During the first 18 months of the project, we worked towards the achievement of all goals described in the original proposal for the set period. In WP1 (BIOPIX), the next generation of the improved PEBBLE device was produced, together with an industrial grade-manufactured pocket size device (Pixl). Regarding WP2 (FORTH), we selected the genomic regions and worked on the primers design for the following targets: SARS-CoV-2, MERS, West Nile, Zika and Dengue using an in-house developed pipeline tool; we also finalized the Universal primer mix for three samples (swab, urine, saliva) while one is on-going (plasma) and demonstrated the performance of three optimized assays (pan-Corona, Zika and avian influenza) in the lab, while three, at M18 were still on-going (Influenza, West Nile and Dengue). In WP3 (UCLH), progress reported by all clinical partners concerns the identification of samples to be tested at the next stage, recruitment of evaluation sites and submission of ethical forms for approval by the relevant committees. Within WP4, PKNM has provided and accomplished all relevant tasks, which are related to the regulatory design and implementation canvas of the products to be developed under this project. During that period, appropriate Regulatory guidance along with relevant QMS support was provided to all relevant partners, as per EU Regulation (2017/746). In WP5 (FORTH), we optimized an extraction-free assay for the detection of West Nile virus in mosquito samples, for testing with real samples both in the lab and the field. WP6 has implemented and made progress in analyzing two surveys, one with 3300 general public respondents in three countries and the second with 662 health workers in Norway. WP6 teams have also conducted qualitative interviews among health care workers in France, with additional ones planned in Norway. Teams have also made considerable progress in interviewing marginalized populations’ (older adults, migrants) priorities for POC diagnostics and pandemic preparedness WP7 (HBIO) reports considerable progress in the dissemination and communication of the project results through the website, the social media strategy and the active participation in 14 relevant events and conferences across Europe. In WP8 (BIOPIX), the strategy for rapid production and distribution of the technologies to be developed within UniHealth is presented, together with a plan for IP management including freedom-to-operate. Finally, within WP9 (FORTH), actions related to the management of the project results and the data produced are presented, including the first report of the Data Management Plan.
