Novel Diagnostic Assay Platform to Fasten Response Time to Emerging Pandemic Situations

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 07 Feb 2023

Image: A collaborative project aims to deliver an innovative diagnostic platform for fast pandemic responsiveness (Photo courtesy of Clickmer)

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a health crisis that highlighted severe fragilities within the healthcare sector, including lack of preparedness. In order to reduce vulnerability to future pandemics, there is a need for a large-scale, coordinated and comprehensive health response. Now, a new project aims to establish a diagnostic assay platform that can enable a faster response time during emerging pandemics.

A collaboration project, InfektoFlex, launched by Clickmer Systems (Manchester, UK) and Fraunhofer IMS (Duisburg, Germany) has received a EURO 1.1 million grant to develop an innovative diagnostic platform for fast pandemic responsiveness. The project which is due to commence in spring 2023 aims to establish a novel diagnostic assay platform that can enable a fast response time towards emerging pandemic situations. In the collaboration, Clickmers will be being combined with optical nanosensors, to develop a diagnostic assay platform with superior sensitivity and specificity having a faster response time for the detection of societal relevant emerging pathogens. Clickmers are synthetic antibody analogues that can bind to targets with high specificity and affinity. Optical nanosensors, which are fluorescent in near infrared light, qualify for low signal-to-noise ratio. Upon binding of a pathogen to the detection structure, the fluorescence of the nanosensor changes, thereby enabling measurement of the binding events.

“We are excited to launch the project InfektoFlex with Fraunhofer IMS. The platform will provide a more cost-efficient and time-saving solution, with a reduction in development costs through a more sustainable process compared to the commonly used ELISA assay systems (which require the usage of animal-derived antibodies),” said Dr. Ian Kavanagh, COO of APIS Assay Technologies. “Clickmer Systems will provide an adaptive and innovative diagnostic platform for pandemic responsiveness with higher reproducibility.”

Related Links:
Clickmer Systems
Fraunhofer IMS