Project description
Improved diagnostics could shed more light on vitamin D deficiency
Mounting evidence now supports important roles of vitamin D in extraskeletal tissues and how vitamin D inadequacy can impact conditions ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease. In addition, the amounts required for health are likely higher than previously thought. At the same time, vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is increasing. Although estimates vary, evidence suggests that more than one billion people globally (more than 10 % of the population) are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. OSAvit-D is developing a cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic device for widespread screening during outpatient visits and in the field. This will improve and enable early detection and treatment of the potentially harmful and increasingly prevalent vitamin D deficiency.
Objective
OSASEN is a young technological SME focused on the development of novel biosensors for healthcare (Point of Care-PoC devices), addressing priority needs in healthcare diagnostics and/or therapies monitoring for the benefit of patients, providing affordable systems with unique features that meet specific well identified requirements in healthcare. OSASEN has recently identified a healthcare need in relation with prevention, treatment and monitoring of Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency. VitD (1,25-DihydroxyvitaminD) is considered a multipurpose steroid hormone that in human plays an essential role in multiple aspects, being its primary role to participate in the regulation of metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. VitD deficiency is evident throughout the European population at a prevalence of 13% (FP7-613977-ODIN project), a rate that is a matter of concern. People over 50 have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency with consequent bone loss risk leading to osteoporosis and fractures. Emerging evidence has shown that VitD administration improves muscle performance and reduces falls in VitD deficient older adults. Other populations of higher risk for VitD deficiency are children, pregnant and lactating women and patients with digestive disorders, among others. VitD deficiency is also associated with increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, infections, and autoimmune diseases. For example, several studies have shown that VitD levels are lower in Multiple Sclerosis patients, and monitoring and VitD supplementation to them is highly recommended. In this context, OSASEN has identified the opportunity to develop a novel PoC device for the quantification of VitD in blood or urine based on lateral flow (LF) immunoassay, combined with electrochemical detection on screen printed electrodes (SPEs). For doing so, it is necessary to incorporate an expert in LF immunoassays and antibody selection, conjugation, handling & stabilization to OSASEN’s team.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologymultiple sclerosis
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyautoimmune diseases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
48160 DERIO
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.