Discover DECIPHER
Enabling quantitative point-of-care diagnosis as a sustainable and powerful solution for pandemic threats
The DECIPHER consortium aims to revolutionize the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) point-of-care (POC) field by developing for the first time a true quantitative sample-to-result POC test based on a re-purposed glucose meter, supported by socio-economic system analysis and artificial intelligence (AI)-based models for efficient and effective implementation in the field.
The DECIPHER consortium will develop an innovative microfluidic-based DECIPHER patch capable of both biofluids (self-)sampling via hollow microneedles (HMNs) and immediate analysis of this sample on the very same patch in a completely self-powered manner, producing a quantitative result to be read out with a re-purposed glucose meter. Ebola and Lassa viruses are selected as relevant model systems because they are highly contagious with human-to-human transmission, high mortality rate and no vaccine/treatment available, thus having a meaningful potential for new pandemic threats.
To offer such a genuine sample-to-result quantitative POC solution, the DECIPHER value chain will, besides innovations in the field of high-throughput manufacturing processes based on novel photopolymers, microfluidics and HMNs, focus on (1) novel quantitative molecular bioassays, (2) analytical and clinical validation (both retrospective and prospective), (3) AI-based models, (4) socio-economic/systems analysis and (5) life cycle assessment. This true interdisciplinarity will be represented by the highly experienced DECIPHER consortium with partners from 3 universities, 5 research institutes, 2 companies and 1 non-governmental organization from 6 countries.
The DECIPHER value chain covers (1) investigation of high-throughput manufacturing processes with novel photopolymers and (2) innovations in the field of microfluidics, HMNs and bioassays to (3) deliver a DECIPHER patch for (4) its analytical and clinical validation next to (5) establishing AI-based models and (6) socio-economic/systems analysis to deliver a sustainable but powerful solution for current and future pandemic threats. DECIPHER patch refers to a disposable and self-powered microfluidic-based POC test capable of both self-sampling of capillary blood (through a HMN array) and immediate sample analysis on the very same patch, resulting in the quantitative result that can be read out with a portable glucose meter.
The DECIPHER project is complementary to another EU-funded project, namely FORTIFIEDx (101092049), where the aim is to develop for the first time a true sample-to-result POC test by making use of novel multifunctional biocompatible polymers and their (micro)structuring with mass fabrication technology.
