NGM Final Event – Abstracts

Curious what to expect from our final dissemination event at Health Tech Hub Styria? Here you can find abstracts for all our talks on 26 March 2025.

11:30-12:00 KEYNOTE 

• Microfluidics: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Small-Scale Solutions (Keynote lecture from Iene Rutten, Biosensors group – Lammertyn lab, Department of Biosystems – KU Leuven)

Abstract

14:00 -18:00 The Next Generation of Microfluidics: linking expertise across Europe coordinated in Austria 

• Self-contained LoC platform for multiplexed MDx and food safety monitoring (George Tsekenis, BRFAA, Greece & Jörg Nestler, BiFlow, Germany)

Current and emerging challenges in public health and food safety, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise in antibiotic resistance and the increased presence of contaminants of emerging concern, underscore the need for low-cost and reliable tests that can be widely-implemented at the Point-of-Need or Care. In response to this need, we have developed a miniaturized device integrating all the necessary components and functions necessary for molecular diagnostics and food sample analysis (for example reagent storage and dispensing, sample preparation) in a modular platform that permits the low cost analysis of multiple targets in a wide variety of samples and in very diverse applications. The highly integrated, yet versatile platform was realized by bringing together the most innovative concepts and technologies in assay development, sensor foil fabrication and biofunctionalization, cartridge design and fluidics actuation, providing a paradigm shift in biosensing platforms that will significantly reinforce public health resilience and ensure food safety and in the challenging times to come.

• High-volume production of foil based microfluidics for multiplex immunoassays exemplified by SARS-CoV-2 (Max Sonnleitner, GENSPEED Biotech, Austria)

In the NextGen Microfluidics demo case 2, partners collaborated on a high-volume production of microfluidic chips for multiplex immunoassays.
The platform uses a capillary-filled polymer foil chip equipped with chemo-luminescent sensor arrays. Foil-based microfluidic chips for in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) were upscaled to TRL7 for the first time.
A full roll-to-roll based process flow, including the process steps imprinting, biomolecule printing, inlet cutting and lamination was set up.
The platform can be used in medical diagnostics and was tested using SARS-CoV-2 as a use case.

• Smartphone-Enabled Home Diagnostics for Potassium in Blood (Martin Hajnsek, ERBA Technologies, Austria)

Close monitoring of the potassium concentration in blood is essential for patients suffering from conditions such as chronic heart failure (CHF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, measurement of potassium from capillary whole blood samples should be enabled by means of inexpensive, rapid single-use tests, which patients can perform themselves. We present a concept of such smart test strips comprising printed electrochemical sensors, a microfluidic system for sample preparation and delivery, a semiconductor microchip for electrical signal evaluation and a printed antenna for wireless transmission of the measurement data.

• Cell Culture Devices for neuron cell culture and axon outgrowth monitoring (Ane Ayerdi Izquierdo, TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Spain)

Microfluidic technologies have increasingly been used in neurosciences research to extend in vitro experimental capabilities. Hence, the main goal of the research work that is going to be shown is the development of an electrically stimulating microfluidic platform that allows performing axon outgrowth monitoring assays for high throughput screening of neuronal cells by means of roll-to-roll (R2R) based manufacturing process.

• Point-of-Need Lab-on-a-Chip for Industrial Enzyme Detection (Verónica Mora Sanz, TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Spain)

This work introduces a disposable lab-on-a-chip for rapid, colorimetric enzyme activity monitoring in solid-state fermentation processes. Fabricated via roll-to-roll extrusion coating, it enables fast detection of α-amylase and cellulase using capillary-driven microfluidics. A miniaturized reader and smartphone app provide results within 10 minutes.

• Microfluidics Innovation Hub – We Get Microfluidics Rolling (Ronald Tingl and Divesh Baxani Kamal, MIH, Austria)

The Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) offers its customers a single entry point to a wide range of existing cutting edge microfluidic technologies from Europe’s top research centers and companies. Hear about the origin of the MIH, see what kind of work we do and learn how we could possibly support you.

• Pushing single cell biomedical applications with innovative droplet microfluidics (Marian Weiss, Veraxa Biotech, Germany)

This presentation explores how innovative droplet microfluidics is revolutionizing single-cell biomedical applications by enabling precise, high-throughput analysis and manipulation. By integrating advanced engineering and biological techniques, we demonstrate transformative solutions for diagnostics, therapeutics, and fundamental cellular research.

• Lumeox – a novel blood analysis platform for an early diagnostic (Till Böhme and Tobias Jacob, Lumeox, Germany) 

We are developing a blood analysis platform for emergency and intensive care medicine. The heart of our solution is a novel, optical and AI-based sensor for unmatched robustness and reliability. Our first product, mobox, is a compact and lightweight mobile blood analyzer for emergency medical services. mobox enables the fast and reliable determination of important blood parameters directly at the scene of an emergency, providing emergency medical services with the information they need to make life-saving decisions at an early stage.

• In-line monitoring of cell viability in organ-on-chips (Torsten Mayr, Pyroscience)

Integrated optical sensors give valuable information on the viability and the metabolic state of cultured cells and tissues in organ-on-chip systems.

• Miniaturizing for Impact: How Microfluidics & Semiconductors Power Mass Customization and Unlock Access to Life-Saving Cell Therapies (Sara Sofia Deville, Sarcura)

Cell therapies, such as CAR-T, have brought about a groundbreaking shift in the treatment of cancer. However, the production of patient-derived cell therapies faces significant challenges due to the intricate, labour-intensive, and expensive processes that are not conducive to large-scale production. As a result, only a small fraction—around 3%—of eligible patients are able to access these life-saving treatments. To make patient-specific cell therapies widely available, the industry must overcome these obstacles by rethinking the current approaches to manufacturing, moving beyond traditional automation and mass production. Emerging technologies, particularly advanced microfluidics and semiconductor innovations like silicon photonics, are playing a pivotal role in enabling the miniaturization necessary for precise, scalable production. Sarcura is leveraging these cutting-edge advancements to unlock the potential for mass customization, thus opening the door to more accessible, patient-derived cell therapies.

• Automating organoid culture: A unique platform for stem cell and organoid generation, cultivation, and expansion (Felix Spira, Molecular Devices)

Abstract

• elyte diagnostics – K+ForMe potassium home monitoring technology (Stefan Köstler, elyte diagnostics)

We develop a potassium home diagnostics system for easy and frequent self-testing of blood potassium levels from fingerprick capillary blood samples. This can be used as a therapy guiding solution allowing optimal treatment of chronic heart and kidney diseases, while maintaining blood potassium levels in a safe range. The system consists of a simple handheld readout device, single-use consumable sensor test strips, and can be connected to digital health and telemedicine platforms. The actual potassium detection technology is based on an optical sensing technique using fluorescence indicator dyes that are included in a microfluidic test strip. A specific sensor referencing scheme enables highly accurate, lab-comparable results and very user friendly, calibration free operation of the system.