2D-BioPAD is the name of a new Horizon Europe project that was recently launched. With a nearly €6 million budget, 2D-BioPAD will develop a diagnostic system for early Alzheimer's disease detection. This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funded by the European Union, officially commenced on October 2023 and will go on for 48 months.
2D-BioPAD is developing a fast, reliable, cost-effective and digitally enabled point-of-care in vitro diagnostic system for early Alzheimer's disease detection. The 2D-BioPAD system will make use of cutting-edge 2D materials (i.e., graphene), nanomaterials and aptamers, to enhance biocompatibility, sensitivity and specificity for the simultaneous detection of up to five Alzheimer’s biomarkers in blood. The device will be accompanied by a user-friendly mobile app that will give healthcare professionals real-time access to quantified results in primary healthcare settings. Along the way, artificial intelligence will be used to optimize the design and implementation of the 2D-BioPAD system.
Two clinical pilot studies will be conducted in three European clinical centers, in Germany, Greece and Finland, offering the necessary evidence for technical and clinical validation. Regulatory and ethical considerations will be included in the 2D-BioPAD’s design to allow for faster and more widespread adoption.
The 2D-BioPAD consortium, under the leadership of CATRIN-RCPTM at Palacky University Olomouc, is composed of 11 partners across 8 European countries: Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Spain. The consortium members include: Palacky University Olomouc (UP), Q-Plan International, Catalan Institute of Science and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Grapheal, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Novaptech, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD), Envia, Central Institute of Mental Health in Manheim (ZI), and University College Dublin/National University Of Ireland (NUID UCD - CeADAR).
Being one of the core governing members of the Graphene Flagship Initiative, 2D-BioPAD is part of a large network of academic and industrial stakeholders, contributing to the advancement of Europe’s strategic autonomy in technologies that rely on graphene and other 2D materials.