Merck Lab @ TU Darmstadt

Low-instrumented Diagnostics & Analytics

With the launch of the thematic realignment of the Merck Lab @ TU Darmstadt on January 1, 2016, the successful cooperation between TU Darmstadt and Merck KGaA, which has now lasted for more than ten years, is being extended. The laboratory is part of a long-term, strategic partnership between Merck and TU Darmstadt.

The joint laboratory is located at the Department of Chemistry in the field of Macromolecular Chemistry & Paper Chemistry of the Ernst-Berl Institute on the Lichtwiese campus. From 2016 to 2021, the Merck Lab @ TU Darmstadt is concerned with innovative research in the field of “Low-instrumented Diagnostics & Analytics” and researches, among other things, cost-effective methods for the diagnosis of pathogens as well as optimizations in the field of instrumentless, analytical detection methods. One focus is the development of paper-based, microfluidic systems for immunodiagnostics and analytics. In this context, state-of-the-art macromolecular, biotechnological and printing techniques are used for the construction and characterization of microfluidic systems. In analogy to the previous Merck Lab @ TU Darmstadt “Printable Electronics”, the new orientation is based on interdisciplinary cooperation between chemists, biochemists, biologists and engineers.

Merck has a three-member team headed by project manager Dr. Gerhard Schwall who works closely with two research groups from the Department of Chemistry and three other research groups from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which allows an efficient combination of basic research and direct application.

Participating working groups:

Prof. Dr. M. Biesalski, FB Chemie, Makromolekulare Chemie und Papierchemie, MAP

Prof. Dr. H. Kolmar, FB Chemie, Allgemeine Biochemie

Prof. Dr.-Ing. E. Dörsam, FB Maschinenbau, Institut für Druckmaschinen und Druckverfahren, IDD

Prof. Dr.-Ing. S. Schabel , FB Maschinenbau, Papierfabrikation und Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik, PMV

Prof. Dr. S. Hardt, FB Maschinenbau, Nano- und Mikrofluidik, NMF