Project
MACS Matchmaker — Label-Free Biosensor Platform
I led the system engineering of the world's first — and still only — commercial focal molography instrument. The MACS Matchmaker quantifies binder affinity, kinetics, and specificity directly in crude biological samples with picomolar sensitivity, no purification, no fluorescent labels. Concept to market launch in 12 months.
Optical & System Integration
Integrated precision optics, mechanics, micro-fluidics, electronics, and firmware into a single benchtop instrument that characterises up to 64 molecular interactions simultaneously. The platform achieves picomolar sensitivity with ultra-low drift (<0.05 pg/mm²/min) — reliably resolving slow off-rate binders that conventional SPR instruments cannot distinguish from noise.
Production & Quality
Owned the full mechanical release workflow — material and process selection, prototyping, verification testing, and QA-compliant documentation. The instrument is engineered for high-throughput 24/7 lab operation under biotech regulatory requirements. Managed a seven-figure R&D budget, balancing performance, reliability, cost, and supply-chain risk through structured design reviews and early supplier engagement.
12 mo
Concept to Launch
64
Simultaneous Interactions
pM
Sensitivity
Challenges
- No commercial reference existed — every design decision, from the optical bench to the fluidic manifold, had to be validated from first principles against an unproven measurement technique.
- Picomolar sensitivity demands sub-micron thermal and mechanical stability, yet the instrument had to survive 24/7 lab use and worldwide shipping.
- 12-month concept-to-launch deadline with five engineering disciplines running in parallel and no margin for sequential iteration.
Outcomes
- Shipped the first commercial focal molography instrument worldwide — on time, within budget.
- Platform adopted by pharmaceutical companies for hit validation, binder screening, and target identification in crude samples.
- Established the mechanical architecture and QA framework that now underpins Miltenyi's growing focal molography product line.