The 2nd edition of the Polisabio program of grants for health innovation, joint initiative of the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Region (FISABIO) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), has pledged to promote 20 multidisciplinary projects that combine scientific knowledge and the latest technologies in the service of health.
Six projects have been selected from Campus Gandia of the UPV, applied to the treatment of mastitis, eye diseases, bone regeneration in dental implants, neuropsychological disorders, facial paralysis and blindness caused by ocular ischemic syndrome.
The objective of this program is to explore synergies and formulate collaborations between researchers from the different UPV campuses (Gandia, Alcoi and Vera), and from the health departments of Xàtiva-Ontinyent, Elda, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Marina Baixa , Gandia, Alcoi, Sagunt, Arnau de Vilanova, Requena and Dr. Peset, as well as Fisabio-Public Health and Fisabio-Medical Ophthalmology (FOM).
Two main subject areas in health innovation stand out in the selected projects: on the one part, the development of new biomarker detection systems that enable earlier diagnosis of diseases, whether using nanotechnological devices, ultrasounds or sophisticated biochemical analyzes. And on the other oart, the implementation of computer systems, including mobile applications and artificial intelligence processes, for better management and/or analysis of clinical data to improve medical decisions.
The remaining projects propose improvements in areas such as the transport of biological samples, surgical techniques, improved medical materials and the clinical use of probiotic microorganisms.
PROJECTS SELECTED FROM CAMPUS GANDIA
DIAGMAS: development of a rapid detection system for bacterial infection in lactating women with mastitis through analysis of biomarkers in milk and urine (Alejandro Mira Obrador, Fisabio Salud Pública – Mónica Catalá Icardo, UPV-Gandia).
OCUSENSOR: nanophotonic sensors for the diagnosis of ocular diseases (María Dolores Pinazo Durán, Santiago Grisolía Ophthalmological Unit of the Dr. Peset Hospital, – Jaime Garcia Rupérez, UPV-Gandia).
OSEODENT: ultrasound monitoring of the guided bone regeneration process in dental implants (Vicente Enguix Morant, DS Gandia, Dentistry – Rubén Picó Vila, UPV-Gandia).
GEINEN: cloud computing application for the comprehensive management of neuropsychological explorations (Helena Vico Bondia, Dr. Peset Hospital – Felipe Vico Bondia, UPV-Gandia).
PARAFACIAL: creating and evaluating a computer application for the precise diagnosis, using artificial vision techniques, of facial movement alterations that occur in facial paralysis (Rosa Muñoz Gregori, Francesc de Borja Hospital, Rehabilitation – Fernando Boronat Seguí, UPV-Gandia).
USOFT: adapting ultrasound application technology for the treatment of blindness caused by ocular ischemic syndrome (Enrique Antonio Alfonso Muñoz, Fisabio-Medical Ophthalmology – Rubén Picó Vila, UPV-Gandia).
The next phase will be to work to ensure that these proposals approved by Polisabio will give rise to projects that are capable of attracting public and private investment from national and international calls, among others the H2020 program, as well as innovation activities.
Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública (Generalitat Valenciana)
