Project description
Detection device for airborne pathogens in hospitals
Hospitals pose a great risk for contracting infections often caused by more virulent or drug-resistant microorganisms. Preventing the spread requires an in-depth understanding of the transmission route of the pathogens. The EU-funded VirAIR project aims to bring to the clinic the first optomechanical device for the detection and identification of viruses in air and liquid samples. Airborne organisms are particularly dangerous as they can be directly inhaled or indirectly transmitted to patients through surfaces. Preliminary results are very promising, and in light of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the VirAIR device may serve as an alert system for preventative medicine in hospital units.
Objective
Hospital acquired infections have been recognised as a healthcare associated risk for patients for at least a hundred years. The hospital environment may be contaminated with various environmental pathogens and with more virulent organisms. Airborne organisms can be inhaled, fall directly onto wounds or instruments or survive on surfaces and then be indirectly transmitted to patients. During the recent pandemic related to SARS-COV-2 and the Covid-19 disease, we have been aware that understanding the transmission routes is critical to stop the virus spread. In the framework of FET-PROACT-VIRUSCAN-731868 an optonanomechanical system for spectrometry of viruses from liquid samples is under development, bringing optomechanical devices to a diagnostic clinical application for the first time. IMN-CSIC has already registered two patents related to its work in the framework of VIRUSCAN, demonstrating the capability to identify unique intrinsic mechanical modes of pathogens and setting the adequate method to extract several parameters from the devices for their unequivocal identification. With the aim to contribute to minimize as much as possible the impact the current COVID-19 pandemic is having around the world, we decided to test the technology with inorganic nanoparticles present in the air environment. Results demonstrate that our mechano-optic system and method of analysis, also work for the identification and detection of viruses in air samples, being the aim of VirAIR to demonstrate and exploit its applicability for detecting SARS-COV-2 viral particles from the air environment as an early alert system of much interest for the preventive medicine units at hospitals. Such aim is out of the framework of VIRUSCAN, which is focused only on diagnostic applications and liquid samples. Thus, VirAIR main objective is to turn results from VIRUSCAN project into genuine societal and economic innovations, much needed now to contribute to stop the current COVID-19 pandemic spread.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology pandemics
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases viral diseases RNA viruses coronaviruses
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
CSA - Coordination and support action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28006 Madrid
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.