Line drawing of the CAST building, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Welcome to CAST

Sensing a better world through disruptive innovation

The Center for Advanced Sensor Technology promotes the development of optical based sensors for biomedical, bioprocess, environmental and homeland defense applications. We are a multidisciplinary group of chemists, molecular biologists, electrical engineers and chemical and biochemical engineers. Our main objective is to create innovative sensor technology that is high throughput and low-cost amenable for transfer to industry counterparts. The Center for Advanced Sensor Technology has 2,000 sq. ft. of laboratory space in the Technology Research Center (TRC Building) on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus.

LAB SPACE

2,000 sq. ft.

in UMBC’s Technology Research Center

WHERE OUR SENSORS WORK

Biomedical Bioprocess Environmental Homeland defense

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Featured at CAST

The CAST team with the Mini-BioMOD system at the FDA

SHOWCASE · FDA

Mini-BioMOD at the FDA

The CAST team showcased the Mini-BioMOD system at the FDA.

Read the Nature paper →

IN THE NEWS · C&EN

Biologics on the go

C&EN magazine on making biologic medicines on demand.

Read in C&EN →

SENSOR

TechKnowledge

Govind Rao

FREE EBOOK

Sensor TechKnowledge

Sensors for Process Development: A Practical Guide, by Dr. Govind Rao.

Download the eBook →

VIDEO TALKS

Watch and listen

Talks and interviews with CAST director Dr. Govind Rao.

FEATURED TALK · NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Disruptive Innovation for Next Generation Biomanufacturing

Dr. Govind Rao, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

WHEN
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 9:25 a.m.

WHERE
National Academy of Sciences Building, Room 120, 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC

EVENT
Workshop on Innovations in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Session 1: Drug Product. Hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Event page →

Video: Disruptive innovations with optical sensors

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VIDEO · SPIE

Disruptive innovations with optical sensors

Dr. Rao talks with SPIE about the center’s work in optical sensing.

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VIDEO · UMBC GRIT-X

GRIT-X: Inventing Tomorrow

A talk from UMBC’s GRIT-X series.

Podcast: Exploring the Next-Gen Therapeutics

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PODCAST · FINDING GENIUS

Exploring the Next-Gen Therapeutics

Dr. Rao on how to develop safe and effective medications.

FROM LAB TO MARKET

Our spin-off companies

SPIN-OFF · AERO-YIELD

Sensors & Artificial Intelligence LLC

Brings CAST’s breathable flask technology to market as Aero-Yield flasks.

Visit Aero-Yield →

SPIN-OFF · BIO-MOD

Equala Therapeutics

Takes CAST’s cell-free biomanufacturing toward on-demand medicines and medical countermeasures.

Visit Equala Therapeutics →

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Explore CAST

About us →

Mission, goals and history.

Team →

Faculty, staff and students.

Research →

Projects and technologies.

Contact →

Get in touch with the team.

Visit us. Technology Research Center (TRC), UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250. Directions & parking →

In Loving Memory of Dr. António (Tony) Moreira

CAST mourns the passing of Dr. António (Tony) Moreira. Tony was a former CBEE Department Chair and long-serving Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, as well as a mentor, colleague, and friend. He passed away on 21st May 2024 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. His death represents a profound loss for CAST, an institution he loved and dutifully served for over three decades. Behind his many accomplishments and accolades, we knew Tony as a man defined by humility, kindness, and an unwavering compassion for student success. Dr. Moreira’s caring spirit left an indelible imprint on all who knew him. As UMBC mourns this devastating loss, CBEE, CAST and the entire university community celebrate his enduring legacy.

Additional tributes for Dr. Moreira can be found online: UMBC · CBEE · ISPE · FCT

TRIBUTE VIDEO

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