Descripción del proyecto
Una herramienta revolucionaria de diagnóstico inmediato para la detección del coronavirus
La pandemia de la COVID-19 ha puesto de manifiesto la falta de preparación de los gobiernos, las entidades públicas y las comunidades para abordar y gestionar una crisis sanitaria de este tipo. La detección precoz del patógeno es fundamental en muchas enfermedades infecciosas, ya que permite adoptar las medidas de contención adecuadas para frenar su propagación. El objetivo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos CoNVat es desarrollar un método inmediato de biodetección para la identificación precoz, rápida y específica de nuevos coronavirus a partir de una muestra del paciente. La tecnología desarrollada será capaz de diferenciar entre las diversas cepas víricas y podrá emplearse en entornos descentralizados para mejorar el diagnóstico temprano, la vigilancia y el tratamiento clínico de los pacientes.
Objetivo
The recent outbreak in China caused by the emerging nCoV virus is challenging the level of global readiness from governments, public organizations and community to face and manage both its social and health consequences. Once the emergence is recognized and identified, it is crucial to initiate the necessary measures to prevent the spread. This involves therapeutics, vaccines, and devising efficient, fast, readily accessible diagnostics methods that specifically confirm the presence of the virus. Early detection can allow the rapid implementation of containment measures, which are the key to reduce the risk of amplification. The aim of CoNVat is to implement a Point-of-care label free biosensor for the direct, fast and specific identification of nCoV in decentralized settings to improve its early diagnosis and the clinical management of patients. The approach employs an already developed technology based on nanophotonic bimodal waveguide (BiMW) interferometers capable of providing real time, highly sensitive detections assays in short sample turnaround times. We propose two different strategies: (i) the development of a fast antigen-based diagnostic test for the specific detection of the intact virus in patient’s samples such as respiratory specimens and non-respiratory fluids (serum, urine…) to be deployed to clinical settings for initial screening and (ii) development of a multiplexed molecular test, PCR-free, for the reliable identification of nCoV, being possible to differentiate the type and strain of coronavirus form other related or more common respiratory viruses. This latter strategy will provide a disruptive diagnostic tool not only from a clinical perspective to improve patient’s outcome but also for surveillance, to study and understand possible transmission routes of this virus by analysing samples from animal reservoirs. Final prototype validation will demonstrate the potential of this approach for the management of future infectious outbreaks.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
H2020-SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
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