Last Updated: 10/12/2019

Disc-shaped point-of-care platform for infectious disease diagnosis (DiscoGnosis)

Objectives

The project aims to develop a fully-automated, user-friendly diagnostic platform, based on integration/convergence of micro, nano, biotechnologies at low production cost, for quick, reliable, accurate, cost-efficient diagnosis at the point-of-need.

This objective will be achieved through:

  1. Multi-pathogen detection: parasites, viruses, bacteria
  2. Combined detection of protein and DNA
  3. Full integration in a centrifugal microfluidic platform (LabDisk cartridge and portable device)
  4. Scalable, polymer foil-based production technology
  5. Isothermal real-time amplification
  6. Point-of-care platform
  7. Quality control
  8. Demonstration in Africa with clinical samples
Principal Investigators / Focal Persons

Konstantinos Mitsakakis

Rationale and Abstract

Malaria is one of the most crucial health threats. An estimated 220 million people get infected every year; 650.000 cases lead to death, 20% of which are within small children. The disease is still on advance mainly in Africa and other tropical developing countries with acute fever being the only symptom. In these regions, fever can also result from Salmonella Typhi/Paratyphi bacteria or dengue and chikungunya viruses, all of which, like malaria, are transmitted by mosquitos. Clinical surveys have shown that 30 to 40% of the patients are falsely treated for malaria without even being infected by it, due to inaccurate diagnosis. It is, therefore, vital to establish accurate diagnostic tools to distinguish these diseases and apply the appropriate therapy.

Date

Nov 2012 — Apr 2016

Total Project Funding

$4.95M

Funding Details
European Commission, Belgium

$3.79M
Grant agreement ID: 318408 FP7-ICT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Information and Communication Technologies
Country / Project Site(s)

Germany

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