SciMed Biotech Podcast with G. Brett Robb

Dr. G. Brett Robb of VedaBio

Turning CRISPR into a point-of-care molecular detection engine with Dr. Brett Robb

CRISPR has transformed gene editing — but its potential in molecular detection is only beginning to be realized. In this episode of the SciMed Biotech Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Brett Robb, Chief Scientific Officer at VedaBio, to discuss how engineered CRISPR systems are being redesigned into a highly programmable, amplification-free diagnostic engine.

Dr. Robb breaks down how the CRISPR Cascade platform uses multiple ribonucleoprotein complexes to generate strong, rapid molecular signals without the need for PCR or other nucleic acid amplification steps. This opens the door to ultra-rapid, highly multiplexed detection with the scalability and programmability needed for true point-of-care implementation.

We also explore:

• What fundamentally limits current molecular diagnostics — and how amplification complicates speed, accuracy, and workflow

• Why multiplexing matters for real-world clinical utility and emerging disease surveillance

• The technical decisions behind the CRISPR Cascade design, from enzyme engineering to signal kinetics

• How translating CRISPR from gene editing to diagnostics demanded a different way of thinking about the technology

Whether you’re in molecular biology, diagnostics, or synthetic biology, this conversation offers a clear look at where CRISPR-powered detection is headed and what it will take to make point-of-care diagnostics scalable.