MARCIA: the research team that worries about metastasis so patients don't have to
MARCIA, led by researchers from Institute of Sanitary Investigation of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
Their project aims to obtain a BLOCK test from a blood sample, as a follow-up, non-invasive tool for patients with breast cancer to help diagnose metastasis in an earlier stage. They're working to develop a tool based on an immunoassay to detect a blood biomarker, and a software with an easy interface that integrates this measurement with two additional blood parameters to assess the risk of metastasis. The target population are women previously diagnosed with a primary breast tumour who are under follow-up (2-5 years from the primary diagnosis).
During this period, an imaging examination (mammogram) is recommended annually. With MARCIA's product, they'd measure a biomarker which reports systemic tumour disease and two blood parameters at intervals when image analysis is not scheduled. This will allow these patients to be monitored more frequently. If the test is positive, the appointment for the image analysis can be advanced. End-users are healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses and technicians) and potential customers of the kit are health systems, public and private clinics and hospitals. The beneficiaries are patients diagnosed with breast cancer, of which about 30% will eventually develop metastases. Furthermore, oncologists will benefit indirectly by having a tool to improve clinical management. The ability to anticipate this progression is crucial for the patient (quality and life expectancy) and the system (savings).
Learn more about MARCIA by watching the pitch done by researcher Clotilde Costa during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/9brF4utVZ-Y
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HTS-INKS: Go green, go to superconductors!
HTS-INKS, led by researchers from ICMAB-CSIC (Spain), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
Coated Conductors (CCs) have big potential in the development of High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) power systems. This research team proposes a high throughput HTS technology which will have a huge impact on the industrial scale-up of CCs. It is based on their Transient Liquid Assisted Growth process combined with Chemical Solution Deposition (TLAG-CSD). It is disruptive and enables ultrafast growth of Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) films (~100 times faster than state of the art) by using printing deposition methods (inkjet printing, slot-die coating) and nanocomposites obtained by stabilising preformed nanoparticles in the initial precursor solution. TLAG-CSD is low cost (uses simple reactors), has high growth rates and is environmentally friendly. A key component for the industrial manufacturing of TLAG-CSD nanocomposite CCs is the colloidal inks. This requires the supply of robust, stable and reproducible colloidal inks in large quantities (several litres) compatible with the TLAG-CSD process.
HTS-INKS proposes a new generation of large volume colloidal inks with stabilising agents, which leads to an increase in the solubility of salts and stabilisation of nanoparticles which can be customised for different industrial metallic substrates, and could be further expanded to other CSD growth processes. While main end users of this technology are companies manufacturing superconducting tapes, the benefits extend to the society as a whole. Superconductivity will have a strong impact in advancing energetic sustainability.
Learn more about HTS-INKS by watching the pitch done by project manager Mar Tristany during the Start Open Day last 20 July 2023.
https://youtu.be/x7uPN-iDX8s
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HEKA Vision: Revolutionising breast cancer surgery with AI and XR technologies
HEKA Vision, led by researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation (Portugal), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
HEKA Vision’s technological platform integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and eXtended Reality (XR) to revolutionise breast cancer surgery. Their cutting-edge solutions overcome current workflow inefficiencies that result in unnecessary invasive preoperative procedures and often lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes, such as high mastectomy and re-operation rates.
HEKA Vision’s advanced AI tools provide surgeons with real-time insights, empowering them to make more informed decisions, and facilitating personalised treatment plans during the whole treatment workflow: from medical imaging analysis all the way into the operating room during surgery. Through its XR technologies, surgeons can visualise and interact with patient-specific data in a digitally augmented environment, improving precision and reducing risks.
With BreastXR, surgeons will visualise the tumour in real-time during breast conserving surgery. AvaXR will allow precise visualisation of the abdominal vascular network during the challenging DIEAP procedure for breast reconstructive surgery. These technologies not only streamline surgical workflows but also enable quicker and more accurate surgeries. Overall, HEKA Vision’s technologies set a new standard for breast cancer treatment. They greatly increase the overall efficiency of breast cancer surgery, leading to higher productivity for the medical staff and cancer clinics, while improving patient outcomes and their quality of life.
Learn more about HEKA Vision by watching the pitch done by researcher João Santinha during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/qCA7dxV1U4w
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EPF3Bio: meet the team behind TriPhyte, a technology to cultivate a greener, healthier world
EPF3Bio, led by researchers from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
Agriculture and food security programs face several challenges, largely stemming from yield loss as a result of pests, diseases and soil degradation. The mitigation of these phenomena relies on chemical applications with high environmental and climate costs, while their intensive application over several decades has contributed to abundant pesticide resistance that furthers damages. As such, recent EU directives require reductions in chemical control, and place greater emphasis on environmentally friendly biotechnology solutions.
The technology developed by EPF3Bio addresses all of the above, offering a sustainable alternative to dealing with Europe’s pesticide problem and the biodiversity crisis. TriPhyte is a biological fungal-based all-in-one product that functions on three essential dimensions: biofertilizer, biocontrol agent and biostimulant. Extensive research has shown its ability to increase crop yield by 20% while protecting plants from pests and diseases. Apart from the simplicity of its application, TriPhyte combines three products into one, which makes it remarkably cost-effective compared to other organic agriculture products.
Their technology is suitable for both farmers and small-scale growers who want to switch to sustainable farming and/or enter into the organic market, guaranteeing the health of consumers and farmland.
Learn more about EPF3Bio by watching the pitch done by researcher Marios Andrikopoulos during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/avKRvpls3X4
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EditUP, the genome editing approach that cures for a lifetime
EditUP, led by researches from University of Trento and Hub Innovazione Trentino (Italy), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
Haploinsufficiencies are rare genetic diseases that affect an estimated 15 million patients worldwide, 99% of which remain incurable and manageable only through palliative and symptomatic care. EditUP have devised and patented a genome editing approach capable of precisely modulating the expression of specific genes to compensate for the lack of a disease-related allele and restore the levels of expression within physiological values.
The team are planning to validate their platform with patients affected by Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), which affects about 1 in 30,000 people worldwide. ADOA is the most common hereditary optic atrophy disease and is characterized by a bilateral degeneration of the optic nerves. Unlike palliative therapies, RNA and other genome editing approaches, EditUP will provide to patients affected by ADOA a therapy that is safe, personalised and is needed only once for a lifetime.
Learn more about EditUP by watching the pitch done by researcher Alberto Raoss during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/PalgdsLnQaI
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CAVI: Unleashing the power of cavitation for a resilient future
CAVI, led by researchers from University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), National Technical University of Athens (Greece) and UBB-TechTransfer at Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
The EU recognised biogas as a vital renewable energy source to achieve energy resilience and climate change mitigation goals. Biogas, derived from waste like agricultural & food waste, and sewage sludge through anaerobic digestion, offers applications as electricity and heat generation. By embracing biogas, the EU can significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and energy imports.
Amidst soaring energy prices, the benefits of biogas become even more apparent. Presently, approximately 19,000 biogas plants operate within the EU, with this number expected to double by 2050 — a testament to the growing prominence of this sustainable energy source. Nonetheless, the optimization of waste-to-biogas conversion remains an ongoing challenge. Conventional anaerobic digesters are large and time-consuming. The state-of-the-art technology to enhance biogas production, thermal hydrolysis, is complex and expensive.
With their groundbreaking solution, scientists from Slovenia and Greece have harnessed the power of cavitation, a process that occurs when vapour bubbles form and collapse, generating extraordinary pressures and temperatures, comparable to the Sun's surface. Leveraging this incredible force, they have developed the revolutionary CAVI Ω reactor — an innovative, compact, and plug-and-play device that significantly reduces construction and operating expenses. The CAVI Ω reactor stands as a true innovation, poised to drive the biogas industry into a new era of sustainability and profitability.
Learn more about CAVI by watching the pitch done by researcher Jurij Gostisa during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/Cs5wcwIgL8g
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Carbon^2: Brine utilisation for CO2 capture and repurposing
Carbon^2, led by researchers from Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), Queen Mary University London (UK) and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Bulgaria), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
The Carbon^2 group provides expertise in converting industrial emissions and wastes to value added essential minerals. Using a specialised carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology, they generate application specific mineralized-carbon for downstream use in the infrastructure, agriculture and pulp & paper industries.
Carbonated material can be used in novel construction materials, revenues of which are expected to reach $1 trillion USD per year by 2030 (Utilization Panel Report: CO2 Conversion to Solid Carbonates). Magnesium sources are widespread worldwide (silicate deposits, wastewater, brine) and plentiful enough to sequester all anthropogenic emissions during the next 1000 years.
CO2 mineralisation has also the potential to manufacture CO2-negative construction materials which, in certain applications, could mitigate or even replace conventional Portland cement in a wide-scope of applications. Their CCU solutions provide particular advantage to the cement industry, itself responsible for 8% of man-made CO2 equivalent emissions and holds the highest carbon intensity of any industry per unit of revenue. Carbon^2 modular mobile units allow this group of experts to provide custom designed and hazard-free water-based solutions for location and waste specific processing. ensuring a clean transition to sustainably square away carbon.
Learn more about Carbon^2 by watching the pitch done by researcher Dr Gregory Chass during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/WSikRty3cMc
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Cancer Therapeutics: Targeting and destroying ovarian cancer cells
Cancer Therapeutics, led by researchers from Ca' Foscari University in Venezia and CRO Aviano (Italy), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
The team behind Cancer Therapeutics is introducing a revolutionary technology that presents a ground-breaking system designed for the treatment of solid tumour ovarian cancer, known as Copper Nitroprusside (CuNP).
Ovarian cancer ranks as the 7th most aggressive cancer in women globally, with a survival rate of less than 30%. In the year 2023, there were 314,959 newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer, resulting in 207,253 reported deaths. Among the various types of ovarian cancer, High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) is particularly aggressive, accounting for approximately 70% of ovarian carcinoma cases and exhibiting high mortality rates.
Traditionally, chemotherapy has been employed as the primary treatment for ovarian cancer. However, nearly 50% of patients develop resistance to the existing therapies, necessitating costly second-line treatments. This technology, named Copper Nitroprusside (CuNP), overcomes the limitations of current therapeutic approaches. It addresses issues such as cost reduction, biocompatibility, and the destruction of dense tumour matrices, which pose significant challenges in the field of cancer medicine. Moreover, this technology overcomes chemotherapy-related problems by simultaneously supplying multiple Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) without the need for external stimuli. This unique system initiates the Fenton reaction with exceptional efficiency. Notably, these CDT agents possess the ability to generate multiple ROS and nitrogen-based reactive species at the tumour site, further enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness.
This remarkable enhancement obviates the need for additional drugs, external stimuli, or delivery systems. Significantly, no comparable system capable of generating dual ROS in cancer therapy with such high therapeutic efficacy and minimal side effects has been developed until now. Cancer Therapeutics’ product offers an effective approach to combat and overcome ovarian cancer, providing hope for patients in need of a more advanced treatment option.
Learn more about Cancer Therapeutics by watching the pitch done by researcher Kanwal Asif during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/oijNBV4Ip9A
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BioMEMs: Metallic implants that heal shockingly fast
BioMEMs, led by researchers from University of Aveiro (Portugal), is one of the supported research teams in the first S3E Start Programme.
An ageing population increases the incidence of orthopaedic injuries, affecting quality of life. Small bone lesions can often self-heal, but critical-sized defects require orthopaedic implants. Metallic materials like stainless steel and titanium alloys are the most used. These materials present great mechanical properties, load-bearing capabilities, and fatigue resistance, but lack in biological compatibility and suffer from corrosion and diminished cell adhesion.
When compared to titanium, 316L SS implants show inferior biological properties, but still present a big share of the market thanks to its lower cost. BioMEMs aims to solve the problem related to 316L SS, by depositing a bioactive PLLA based coating to establish a strong connection between bone tissue and the metallic implants. Their approach is inspired by the piezoelectric nature of bone and their research into PLLA bioactivity.
PLLA has been gaining attention due to its attractive properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity plays an important role in the processes of regeneration and vascularization of the bone. BioMEMs have a bioactivated prosthesis that were characterised in vitro, assessing their cytocompatibility and osteogenic properties, and in vivo, by subcutaneous implantation in a rat animal model. Thus, their team expects that our technology can contribute to the development of the next generation bone implants that can simultaneously boost recovery speed and reduce rejection rate.
Learn more about BioMEMs by watching the pitch done by researcher Maxim Ivanov during the Start Open Day on 20th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/JnukeFh9dKg
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Water2kW: the Spanish startup producing green hydrogen with eco-friendly technology
Water2kW is one of the supported startups in the first S3E Charge Accelerator Programme.
The technology developed by Water2kW enables the production and use of green hydrogen wherever it is installed. It requires only one source of energy, preferably from renewable sources, enabling the process to be 100% sustainable, using environmental humidity as sustainable water supply.
Their Humidity® technology provides another differential fact: the total use of the process by-products. Advanced by-product recovery systems are capable of 1) Recycling O2 to produce hydrogen peroxide or electricity 2) Recovering waste heat or 3) Taking advantage of the excess produced water. All this, without the need to add chemicals to the process and without generating emissions, rejections or toxic discharges, as is the case of current reverse osmosis and grey hydrogen installations. This new modular, circular and no-waste approach can significatively contribute to climate change objectives.
Learn more about Water2kW by watching the pitch done by their R&D Manager, Luisa Fraga, during the Charge Open Day on 6th July 2023.
https://youtu.be/E5RuQf2V3eE
Would you like to get in touch with them? Let us know! Email us at info@south3e.eu