Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, especially in its early stages. Researchers at the University of Twente and UT spin-off ECsens, together with partners Vysens (Hengelo) and InnatOss (Oss), have received a grant of almost two million euros for the development of a promising new Lyme test. The test will be built on a flexible diagnostic platform that can also be used for other diseases.
Lyme disease is an insidious infectious disease that occurs mainly in green areas such as Overijssel and Gelderland in the Netherlands. Every year, more than 15,000 people seek medical help after a tick bite. Diagnosis is often difficult: the familiar red ring does not always appear, and existing tests have difficulty detecting the bacteria. As a result, many people suffer from symptoms for an unnecessarily long time or do not receive the correct treatment.
One platform, many applications
The new test platform, called ESPRIT, combines various technologies developed in previous research projects. The test will first be used for Lyme disease, in collaboration with biotech companies InnatOss and Vysens. But the platform has broader applications: other organizations will be able to develop their own tests on the same system in the future.
“It will be a flexible platform on which other parties can build their own diagnostic tests, making it possible to bring many different applications to market quickly,” says UT researcher Pepijn Beekman. A quick and reliable diagnosis prevents damage to health. This project is important for our region, but also has the potential to make a difference worldwide.
EFRO-Oost
The 2021-2027 Programme is based on the European goals for regional development. Within this framework, Overijssel and Gelderland created the EFRO programme for the eastern Netherlands. This programme is committed to a smarter and greener eastern Netherlands with strong, innovative entrepreneurs and powerful small and medium-sized enterprises.
One of the objectives of the EFRO-Oost programme is to advance smart innovations from prototype to market introduction. EFRO-Oost projects are carried out by partnerships of at least three SMEs or by SMEs with large companies and/or knowledge institutions.
