Pandemics and Emerging Infections: From the University of Bologna, the Diagnostics of the Future—Sustainable and Inclusive

Being prepared for the next pandemic means developing innovative diagnostic tools that combine speed and accuracy while remaining accessible to all. At R2B 2025 – the International Exhibition on Industrial Research and Skills for Innovation (Bologna, 25–26 June) – the University of Bologna is presenting the first results of ECLIPSE, a European research project led by an interdisciplinary consortium of excellence and coordinated by Professor Luca Prodi from the Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician". The project aims to revolutionise how we detect infections.

Funded through the Horizon Europe programme – EIC Pathfinder Open, ECLIPSE (ECL-based Infectious Pathogen (bio)Sensor) seeks to develop a new generation of portable diagnostic devices that are low-cost and easy to use, yet offer the same sensitivity as molecular (RT-PCR) swabs—the same kind used during the Covid-19 pandemic. This combination would not only enable faster responses to future health emergencies but also ensure fairer access to testing, particularly in low-resource settings such as many developing countries.

“So far, the project has met the expectations it was designed for: developing diagnostic tools that can detect pathogens—whether bacterial, viral or parasitic—by combining the high sensitivity typical of molecular tests with the ease of use, portability and low cost of rapid tests,” explains Professor Prodi.

Among the results achieved—which have led to the submission of several patent applications—are innovative biostructures that reduce false positives and negatives; nano- and bio-structures capable of amplifying signals up to 100 times compared to current diagnostic standards, helping reduce false negatives and enabling the creation of more robust and affordable systems; and new materials that make it possible to build more efficient devices.

“This kind of technology is vital not only for managing future pandemics, but also for tackling the infections that cause millions of deaths every year in less developed countries. The discoveries made through ECLIPSE can also be applied to other diagnostic and therapeutic needs, such as in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases,” Professor Prodi adds.

The project involves collaboration between the Departments of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Pharmacy and Biotechnology, and Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, along with IRCCS AOU Bologna, the Mario Negri Institute, the Universities of Milan and Messina, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Meta, and Personal Genomics Srl.