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:

M. Allen Northrup, Ph.D. President & CEO
Dr. M. Allen Northrup founded Microfluidic Systems Inc (MFSI) in Berkeley, CA and is President and CEO. Most recently, Dr. Northrup was a Founder, Chief Technical Officer, and Vice President of Research at Cepheid, in Sunnyvale, CA.  Cepheid (CPHD) was taken Public in April 2000. He has over 20 years of instrumentation development experience. Dr. Northrup’s technical interests center on the application of microfabrication and related technologies to the development of environmental, medical, and biotechnological devices and instruments - specifically to take advantage of the increases of efficacy and decreases in costs these technologies can offer. Dr. Northrup was the first to demonstrate the micro-PCR process in a silicon micromachined chip and has worked closely with many companies in the biomedical industry over the past several years to prove its advantages and to move it toward commercialization.

Dr. Farzad Pourahmadi Vice President
Dr. Farzad Pourahmadi is Vice President and Co-founder of MicroFluidic Systems Inc. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Most recently he was the director of Microfluidics Technology Group and one of the founders at Cepheid from April 1997 to September 2001. He has over 19 years of experience in design and development of microfluidic and MEMS systems for micro-machined products design and development. Dr. Pourahmadi has numerous patents and publications in the field of microfluidics and MEMS and his patent for a self-test silicon micromachined accelerometer was a finalist for the Electronic Design News innovation of the year award in 1993.

Todd Austin Chief Operating Officer
Todd Austin joined MicroFluidic Systems in 2005 with 15 years experience in R&D Product Development and Operations.   Prior to joining MicroFluidic Systems, Todd was the Program Manager for the initial Cepheid product line through the Initial Public Offering and responsible for several successful development efforts and product launches including those at Apple Computer, Cepheid and Digeo.  At Digeo Todd was responsible for Manufacturing and Operations.  He has extensive experience in managing the growth of early stage companies and is responsible for leading product development, manufacturing and operational control in multiple start-up environments. 

Sean Givens Chief Financial Officer
Sean Givens joined Microfluidic Systems in 2005 as the Director of Accounting prior to taking the CFO position in 2007.  Sean has extensive start-up experience as well as 10+ years of Government accounting and compliance experience.  Previously he consulted for Bechtel Group, Varian, Optical Networks and CPI.  Over the last ten years Sean has developed several models for computing costs on an earned value basis to better track costs on prototype and R&D contracts, as well as financial models that calculate the impact of accounting changes on multiple contract vehicles across multiple business segments.  Sean currently sits on two Board of Directors.