Focus area: Supporting preventive, curative, and care systems to preserve healthy living

More about the project:

The aim of the SENTINEL project is to strengthen the research infrastructure, expand capacity, and enhance pandemic preparedness in the region. The project is built on the "one health" concept, which posits that the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment are inseparable. To improve our existing surveillance system, the project targets two key elements: the field collection of relevant data and the rapid utilization of the collected data in clinical and industrial sectors.

Within the framework of the SENTINEL project, we aim to revolutionize the surveillance, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases through the application of the most modern technologies and innovative solutions. The project focuses on two WHO-priority BSL-4 pathogens: the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) and the Nipah virus. These pathogens serve as models for our capacity-building initiative.

A primary goal of the project is to make the collected data immediately usable through our existing network of clinical and industrial partners, thereby facilitating rapid diagnostic and therapeutic developments. The technologies employed in the project, such as CRISPR-based diagnostic tests, isothermal PCR, and mobile sequencing protocols, enable immediate and precise field diagnostics and the generation of industry-relevant data.

Collaboration with our industrial partners ensures that the technologies and procedures we develop can be directly utilized in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The serological tests developed using UV-inactivated viruses introduce new methods for pathogen diagnostics. The widespread dissemination of results and the involvement of the scientific community contribute to strengthening global health security.

Furthermore, the project aims to establish a sustainable surveillance network capable of quickly responding to threats from neighboring countries.