Objective
Liquid handling is an integral part of biological and medical assays. For many applications the method of choice is manual pipetting, which has significant limitations. Chiefly, it is user-time intensive and prone to sample handling issues (poor time accuracy and pipetting errors). While liquid handling robots do exist, they are expensive instruments, shared by many users and targeted for high-throughput applications. This leaves, in practice, most research and diagnostics without an automated solution. Here, we present an innovative solution to this problem: a compact and mobile automated liquid handling (AutoLiqHand) device for the individual user. This platform will enable to automate biomedical experiments and diagnostic routines which are currently done by hand. Moreover, its unique design enables it to run in a much larger range of biomedical settings than currently offered by existing solutions, and at the fraction of the cost. This platform was developed as part of the ERC-funded project SelfOrg and is routinely used in our lab for a variety of specialized and standard routines (e.g. drug treatment and immunostaining). The AutoLiqHand system mimics the main advantages of manual pipetting, namely simplicity and versatility, through a unique design of a fully integrated and microfluidic-based platform. In addition, when interfaced with well-established biomedical equipment such as ELISA readers or PCR machines, our platform can form a fully automated lab at significantly lower costs than commercially available devices. Thus, it has the potential to become a standard tool for researchers both in basic and early pharmaceutical/clinical research as well as for clinicians in point-of-care diagnostics. The aim of this Proof-of-Concept proposal is to adapt the AutoLiqHand platform to market needs and optimize it for production in order to make it available to the market.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2016-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80333 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.