When I heard this news report on PRI’s “The World” the other day, I almost turned the car around to race back to my computer so I could immediately research this further. It was a report about using the simple technology of the cell phone camera to take holographic photos of blood samples that could be transmitted wirelessly anywhere in the world to enable the identification, monitoring and treatment of diseases in third world countries that lacked specialized equipment, major health centers and medical laboratories. 

Some background first though: Vodafone, the world’s leading mobile telecommunications giant, launched the Wireless Innovation Project as part of the foundation work it does. They invited innovators to submit their ideas on how wireless technology can solve health and disaster relief problems around the world. Out of over a 100 applicants, Vodafone selected three submissions to fund.

Here’s a brief description of the three projects that will be funded:

A.N.Ts

• $300,000 grant to Gil Zussman’s team at Columbia University, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Depts
• An acronym for Active Networked Tags, these tags can be embedded in buildings and on clothing to provide data on where victims may be located during man-made or natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes. The energy to power these devices comes from light or movement. 

CelloPhone

• $200,000 grant to UCLA’s Dr. Aydogan Ozcan and his team of electrical engineers
• Using a cell phone platform, this lens-free system is able to analyze bodily fluids relying on a revolutionary technique of imaging called Shadow Imaging.
• This device will be able to diagnose, treat and track disease and illnesses in poor countries that lack the infrastructure traditionally used in modern health care systems.

CellScope

• $100,000 grant to the BioEngineering Dept at UCLA, Berkley led by Dr. Daniel Fletcher
• Uses a microscopic lens that attaches on to a cell phone camera.
• Enables on-site diagnosis and transmission of information on everything from skin diseases to systemic illnesses which can be uploaded as part of a personal medical record or or used in epidemiological tracking.