Founded in 2001, MicroFluidic Systems specializes in the production of automated instruments for a wide range of applications in the detection and processing of biological samples. The companies core technology is being used in the development of air monitoring systems for the next generation of the Department of Homeland Security's Biowatch program. In addition to developing ruggedized outdoor air detection systems, the company is also developing an indoor air monitor and detection system for DHS.

Our microfluidic technology alleviates all existing problems by replacing robotics with integrated microfluidics, reducing cost and increasing reliability. Our microfluidic technology also automates and increases the effectiveness of key sample processing steps used today on the laboratory bench-top, into a closed automated system. The embedded devices perform cell lysis (including difficult spores) in less than 1 minute at low power, nucleic acid purification along with inhibitor removal and pre-concentration of the nucleic acids up to factors of 1000X within minutes. These processes all occur autonomously within a fully contained disposable microfluidic cartridge.

Management Team:

Lyle L. Probst, President
Lyle L. Probst has over 10 years of program management experience at MicroFluidic Systems and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), including a series of biodetection programs such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) BAND program, development and deployment of BioWatch Generation 1 at LLNL, and principal investigator/developer of the high-throughput BioWatch mobile laboratory at SAIC. Mr. Probst was previously the Director of Capillary Electrophoresis and Director of Chemistries at the Joint Genome Institute. He holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.B.A in Executive Management.

Kimothy Smith, Ph.D., Chief Technology Advisor
As current Chief Technology Advisor at PositiveID's Microfluidic Systems, Dr. Kimothy Smith provides professional consulting services in the areas of biosurveillance, bioforensics, biodefense, biosecurity, molecular genetics and diagnostics, and food safety, defense and security. Recently he was as a Senior Scientist for the Tahoe Research Initiative LLC, where he worked internationally on Global Biosurveillance issues to build capacity and capability of public and veterinary health systems. He also served as Director of The Global Resource Initiative, a nonprofit organization that focuses its efforts on bolstering the critical resource base of underserved countries and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. He was promoted to Senior Advisor for International Biodefense for the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Health Affairs and was detailed to the U.S. State Department Office of International Health and Biodefense. Prior to this he served as the Acting Director of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center, where he was responsible for setting the vision and strategy of a U.S. government-wide effort to acquire, aggregate, integrate, analyze, interpret and disseminate all-source biosurveillance information from governmental and private sectors for epidemiological analyses and health protection. Moreover, he was the Department of Homeland Security's first Chief Veterinarian and served as the Chief Scientist for the Office of Health Affairs. Dr. Smith began working for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2005 where he worked within the Science and Technology Directorate as the Chief of the Research Programs and Countermeasures Office, directing the intramural research program executed through the federal and National Laboratories. Prior to working with DHS, he was at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where he served as the Deputy Division Leader for Operations in the Counter-terrorism and Incident Response Division of the Non-proliferation, Arms Control and International Security Directorate. In this capacity Dr. Smith was responsible for maintenance and readiness of the laboratory's nuclear response deployment and assessment teams. Before accepting this appointment, Dr. Smith served as a Deputy Associate Program Leader for the Chemical and Biological National Security Program where he was responsible for administering and managing the portfolio of biodefense research projects at LLNL. He was actively engaged in research execution and program development in the areas of infectious disease ecology, developing molecular typing methods and the application of molecular epidemiological techniques to forensic investigations as an associate professor on the Northern Arizona University (NAU) faculty prior to going to LLNL. He has earned his PhD in molecular epidemiology from Louisiana State University (1999) where he curated the worldwide Bacillus anthraces collection. He earned his BS in Biochemistry and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University and was a practicing veterinarian for almost 10 years.