Microbiome Abundance Profiling: Precision microbiome profiling for insights into human health & research

Project Information

Perseus MAP

Grant agreement ID: 190119214

DOI

10.3030/190119214

Project closed

EC signature date 17 June 2022

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 575 740,00

EU contribution

€ 2 500 000,00

Coordinated by

PERSEUS BIOMICS
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Perseus MAP (Microbiome Abundance Profiling: Precision microbiome profiling for insights into human health & research)

Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2023-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Perseus Biomics is developing ground breaking microbiome analysis services and devices, with the aim to spark a data driven revolution in the microbiome field. Generating high quality microbiome analysis will allow to uncover the dynamic microbiome nature, as it impacts our daily lives. Perseus Biomics will make such high quality microbiome analysis available to patients and researchers in the timeframe of hours, enabling action on the highly dynamic and personalized nature of the human microbiomes, with applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. At the core of this development within the EIC project lies the accelerated prototyping and industrialization of a custom microbiome analysis device and associated protocols and consumables, for global placement of the Perseus Biomics technology.

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

Perseus Biomics has entered a rapid design and prototyping cycle, with a first prototype of the Perseus Biomics microbiome analyzer available in the Perseus Biomics headquarters, undergoing benchmarking studies. Early in the project, a key decision was made to build on off-the shelf components for the construction of the prototype, and this has allowed us to reach a functional prototype well within the foreseen timeframe. This prototype includes automated sample handling capacities and automated sample analysis of multiple microbiomes in a single run. The associated consumables have gone through the first step of industrialization, and are available for use on the prototype microbiome analyser. This included stability studies and formulation of the components of the Perseus Biomics chemoenzymatic process, the DNA deposition consumables and client side microbiome sampling consumables. Bespoke remote monitoring of the device is implemented, supporting global placement and servicing of the devices.

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)

The rapid construction of the Microbiome DNA analyzer allows Perseus Biomics to accelerate our rapid microbiome analysis pipeline.
The prototype devices will allow placement of Perseus Biomics devices at selected users within the next years, supporting rapid internationalization and market validation.
The data generated on the devices will serve as key enable to support market entry by Perseus Biomics, as we enter a market that is heavily dominated by DNA sequencing players and their devices.