The European Patent Office Announces Boston-based Microbiologists Kim Lewis and Slava S. Epstein as European Inventor Award 2021 Finalists Share Article Northeastern University microbiologists nominated for iChip device, which enables the growth of previously ‘unculturable’ single microbe cells and fosters the discovery of new drugs capable of tackling ‘superbugs’ immune to existing antibiotics. Epstein and Lewis have created a tool that enables scientists to access and cultivate microorganisms that were not available before. This could help researchers find new antibiotics, tackle drug resistance, and ultimately save lives. MUNICH (PRWEB) May 04, 2021 The European Patent Office (EPO) today announces that Northeastern University microbiologists Kim Lewis and Slava S. Epstein have been nominated as finalists in the “Non-EPO countries” category of the European Inventor Award 2021. They have developed a device that enables scientists to separate and incubate single strains of bacteria in their natural environment. Their invention, the iChip – a thumb-sized plastic chip with miniscule holes – allows a greater number and variety of microorganisms to be grown in laboratories, solving a longstanding problem in microbiology.