DNA-QUASAR

Editorial

Für den Inhalt der Angaben zeichnet die Projektleitung verantwortlich.

Cooperation

Dieses von der Gebert Rüf Stiftung geförderte Projekt wird von folgenden weiteren Projektpartnern mitgetragen: EHTZ.

Project data

Project no: GRS-024/06
Amount of funding: CHF 300'000
Approved: 30.10.2006
Duration: 01.2007 - 02.2011
Area of activity: Pilotprojekte, 1998 - 2018

Project management

Prof. Dr. Sven Panke
ETH Zürich
D-BSSE ETHZ
WRO-1058.8.14, Mattenstrasse 26
4058 Basel (Schweiz)
sven.notexisting@nodomain.companke@bsse.notexisting@nodomain.comethz.notexisting@nodomain.comch

Project description

Recent developments in the sequencing of genes and genomes provide large numbers of new diagnostic and analytic targets for various biological systems ranging from bacteria to human. Unfortunately, no simple and cost-effective technology for qualitative analysis of these target DNA sequences does exist yet. The DNA-QUASAR project aims to develop such a simple test system. The easy-to-handle concept of the test will allow untrained personnel or even private individuals to perform DNA analyses, and has potential applications in areas such as human diagnostics, food safety, and hygiene control.

What is special about the project?

The vision of the project is to develop a novel market-ready test system for the detection of specific DNA sequences. Gebert Rüf Stiftung supports the corresponding research, since it clearly opens new perspectives in the field of molecular diagnostics, an area that gains more and more interest due to the immense progresses made in proteomics and genomics. The DNA-QUASAR technology has the potential to become the first on-site applicable and cost-effective DNA test, and would therefore especially influence the possibility to treat infections (detection of pathogens) and hereditary diseases where no sophisticated medical infrastructure is available.

Status/Results

The DNA-QUASAR concept is based on an easy procedure for sample collection and subsequent identification of specific DNA sequences. The final goal is the construction of an on-site diagnosis device that can be operated by untrained people. Such a system would be very useful for the detection of infectious diseases with high global and/or South countries burden, in particular TB, HAT, malaria, and children HIV. We have been able to identify appropriate materials that allow straightforward capture and immobilization of target DNA and guarantee accessibility of the sequence of interest by sensor molecules. Model DNA sensor molecules were created and successfully tested on selected materials. Currently, we are working on the translation of this binding event into a readable signal, preferably by a colorimetric method. The financing of the project by Gebert Rüf Stiftung enabled us to work on the proof of concept for the DNA-QUASAR technology and, thus, promote it among companies and potential future fund providers.

Publications

noch keine

Media