Collaboration aims to deliver rapid, lab-quality testing to communities worldwide – making precision health more accessible

EazeBio today announced a strategic partnership with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) to advance and commercialize a groundbreaking instrument-free diagnostic platform. The collaboration will co-develop an innovative cortisol biosensor for stress and metabolic health testing, combining EazeBio’s expertise in affordable, scalable biotechnology with UC Santa Cruz’s deep research capabilities. Together, they aim to accelerate the development of next-generation, lab-independent testing for global health applications.

The partnership represents a key milestone in EazeBio’s mission to democratize access to clinical-grade testing, bringing rapid diagnostics to the point of care in both developed and resource-limited settings. Together, EazeBio and UC Santa Cruz aim to address some of the world’s most urgent health challenges by focusing on translating academic breakthroughs into real-world solutions that enable earlier detection, faster treatment, and improved health outcomes.

A Scalable, Impact-Driven Solution for Global Health

“At EazeBio, we are committed to transforming the way diagnostics reach people,” said Reem Mahrat, CEO and Founder of EazeBio. “Our partnership with UC Santa Cruz brings together world-class science and mission-driven innovation to create a platform built not just for performance—but for global health equity. This latest technology brings the lab to the patient, not the other way around.”

Unlocking Next-Generation Diagnostics Without Instruments

Rooted in UC Santa Cruz’s cutting-edge biosensing research and inspired by Nobel Prize-winning science, the platform represents a significant leap forward in point-of-care diagnostics—combining innovative detection chemistry with luminescent biosensors, modular assay design, and AI-guided interpretation. It’s engineered for speed, affordability, and accessibility—requiring no instrumentation, refrigeration, or specialized training. The result: lab-quality performance without the need for traditional laboratory infrastructure.

Designed for real-world deployment in both high-resource and underserved settings, this flexible system can be rapidly customized for a wide range of applications, including:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection
• Viral outbreak response (e.g., influenza, RSV, novel coronaviruses)
• Hormonal monitoring (e.g., cortisol, fertility, stress, endocrine disorders)
• Cancer biomarker detection for early-stage screening
• Biothreat and emergency response in public health scenarios

A Shared Vision for Accessible Innovation

With a shared commitment to equitable healthcare access and scientific excellence, the collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and EazeBio is poised to shape the next frontier in decentralized diagnostics.

“My group is developing lab prototypes with real translational potential, and it’s deeply rewarding to hear from patients who need these sensors to improve their health,” said Andy Yeh, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering. “AI-based protein design now lets us tackle questions once thought impossible, and I’m excited to see EazeBio translating this technology and driving progress toward making a meaningful difference in people's lives.”

Dr. Belal Abdallah, MD, MBA, CPE and Clinical Advisor at EazeBio, added, “As a clinician and CEO of an accountable care organization, I've seen firsthand how diagnostic delays exacerbate health disparities. EazeBio's instrument-free platform, born from this groundbreaking UC Santa Cruz collaboration, flips the script—bringing precision medicine to the patient's doorstep with speed, affordability, and equity. This isn't just a tool; it's a catalyst for reimagining accountable care in the 21st century.”

Join the Movement
EazeBio welcomes partnerships with global health organizations, investors, and innovators to scale this powerful platform across geographies and use cases.

About EazeBio

EazeBio is a biotechnology company focused on developing scalable, patient-centric solutions at the intersection of biosensing, artificial intelligence, and health equity. Its mission is to bring life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic tools to underserved communities worldwide.
EazeBio is part of the Daybreak Labs innovation ecosystem, which supports high-impact startups transforming the future of health and diagnostics.

About UC Santa Cruz

A global research university, UC Santa Cruz is part of the world’s most celebrated system of public higher education and stands among the most renowned institutions of higher learning. Leading at the intersection of innovation and social justice, UC Santa Cruz faculty and students conduct transformative research and scholarship that serves society. The university combines the rigor of a major research institution with the personalized experience of small residential colleges—a rare blend among U.S. public universities.

UC Santa Cruz is the youngest member of the Association of American Universities and one of only five institutions designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Learn more at ucsc.edu.