WEAR-4-postCOVaID Project

Under the invitation of Mrs. Ruxandra Hurezean, journalist and Senior Editor at the Synthesis magazine, an article was written aiming at presenting the results of the scientific research within Cluj universities. The main goal was to achieve efficient communication and dissemination of research results to the general public. This article was published in January 2023 and can be consulted at  the link below: 
https://www.revistasinteza.ro/covid-19-a-trecut-dar-urmele-ei-un-proiect-al-universitatii-de-medicina-si-farmacie-cluj-napoca-aduce-noi-metode-de-depistare-a-ravagiilor-covid-19

This project will deliver novel sensors for rapid, sensitive and specific electrochemical detection and monitoring of IL-6, TNF-α, COR and KA biomarkers. The developed (bio)sensors could be a tool for improved diagnosis and monitoring of pCov, paving the way to its personalized treatment, releasing the burden on the health system. With a better diagnosis tool, the true proportion of pCov could be assessed and the societal impact could be better understood. With millions of people with debilitating symptoms of the pCov, the project could have an important impact on the the local and national health issues and a significant socio-economical impact, allowing people to go back quicker to their previous life.

The project follows the general WHO recommendation of „expanding our understanding of post-COVID-19 condition” and the specific one: „to offer rational treatments, resolving mechanisms is necessary”, several pathophysiological pathways involved in pCov being also evaluated in the project27. WEAR-4-postCOVaID will impact the analytical chemistry field by developing innovative (bio)sensors, which can be a starting point for developing POU systems. The complexity of the project will allow the team members to acquire many skills, from material science to biorecognition elements and real samples analysis.

Considering the importance of COVID-19 and pCov and the attention they attract, the research team will be empowered and the international visibility of the project team, and UMF will increase by the publications related to the presented project. Given the importance of the research topic, the expected results of WEAR-4-postCOVaID will have important contributions in several areas, such as: health sciences, analytical chemistry and electrochemistry, assuring that knowledge and results obtained within the project will be broadly communicated. Minimum 3 ISI papers will be published in peer-reviewed Q1 ISI journals (Advanced Materials; Electrochimica Acta; Sensors; Biosensors etc.), along with at least four presentations at conferences with posters or oral communications (International Society of Electrochemistry Annual Meeting; BES Meeting 2022) and one patent application will be filled.