Descripción del proyecto
Una tecnología de parches cutáneos para diagnosticar la fibrosis quística
La fibrosis quística es una enfermedad genética que afecta principalmente a los pulmones, pero que también tiene efectos sobre el páncreas, los riñones, el hígado y los intestinos. Las complicaciones a largo plazo incluyen infecciones pulmonares frecuentes, infecciones cutáneas, crecimiento insuficiente y, en algunos casos, infertilidad masculina. Está vinculada a mutaciones en la proteína reguladora transmembrana que controla el sistema exocrino de producción de saliva, sudor, lágrimas y mocos. En la actualidad, la prueba de sudor es estándar de oro establecido para la confirmación de la enfermedad, pero requiere el uso de un procedimiento analítico sofisticado que se realiza en unidades médicas especializadas. En el marco de este proyecto financiado con fondos europeos, los investigadores evaluarán la validación técnica de una prueba de sudor basada en parches fácil de usar para un diagnóstico temprano eficiente en recién nacidos que se pueda usar en centros de atención primaria. Después de la validación técnica en voluntarios sanos y con la enfermedad, el equipo desarrollará estrategias para la comercialización y el futuro desarrollo del producto.
Objetivo
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic autosomal recessive disease, which induces mutations on a conductance transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR) that controls the exocrine system responsible or producing saliva, sweat, tears and mucus. The protein malfunction affects severely the lungs and digestive system. Patients with CF present also higher chloride contents in sweat than healthy subjects, so chloride testing in sweat has become the gold standard test for CF confirmation after new-born screening blood tests. However, tests on new-borns are not 100% sensitive and not universally stablished along European territory, which leads to patients with a late diagnostic that decreases their life quality and expectancy. The ‘sweat test’ requires either sophisticated analytical procedures or costly commercial analyzers and consumables that restrict the availability of the test to few specialized units scattered along the European territory.
POWER-PATCH aims to evolve and promote the value of a novel, market disruptive patch that enables an affordable and easy-to-use sweat test for the screening of cystic fibrosis. The patch has been conceived to be applied on the forearm of the patient and yield a “positive” result in case of an abnormal conductivity level of sweat is detected. It combines the low cost and easy handling of paper that is associated with the filter paper-based diagnosis technique and at the same time allows obtaining a digital response with no further handling or treatment of the sample. Moreover, as it already contains a “battery sensor”, sweat collection and testing does not require additional equipment and can be easily taken to any clinical environment. Within this ERC PoC project, we aim to achieve (i) Technical validation and Clinical testing in a specialized CF unit and (ii) a business proposition in the form of a Business Plan containing strategies for commercialization, fundraising, IP management and future product development.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutation
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringmedical laboratory technologylaboratory samples analysis
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotInstitución de acogida
28006 Madrid
España