26.08.2022

Developping a sensor for measuring viral activity for the production of therapeutics

Tübingen Researchers part of Biointelligence project BioProS - 6 million euros funding by the European Union

Researchers from Tübingen are part of a new project to examine a new direct optical sensor technology for cell-based assays. The European biointelligence project BioProS develops a biointelligent sensor for measuring viral activity for the production of therapeutics. It is funded with over 6 million euros as part of the European HORIZON programme, started on 1 July 2022, and will run for 48 months. 

The goal of BioProS is to optimise the production processes for therapeutic viruses through better quality control. A biohybrid sensor technology monitors cell-based virus infection cycles in real time. For this purpose, optical sensor technology which will be developed by the group of Professor Günter Gauglitz at the University of Tübingen is combined with cell-based measurement principles. 

Within BioProS, a platform technology is being developed that can be adapted to several specific substances and virus types. This allows applying it in different industries and production environments. Since such a platform technology is complex, numerous European partners from different disciplines such as biology, engineering and mechanical engineering or computer science are involved.

Digitisation must span the entire manufacturing chain and utilise all the advances that have been made in intelligent personalised production in recent years.

The convergence of technical, informational, and biological systems are the basis of biointelligence. This new paradigm opens up a huge innovation space globally. Because Europe is at the forefront of manufacturing excellence, BioProS will make a significant contribution to sustainable and resilient manufacturing processes in the EU. Digital and bio-based process chains have the potential to revolutionise many industries and ensure their competitiveness. 

Seven partners from five countries are represented in the BioProS consortium:

• BICO Group AB, Sweden,
• NecstGen, the Netherlands,
• Fraunhofer (IPA and IGB), Germany,
• Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany,
• EurA AG, Germany,
• ElveSys, France and
• Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

The consortium gathers all the necessary expertise under its roof and forms the basis for international partnerships. In close cooperation with other European initiatives and with the support of an industrial advisory board, the project partners want to realise the vision of biointelligent manufacturing and demonstrate the applicability of disruptive technologies in an industrial setting. This will foster research for biointelligent methods and global applications while guaranteeing technological sovereignty for Europe in the long term.

Press release BioProS project