| Posted: March 23, 2010 |
P3SENS consortium launches project to revolutionise biosensors for Point of Care Diagnostics |
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(Nanowerk News) Expertise spanning Photonic Crystals to Proteomics is allowing the P3SENS consortium to develop technology that can satisfy the sensitivity, easy-of-use and cost requirements of an emergency-medicine diagnostic device. Cerebrovascular Disease, more commonly called “Stroke”, is challenging to identify and is a condition for which rapid diagnosis greatly influences efficacy of treatment.
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In 2007 the World Health Organisation estimated that 15 million people suffer Stroke worldwide each year, with 5 million dying from the conditions and another 5 million being left with a permanent disability, in Europe alone there are 650,000 Stroke deaths each year. Cerebrovascular Disease is currently the most common life threatening neurological event, and the leading cause of serious, long term disability. The early diagnosis and treatment of Stroke is desirable in order to prevent subsequent vascular events which increase the likelihood of permanent disability or death.
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Neurological conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose, relying on the interpretation of physical symptoms and subsequent brain imaging before positive identification of a condition is possible. The ability to rapidly detect the biochemical markers present within a patient’s blood as an aid to diagnosis is an attractive proposition, expected to significantly improve a patients chances of survival and subsequent quality of life.
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The P3SENS consortium has been formed to develop a biochemical detection device suitable for use in emergency-medicine, whether diagnosis is required in an ambulance, emergency room or as part of a rapid laboratory test in a hospital environment – it is anticipate that the combination of highly sensitive Photonic Crystals, a panel of clinically proven Bio-Recognition Elements and low-cost production technology will result in a novel biosensor system which can make a real difference to Stroke patients worldwide.
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The multidisciplinary approach to the P3SENS project is reflected by the consortium membership led by Multitel asbl in Belgium and including The Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science (MFA) in Hungary, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), The University of Geneva in Switzerland, The University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, Bayer Technology Services GmbH in Germany, and Stratophase Ltd in the United Kingdom.
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