Objective Influenza is an extremely contagious infection that is caused by distinct virus types and subtypes. Early diagnosis is crucial for disease treatment and control as it reduces the inappropriate use of antibiotics and provides the indication for antiviral therapy. Rapid diagnosis is also a key component of surveillance activity. This requires the ability to detect and accurately diagnose infection at or close to the source/outbreak with minimum delay, a tactic consistent with the global experience during the SARS epidemic in 2003. This experience underlines the need for specific, sensitive point-of-care testing capable of discriminating between influenza subtypes. None of the available influenza diagnostic assays combines a point-of-care format with the multiplex capability to identify a large repertoire of human and animal viruses. This project exploits the knowledge and the expertise of the partners to convert microarray assays, that have a powerful multiplex capability but are laborious, complex and expensive to perform, into a simple, robust and affordable automated point-of-care system for the diagnosis of influenza. The system will utilize three components: 1) a microarray immunoassay that distinguishes influenza A and B virus as well as A subtypes; 2) an innovative self-contained disposable lateral-flow device that allows the addition of specimens and reagents in a temporally-controlled manner; 3) a robust automated processing reading instrument of novel conception that employs a low cost, high performance optical module. This project will provide small laboratories, health offices, veterinary clinics and outposts (airports) with the diagnostic capability of major research institutions and reference centres, thus providing better care for patients and most importantly, facilitating the implementation of surveillance activities and guiding response measures that are being built to face a possible influenza pandemic caused by a highly virulent virus. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesinfluenzamedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses Keywords Bioinformatics Genomics Influenza Micro-array Point-of-care Proteomics Serodiagnosis Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH-2007-2.3.3-4 - Innovative point-of-care diagnostic tests for influenza Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2007-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-TP - Collaborative Project targeted to a special group (such as SMEs) Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA EU contribution € 946 798,30 Address PIAZZA DELL UNIVERSITA 1 06123 Perugia Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Umbria Perugia Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ennio Becchetti (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY HPA Participation ended United Kingdom EU contribution € 215 993,17 Address BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD 151 SW1W 9SZ London See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact David Conway (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA Italy EU contribution € 308 200,00 Address Viale Regina Elena 299 00161 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Rosa Maria Martoccia (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data PX'Therapeutics France EU contribution € 193 125,00 Address 15, rue des Martyrs 38027 GRENOBLE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Tristan Rousselle (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MICROTEST MATRICES LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 822 676,53 Address EXHIBITION ROAD, BESSEMER BUILDING SW7 2AZ LONDON See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Clelia Supparo (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SEAC Italy EU contribution € 289 200,00 Address Via de Prato 74 50041 CALENZANO- FIRENZE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Angelo Manzoni (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data