Transforming Molecular Diagnostics through NanoTechnology

Project Information

UbiHealth

Grant agreement ID: 101188322

DOI

10.3030/101188322

EC signature date 20 November 2024

Start date 1 December 2024

End date 30 November 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 499 999,00

Coordinated by

ALTRATECH LIMITED
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UbiHealth (Transforming Molecular Diagnostics through NanoTechnology)

Reporting period: 2024-12-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Project Summary
Altratech introduce a completely new method of molecular detection. This is a first-of-kind, multianalyte DNA, RNA, antibody and antigen diagnostic. It delivers concurrent serology and nucleic acid detection. The technology is compliant with the challenging demands of WHO REASSURED criteria, especially in providing a commercially viable diagnostic tool for the developing world.
The innovation is in the process of being productised by our sub-contractor The Cambridge Design Partnership (UK) into a fully automated, portable, stand-alone instrument for Point of Care and Point of Need. It will not require medically qualified personnel to operate. This innovation provides substantial advantages over existing, more complex, expensive and less portable Point of Care systems for the management of viral infections such as HIV, Hepatitis, Influenza, Malaria, Meningitis, Shingles, Dengue Fever, HPV, EBV-related cancers, and many more.
The Value Proposition to our target customers, who will be the world’s leading diagnostic companies, is the ability to licence a novel patent protected product, with a wider range of market applications compared to their current diagnostic products. This will facilitate their entry into new markets and increase gross margins in existing markets. This innovation will impact the €48B Diagnostics industry.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

•Isothermal (Recombinase Polymerase Amplification) protocol developed, detecting down to 1000 copies/mL from whole blood, and four other concentrations from whole blood and plasma.
•A filtration system provided a practical method of plasma separation and using this workflow, reliably detected HIV RNA at 1,000 copies/mL on the Altratech CMOS chip cartridge.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Altratech Detection Cartridge showed greater sensitivity than gold-standard optical detection at very low copy numbers (≥ 50 copies/mL).