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Point-Of-Care MONitoring and DIagnostics for Autoimmune Diseases (POCEMON)
Start date: Jan 1, 2008, End date: Aug 31, 2011 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The POCEMON project aims to the hardware and software development of a multi-purpose autoimmune diseases diagnostic platform by combining Lab-on-Chip (LOC) technologies, genomic microarrays of HLA (human leukocyte antigens) typing, microelectronics, mobile devices, intelligent algorithms and wireless communications. The multi-purpose platform will be provided as a portable integrated platform with application to primary care level. The final product will be capable to communicate through its PDA device with the Laboratory Information Server (LIS) for detailed analysis, diagnosis and information extraction concerning autoimmune diseases; the LIS will be also developed inside the time-framework of the project. Microelectronics-microfludics for the LOC and robotics for the HLA microarrays' construction, constitute the main state-of-the-art scientific technologies which will be employed for the development of the portable diagnostic genomics laboratory.Autoimmune disorders (diseases) develop when the immune system destroys normal body tissues. HLA genes are the major determinants used by the body's immune system for recognition and differentiation of self from non-self (foreign substances). The combination of LOC technologies with genomic microarrays of HLA typing will provide a state-of-the-art diagnosis at primary care level, concerning multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis which are linked with the HLA CLASS I and II genes. The development of a primary care diagnostic LOC platform based on microarrays of HLA typing is the main target of this proposed project. Easily adapted developments will lead to the diagnosis on the majority of autoimmune disorders. The POCEMON platform will advance and promote primary health care diagnosis across Europe.
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