Stemloop, Inc. launched in 2019 to translate early advances in cell-free and RNA synthetic biology into practical biosensing tools. The company originated from academic research at Northwestern University, where co-founders Khalid K. Alam, Ph.D., Prof. Julius B. Lucks and Prof. Michael C. Jewett, developed foundational innovations—such as the ROSALIND™ biosensing system—that would form the basis of Stemloop’s platform.

Stemloop’s work contributed to peer-reviewed publications, patent filings, and early prototypes demonstrating the potential of freeze-dried, programmable biosensors (built from DNA, RNA, and protein) for detecting contaminants in drinking water and other environmental contexts. A flagship application was the company’s highly sensitive lead-in-water test, designed to detect lead at levels relevant to public health and household safety.

We are grateful to the many team members, advisors, partners, collaborators, investors, and supporters of Stemloop over the years. We are especially thankful for the public research funding that enabled key stages of this work. Scientific inquiries regarding ROSALIND and related work are best directed to the corresponding authors on the original publications. Stemloop, Inc. concluded operations in 2025.