Meet the Team

Joseph Hardie, Ph.D.

Dr. Joseph Hardie is a visionary biomedical engineer and entrepreneur with a passion for bringing cutting‑edge diagnostics to the point of care. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard-affiliated Brigham & Women’s Hospital, he led pioneering work in AI‑enabled, smartphone‑integrated microfluidics for rapid pathogen and biomarker detection.

His scholarly contributions are extensive and impactful:

Nature Biomedical Engineering (2025) introduces an ultrasensitive luminescence cascade sensor for viral pathogens.

Science Advances article (2025) describing a point-of-care assay that reduces diagnostic disparities in Hepatitis C.

Breakthrough research demonstrating deep-learning–assisted detection of fentanyl with a microchip and smartphone imaging.

Joseph’s work bridges laboratory innovation and real-world deployment—his vision for VISTA is built on years of creating ultra-sensitive, miniaturized diagnostic tools designed to work anywhere, from rural clinics to home taps.

He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry through rigorous, interdisciplinary research focused on nanoparticle therapeutics, immunomodulation, and biosensor development. Early in his career, he helped develop siRNA-based chemotherapeutics and nanoparticle immunotherapies, honing a skill set that combines molecular science with practical engineering.

As founder, Joseph leads with unwavering dedication to health equity, environmental safety, and scientific innovation that doesn’t stay on the shelf. At Effervescence Diagnostics, he’s turning his breakthrough research into a global diagnostic infrastructure—because at the point of care, the point is you. (LinkedIn)

Herbert Blassengale IV

Herbert Blassengale IV leads regulatory strategy, manufacturing readiness, and federal partnerships to bring the VISTA diagnostic platform into operational use. VISTA is a rugged, AI-driven diagnostic tool designed to deliver lab-grade results without laboratory infrastructure.

Herbert previously served as lead statistician for the USDA SNAP program, managing federal analytics across all U.S. states and territories. He later became Chief Compliance Officer for a hedge fund after working in legal roles focused on investment fund regulation. There, he advised on federal compliance and contributed to early digital asset policy-experience he now applies to AI oversight, data integrity, and procurement strategy for medical diagnostics.

At Effervescence, he leads product scale-up and defines use-case priorities for VISTA, aligning platform capabilities with demands in public health, field testing, and environmental monitoring. His work focuses on ensuring scalable, compliant diagnostics that perform reliably under field and federal constraints.

Herbert holds a J.D. from Fordham Law and dual B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Genetics from Clemson University. His Peace Corps service in Morocco continues to shape his leadership style: solve practical problems, stay mission-focused, and build systems that work when and where they're needed most. (LinkedIn)

Danielle Hardie

Danielle Hardie, B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and HTL(ASCP) certified, is a core team member at Effervescence Dx. With a strong foundation in molecular biology and histotechnology, Danielle supports the company’s early-stage growth by securing grant funding, cultivating partnerships, and advising on scientific and regulatory strategy.

At this stage of development, roles are fluid, and Danielle thrives in that flexibility. Whether it’s contributing technical expertise, helping structure operational plans, or connecting with key stakeholders, she’s focused on doing what it takes to bring VISTA, Effervescence’s flagship diagnostic platform, to market.

Rooted in a career that blends bench science with community service, Danielle brings both rigor and heart to her work. She’s passionate about expanding access to diagnostics that are intuitive, effective, and designed with real-world users in mind. (LinkedIn)

Danielle Hardie

Danielle Hardie, B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and HTL(ASCP) certified, is a core team member at Effervescence Dx. With a strong foundation in molecular biology and histotechnology, Danielle supports the company’s early-stage growth by securing grant funding, cultivating partnerships, and advising on scientific and regulatory strategy.

At this stage of development, roles are fluid, and Danielle thrives in that flexibility. Whether it’s contributing technical expertise, helping structure operational plans, or connecting with key stakeholders, she’s focused on doing what it takes to bring VISTA, Effervescence’s flagship diagnostic platform, to market.

Rooted in a career that blends bench science with community service, Danielle brings both rigor and heart to her work. She’s passionate about expanding access to diagnostics that are intuitive, effective, and designed with real-world users in mind. (LinkedIn)