant
Katerina receives her first federal grant titled: Novel Point-of-Care Test for the Early Detection of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Congratulations!