The Andalusian biotechnology company Biomedal is developing an R&D&I project financed by CTA (Technological Corporation of Andalusia) for the development of new diagnostic technologies for the determination of risks associated with Covid19.
Specifically, the project aims to achieve three objectives:
- new rapid methods of detection of Covid19 that are less invasive and less bothersome than the current PCR with the nasopharyngeal isopoid and in which, in addition, the patient does not need the specialist and shows his potential contagiousness,
- a method of characterizing the immune response of those affected,
- and a method for detection of SARS-CoV2 coronavirus on surfaces.
The project involves the University of Cadiz research group “Functional Genomics of the Immune System” and the company Adddition, specialized in 3D printing and founded by the engineer Manuel Boza. In addition, the hospitals of Jerez, Puerta del Mar (Cádiz) and Vigil de Quiñónez, which specializes in pandemics, are collaborating to obtain samples from COVID19 positive patients and to carry out tests.
“CTA’s incentive program, has allowed us to obtain feedback. We have been able to quickly and accurately evaluate the project with which to contrast the ideas we had planned from a scientific and business point of view,” says the CEO and founder of Biomedal, Ángel Cebolla, who adds that he values the CTA funding as a way to reduce the financial risks of this type of project for an SME and to gain quick and agile access to funds for R&D in a situation of maximum regional and global health urgency”.
