Earlier this year, Ayantika Dan presented her research on developing a new diagnostic tool that could help us monitor or detect metabolic diseases early. This tool could allow us to address outbreaks more effectively, and it could help more people track their vitals.
“My research focuses on developing a point-of-care diagnostic tool or platform for non-enzymatic, non-catalytic detection of metabolites in saliva without any sample pretreatment,” Dan said. “This would help in the early detection or monitoring of diseases related to fluctuations of the metabolite levels in our oral cavity.”
Dan presented her work at Pittcon 2026, a global gathering of researchers in San Antonio, Texas. The conference, also known as the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, was first convened in 1950. Since then, it has been a place for chemists like Dan to share what they’ve been working on and to build professional relationships with others in the field.
At the conference, Dan got the chance to hear from many highly accomplished scientists. “I attended the talks of many distinguished professors and researchers,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to attend Nobel laureates Frances Arnold’s and Omar Yaghi’s talks as well.”
This was Dan’s first time participating in an international conference, both as an attendee and as a presenter. She expressed her gratitude to her academic advisor, Dr. Dipankar Koley, for helping her seize this opportunity.
“Overall,” she said, “it was a wonderful experience.”
