Discover FORTIFIEDx
Multifunctional microfluidic patch
for infectious diseases diagnosis
The FORTIFIEDx project aims to revolutionize the point-of-care in vitro diagnostic (POC IVD) field by making use of novel multifunctional biocompatible polymers and their (micro)structuring with mass fabrication technology to develop for the first time a true sample-to-result POC test.
In vitro diagnostic (IVD) technologies have revolutionized healthcare, yet remain confined to the laboratories. As witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, this traditional centralized approach was not sufficient to prevent and manage viral outbreak because it massively failed to deliver quick and cost-effective diagnosis. The pandemic further emphasized the growing need to urgently bring lab-quality diagnosis to the hands of end users (i.e. point-of-care, POC).
The FORTIFIEDx consortium will develop a FORTIFIEDx microfluidic-based patch capable of both biofluids (self-)sampling via hollow microneedles (HMN) and immediate analysis of this sample on the very same patch in a completely self-powered manner. Two unmet clinical needs, posing epidemic/pandemic threats to both the developed and developing world, are selected:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
Simultaneous diagnosis of HIV and Syphilis will enable timely diagnosis of patients not able to reach centralized settings due to stigma or financial difficulties.
Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF)
Detection of Ebola and Lassa viruses will enable battling their highly contagious and deadly outbreaks.
FORTIFIEDx value chain
We reviewed our recent progress and explored new ideas to move forward. It’s always motivating to see how much we can achieve when we come together and share insights!
A big thank you to Conor O'Mahony and his team at Tyndall National Institute for flawlessly coordinating the event and for giving us a glimpse into the cutting-edge research happening in your labs.
Looking forward to the next steps and continuing to work alongside this fantastic team 💡
#FORTIFIEDx #Innovation #HealthTech #Diagnostics #Teamwork #FutureForward
As one of the collaborating projects, we had the opportunity to present our work with a dedicated presentation highlighting our approach and goals. We also showcased a project poster detailing the different work packages we’re tackling. In addition, several research posters from the Lammertyn lab, JOANNEUM RESEARCH MATERIALS and the Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde in Antwerpen demonstrated the exciting technological progress we’ve made so far on the road to our final product. The event sparked meaningful conversations around point-of-care diagnostics, pandemic preparedness, pharmaceutical countermeasures, and collaboration across disciplines.
A big thank you to Leuven One Health and PCR-4-ALL for organizing this interesting, multidisciplinary event! We’re looking forward to continued collaboration and building towards a more prepared and responsive healthcare network in the future💡
#FORTIFIEDx #PrepareEU #PandemicPreparedness #Innovation #HealthTech #Collaboration #FutureForward
