Objective The overall objective of this proposal is to develop a fast and cost-effective diagnostic tool for bacterial meningitis, i.e. the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid.Kits, consisting of disposable sensing chips and separate detector units, will be developed. The tool shall be low priced and easy to use so that health workers with limited analytical training can employ the kits in the fieldThe tool shall lead to a faster diagnosis, speeding up a targeted antibiotics treatment, thus improving the survival chances of the patient, while facilitating the identification of the infection source and the isolation of individuals, in order to halt the epidemicsThe main project novelty is the use of aptamer receptors. Aptamers have several advantages over conventional antibodies e.g. significantly lower price, fast development and increased stability.Three sensor technologies will be developed aiming to obtain at least one commercial product by the end of the project. All technologies share the same aptamers and surface activation of the active area.The project success depends on a tight and well-planned collaboration between partners. Partner 1 will develop the S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis aptamers, and will provide already available micro-organism specific aptamers for parallel sensor development.The near-market technology is evanescent fluorescence, already commercialised by Partner 2. Adaptation of the aptamers and of the Eva-Sensor Chip, will be done and validated in collaboration with Partners 1 & 3.Partner 1 will develop sensors based on microelectromechanical systems and liquid crystals. Either of these–acoustic and volumetric– technologies have, with limited commercial success, been used with molecular targets. Compared hereto targeting micro-organisms generate amplified signals. Partner 3 will design the fluidic chip incorporating the sensor. The resulting system will be commercialised by Partners 2 & 3 Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibioticsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringliquid crystals Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH.2012.2.3.0-1 - Diagnostics for infectious diseases in humans Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2012-INNOVATION-2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID Address Calle ramiro de maeztu 7 edificio rectorado 28040 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Gonzalo León (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all DAVOS DIAGNOSTICS AG Switzerland EU contribution € 890 631,40 Address Obere strasse 22 7270 Davos platz See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Max Wiki (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data JONSMAN INNOVATION APS Denmark EU contribution € 183 208,40 Address Hovedvejen 1d 3330 Gorlose See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Nordsjælland Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jacques Jonsman (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data BIOAPTER SOCIEDAD LIMITADA Participation ended Spain EU contribution € 38 085,17 Address Calle formentera edificio las rozas local 5 3 28230 Las rozas madrid See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Javier Vinós (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Other funding No data
