Prof. Dr. Peter Ertl from TU Wien (Austria) is looking for partners to build a COST consortium in the field of microfluidics, called Advanced Microfluidics Initiative (AMI). Interested? Please contact the proposal coordinators as soon as possible!

COST action: Advanced Microfluidics Initiative (AMI)

Proposal coordinators:
Dr. Helene Zirath (Technische Universität Wien-TUW)
Univ. Prof. Dr. Peter Ertl (Technische Universität Wien-TUW)

Project idea:
The ADVANCED MICROFLUIDICS INITIATIVE (AMI) sets out to give the diagnostics community more weight at the international level and gain competitive visibility at the European level by means of superregional cooperation. Another essential aspect of the initiative is continuous education and training of the next generation of researchers, analytical chemists, biomedical engineers and bioengineers for the microfluidic job market. AMI intends to bundle complementary expertise ranging from microfluidics, biosensing and diagnostic assays optimization to offer the European research and development landscape a communication/ networking platform that (a) fosters exchange of ideas between academic, industry and regulatory stakeholders, (b) enables network building for young scientists, (c) encourages industrial to academic partnerships, and (d) provides training and continuous education opportunities for next generation of skilled workers. The added value of our COST-AMI initiative is the synergetic use of existing European infrastructures, expertise and technologies that covers the entire value chain from idea to design and via rapid prototyping from functional prototype to scale-up production. We strongly believe that only by engaging in direct technological exchange and collaborations, rapid implementation and translation of projects is possible in half the time and with significantly reduced costs. In other words, new ideas and diagnostic concepts in medical/clinical, food, life style and environmental testing can be quickly realized by academic partners to demonstrate feasibility and translated by industrial partners into commercial applications. This means that AMI will actively contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development GOAL #3 (Good health and well-being) and GOAL #6 (Clean water and sanitation). More importantly, the COST AMI platform will increase the readiness level of the European academic and industrial key players to respond to future pandemic outbreaks. Additionally, AMI initiative focuses on intensifying cooperation with diagnostic start-ups to aid in the development marketable products under GMP and ISO certification on an industrial scale.

We are looking for partners to complete the AMI consortium for the following activities needed to go from idea via rapid prototyping to functional prototype and pilot system to production and product.

Working Group WG1: Materials & (bio)interfaces
Topics of this working group involves the application of novel functional and multi-functional materials as well as smart materials. The aim of WG1 is the evaluation of material properties needed for POC devices and establishment reliable and robust functionalization strategies.

WG2: Bioassay miniaturization & biosensor integration
Topics of this working group involves the evaluation and optimization of biosensor performance and system periphery as well as bioassay miniaturization. The goal of this working group is the integration of single-and multi-cell cultures and the establishment of functional readouts of optical, electrical and magnet biosensors.

WG3: Rapid Prototyping & manufacturing technologies
Topics of this WG includes the combination and harmonization of device fabrication technologies. This includes CAD, device simulation, and the generation of guidelines from prototyping to scale-up production. The goal of this WG is the establishment of on-chip proof-of-concept studies and the assessment of feasibility of the developed biomaterials and integrated bioassays for industrial mass production.

WG4: Regulatory aspects & data security/IT
Topics of this working group includes the incorporation of regulatory guidelines as well as the standardization according to national, international and institutional regulations (GMP, ISO certification). Further, the WG takes care of the key aspects in data assessment, accessibility and security of generated knowledge. The goal of this WG involves state-of-the-art data acquisition, storage and documentation (Telemedicine) as well the analysis of the diagnostic device and POC market.

About COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) in short:
Main objective: COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.

Duration: 4 years
Deadline: November 13th, 2020
Web link: www.cost.eu

Why should you join such a project?
• The project is a perfect opportunity to connect Europe wide and share knowledge on top scientific level
• Find partners for further collaborations and publications
• Enable short term scientific missions for your Early Stage Researchers

Contact:

Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Ertl, peter.ertl@tuwien.ac.at
Dr.techn. Helene Zirath, MSc., helene.zirath@tuwien.ac.at
Nikolaus Ladenhauf, nikolaus.ladenhauf@bnn.at