Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science

News and Events

November 2010

Dr. Leyla Soleymani's research leads to breakthrough in advancing disease determination

Dr. Leyla Soleymani of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is working to improve health care and the quality of life for all.

Dr. Soleymani's research has contributed to a novel biosensor that improves the detection of viruses and bacteria. Dubbed as the most sensitive nanostructured biosensing chip of its kind, the device's probes can identify whether a particular disease exists within the body with the utmost precision and within only 30 minutes.

This innovative sensing device eliminates the need for time-consuming steps such as amplification and labeling, which allows for the delivery of results faster than ever before. Such a breakthrough will have an immediate impact in developing countries, where viruses and bacteria for diseases such as respiratory infections, HIV and tuberculosis often spread before field specimens can be analyzed and identified.

Other major contributors to this work include Dr. Ted Sargent, Dr. Shana Kelley and Dr. Zhichao Fang from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Soleymani joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering earlier this year as an assistant professor, teaching a second-year electric networks course. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from McGilll University and the University of Southern California respectively, and received her PhD from the University of Toronto. Throughout her research, Dr. Soleymani has taken a multi-disciplinary approach in combining innovations in materials science, biochemistry, and electrical and mechanical engineering to solve problems in healthcare.