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Research & Programs


CAST has a vigorous research and development program. Details on all our key research programs are below.

This research program involves the expansion of pulsed electrochemical detection technology for airborne environmental contaminants and pathogens.

This program involves the development of a glucuronide sensor to monitor for drugs, explosives, chemical and biological contaminants in physiological samples, especially urine.

We are developing a simple senor device that detects the early stages of foot-rot or other fungal infections.

We are developing and optimizing a device for the rapid screening of energetics (e.g., TNT, NG, RDX), their byproducts and propellants in environmental samples, especially groundwater.

The introduction of non-native species and organisms into the environment by ballast water release is a serious problem, and until recently it has been given a low national priority.

The overall purpose of this project is to develop a prototype packaging sensor designed to indicate the amount of spoilage in packaged seafood (to be referred to as the Freshdicator) based on amine (e.g., scrombotoxin, or histamine, which causes scromboid poisoning) concentration.

This project involves the development of a novel spectroscopic technique and fiber optic probe system for the real-time (i.e., millisecond), sub-surface differentiation of healthy and malignant tissues based on optical absorption by endogenous chromophores.

This research program involves the development of proprietary multi-layer SERS substrate capable of providing trace detection and identification of chemicals (e.g., chemical warfare agents, environmental pollutants, etc.) for periods of months or more without any degradation in signal enhancement.

This research program involves the development of a proprietary surface enhanced Raman scattering-based sensing array for the rapid (less than five minutes) qualitative and quantitative detection of as many as fifty different pathogenic species from complex environments.

This research program involves the development of a remote sensing platform for the detection of airborne or contained chemical or biological agents based on the photothermal lensing phenomenon.