News & Updates

Feb. 02, 2024 · Ali Lab -- Biosensing engineer Azahar Ali, assistant professor of animal sciences and biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, is bracing for the arrival of a fourth agricultural revolution. It's an era predicted to tap into the transformative potential of the connective technologies that have arisen in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To Ali, three technologies stand out for their potential to advance climate-smart, precision agriculture: wearable agriculture sensors, Internet of Things-enabled—or "smart"—devices, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Jan. 6, 2024 · Ali Lab -- The Morning AgClips, America's #1 agriculture news source, highlights our pioneering work in 'Harnessing Sensors, Smart Devices, and AI to Transform Agriculture.' Congratulations to Dr. Ali, Dr. Kaushik (Florida Polytechnic University), Mr. Matin Ataei Kachouei (PhD Student), and our Biosensor Engineering Laboratory for driving innovation in AgTech!

Dec. 23, 2023 · Ali Lab -- A seed grant on Climate-Smart Agriculture Research and Outreach is awarded by the CALS Global, Virginia Tech, 2023. Thanks for the support!

Dec. 23, 2023 · Ali Lab -- Dr. Ali received an Institute Distinguished Alumni 2023 award in the “Excellence in Academics and Technology Development from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.

Oct. 18, 2023 · Ali Group -- According to some population growth projections, as a result of the effects of climate change, international conflicts, and the depletion of farmland from unsustainable practices, the world could see a food shortage as soon as 2035. While alarming, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. According to Azahar Ali, assistant professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, and his colleagues at Florida Polytechnic University, a combination of technology and cooperation offers potential salvation...

Nov 6, 2022 · (Nanowerk News) -- Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, have developed one of the fastest known COVID-19 antibody tests. The test results are available in 10 to 15 seconds and detect the presence of two of the antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Such a quick and effective test could be a game-changer for controlling the spread of the pandemic...

April 18, 2023 -- 1. Our lab is awarded by Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens (CeZAP), Virginia Tech to detect the Hepatitis E infection in biological samples, 2023. Thanks, CeZAP, for the support! 2. A seed grant is awarded by 4-VA Pre-Tenure Faculty Research Grant to study On-Farm Diagnosis of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows, 2023. Thanks, 4-VA, for the support! 3. A seed grant is awarded by CALS Strategic Plan Advancement Seed Grant on Avian Influenza Virus Detection in Poultry, 2023, Thanks, CALS Strategic Plan, for the support!

Nov. 6, 2022 · Ali Group -- A group of Carnegie Mellon University mechanical engineering researchers has pushed the limits of diagnostic testing to a level never before seen. The researchers, led by Rahul Panat, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, have developed a sensor system that was able to successfully detect levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine down to femtomolar concentrations. They have published their findings in Nature Communications.

October 8, 2022 · Ali Group -- (Advanced Science News) Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University report findings on an advanced nanomaterial-based biosensing platform that detects, within seconds, antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to testing, the platform will help to quantify patient immunological response to the new vaccines with precision...

Oct. 8, 2022 · Ali Lab -- As reported in Advanced Materials [Ali et al. Adv. Mater. (2020) DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006647], the new platform identifies the presence of two of the virus' antibodies, spike S1 protein and receptor binding domain (RBD), in only 5 microliters of blood. Antibody concentrations can be very low and still detected below one picomolar, equal to 0.15 nanograms per milliliter. This detection was achievable due to an electrochemical reaction within a handheld microfluidic device that transmits results almost immediately to a simple interface on a smartphone. Aerosol jet 3D printing was used to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of the testing platform...