As science is part of our DNA, we have never lost contact with universities and foundations in order to continue to realise innovative and sustainable projects together. Fell free to take a look at our current and past projects.
ID_PoC – Flexible, rapid Point-of-Care test for the diagnosis of respiratory pathogens
Country
Germany
Funding authority
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding period
Jul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022
Description
The aim of the joint project is to extend the CYCLE® Dx technology to the analysis of acute respiratory viral pathogens. Initially, a SARS-CoV-2 PoC test will be developed, followed by the extension of the test to a broad respiratory infectious disease panel for other important seasonal respiratory pathogens (influenza A, influenza B, RSV).
CYCLE® – True Point of Care Diagnostics
Country
Bavaria, Germany
Funding authority
Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi)
Funding period
Aug 1, 2020 – Mar 31, 2021
Description
CYCLE® – True Point of Care Diagnostics
Molecular Tuberculosis Diagnostics at the Point-of-Care (MDxTB)
Country
Germany
Funding authority
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding period
Nov 1, 2019 – Jun 30, 2021
Description
In the joint project “MDxTB”, a technological approach for automated molecular diagnostic point-of-care (PoC) analysis is to be developed into a procedure that enables both rapid pathogen identification and a molecular genetic assessment of important antibiotic resistances directly from patient material, i.e. without prior cultivation of the pathogen. In addition to a high test performance, the procedure to be developed is to be automated as far as possible and geared towards low costs in order to enable new strategies for tuberculosis diagnostics and therapy, especially in structurally weak regions. FRIZ Biochem’s CYCLE® technology allows complex diagnostic questions to be answered quickly and on-site and can be used by personnel who are largely untrained in laboratory medicine. The core objective of the “MDxTB” project is to adapt the technology to the “ASSURED” criteria of the WHO: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment-free, Delivered to those who need it. The project is divided into the following work areas: (I) Development of a simple, cost-effective, CYCLE®-compatible preanalytics for sputum samples, (II) Development of a CYCLE®-compatible assay for the detection of TB and MDR-TB-defining resistances, and (III) Re-engineering of the technology to ensure the ASSURED criteria, especially with regard to cost and user-friendliness.
Antibio: Semiconductor-based molecular diagnostic multiplex platform for the identification of (multi-) resistant pathogens at the point-of-care (icMDx).
Country
Germany
Funding authority
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding period
Sep 1, 2017 – Nov 30, 2019
Description
Co-operative project together with Schumacher Elektromechanik GmbH, Munich and University of Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases Medical Microbiology and Hygiene. In this project CYCLE® platform technology will be extended to a universally applicable technology to realise complex diagnostic analyses demanded for e.g. the detection of multi-resistant gram negative pathogens (MRGN). To this end integrated electrical detection will be upgraded to CMOS based microelectrode arrays capable of analysing up to 100 different sequence parameters. Concomitantly, a multiplex PCR assay for MRGN identification and resistance testing will be established and transferred to CYCLE® technology.
Suitability of Low Cost Nucleic Acid Detection Devices to Meet Resource Poor Setting Requirements
Using a blind panel challenge, this grant will assess the potential for novel nucleic acid detection technologies as “back-end” to nucleic acid extraction methods to meet pricing & performance requirements for Low and Middle Income Countries (< $5 USD/test ex-works).
KMU-innovativ-18: Molecular diagnostics Point-of-Care System capable of analysing multiple biomarkers at central laboratory quality in order to address vital health care issues such as MDR testing in general or Methycilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) testing in particular.
Country
Germany
Funding authority
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding period
Nov 1, 2016 – Jan 31, 2018
Description
DNA analyses are based on PCR, a highly common yet laborious method which amplifies a DNA sequence from a single copy to millions. PCR has become vital in genomic applications like infectious disease diagnosis. Current cutting-edge PCR technologies are restricted to central laboratories. They are associated with significant experts’ hands-on work as well as special laboratory equipment and are limited to only few parameters/test. CYCLE® platform is built around a disposable lab-on-a-chip cartridge with integrated semiconductor-based microarrays (CMOS sensor) for the fully automated, rapid and sensitive detection of a broad range and number of biomarkers (> 100). The cartridge contains all necessary chemicals (buffer, lyophilised agents for lysis and PCR) and is ready to use. Components of mature “economics of scale industries” (semiconductor, injection moulding) combined with a maximum of simplification on design/process facilitate lab-on-a-chip manufacturing at very low cost. Moreover, operating the system is most simple with a device only providing power, temperature, user interface and data display/storage. Plugging the cartridge onto the swab/sample collection tube, and both into the processor is the only manual handling necessary. The remaining workflow is processed automatically.
Automated electrochemical for the detection of miRNA und SNPs (eDx)
Country
Germany
Funding authority
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding period
Feb 1, 2016 – Jan 31, 2018
Description
Co-operative project together with Schumacher Elektromechanik GmbH, Munich and Ruhr-University Bochum Heidelberg, Department of Analytical Chemistry – Elektroanalytics & Sensorics. It is the goal of this project to establish the basis for a highly specific and – sensitive „closed-tube“-system to electrically detect Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).
