Recipient: University of Munich Hospital
Funding: Go-Bio initial (01/10/2022 to 30/09/2023, EUR 120,000)

Project description:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in young adults, affecting 122,000 people in Germany alone. MS has thus far been incurable. For the optimal treatment of patients there is a lack of inflammatory markers in the blood that enable a prognosis and therapy monitoring.

800,000 people in Germany suffer from autism spectrum disorder. Here, too, low-grade inflammation in the blood and central nervous system is widespread. Initial studies have shown an improvement in disease progression and symptom severity through targeted anti-inflammatory treatment in subgroups of patients with autism spectrum disorder.

In the "GO-Bio initial" exploratory phase, the potential exploitation idea of a diagnostic platform for measuring low-grade inflammatory processes in the blood of people with MS and autism spectrum disorder will be developed based on initial scientific findings. The platform has the potential to transform medical care in the long term and is based on lateral flow technology, which can be used to qualitatively detect specific target proteins using antibodies. It shows customised therapy options for clinical implementation through sensitive, specific and rapid results.

In the exploratory phase, findings for a subsequent feasibility phase are to be collected by means of FTO, market and competition analyses. The project pursues the implementation of a scientific idea into a finished product that can improve the lives of patients with MS and autism spectrum disorder and their quality of life.