Projects
A holistic approach in patient management and epidemic surveillance through convergence of diagnostic technologies, capacity building and stakeholder engagement (HOLICARE)
![Projektbild](http://forschdb.verwaltung.uni-freiburg.de/pix/forschdb/projekt_12007.png)
Project description
Poverty-Related Diseases in sub-Saharan Africa are a major threat in healthcare. Diagnostics performance, affordability, manufacturability and deployment are main challenges. HOLICARE aims to tackle them from a holistic perspective. We will use respiratory infections as a blueprint for our new approach due to their huge clinical and socioeconomic impact. We propose a 2-tiered, digitally interfaced diagnostic approach starting in the field using multiplexed lateral flow tests for triage, followed by a referral to hospital for detailed diagnosis on a POC-Instrument performing nucleic acid amplification (LAMP) for pathogen identification and immunoassays for host biomarker quantitation. Digital and manufacturing infrastructures will encompass these innovations to ensure future local product development. Quality controlled biobanks will be developed for executing reliable clinical studies. Human capital investment will be achieved through focused, high-level training activities. Adoption and implementation activities will enhance the deployment of the proposed diagnostic solutions. Our developments are scalable, adaptable and transferrable to other diseases and national (eco)systems.
Start/End of project
01.09.2022 until 31.08.2025
Project manager
Dr. Konstantinos Mitsakakis
Contact person
Dr. Konstantinos Mitsakakis
Phone:+49 761 203-73252
Email:Konstantinos.Mitsakakis@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Partners
1. KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN (KTH), Sweden
2. KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET (KI), Sweden
3. STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET (SU), Sweden
4. TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY (TU), UK
5. GLOBAL ACCESS DIAGNOSTICS (GADx), UK
6. MAC Clinical Research FINANCE Limited (MAC), UK
7. HAHN-SCHICKARD-GESELLSCHAFT FUER ANGEWANDTE FORSCHUNG E.V. (HS), Germany
8. MAST DIAGNOSTICA GMBH (MAST), Germany
9. iSTOC OY (iSTOC), Finland
10. BLUMORPHO SAS (BLU), France
11. MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (MUST), Uganda
12. Armauer Hansen Research Instiute (AHRI), Ethiopia
13. INSTITUT PASTEUR DE DAKAR (IPD), Senegal
14. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY (MU), Uganda
Keywords
Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Respiratory Tract Infections, Isothermal amplification, Bead-based immunoassays, Lateral Flow Tests, Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Sub-Saharan Africa