FIT-BI · Fully Integrated Technology for rapid and multiplex Bacterial Identification

Invasive neonatal infections constitute a significant global public health challenge claiming 6 deaths per 1000 births. The perinatal period is a critical time for invasive neonatal infections. Among these infections, neonatal bacterial infections primarily acquired at the time of delivery through maternal-fetal transmission, remain a leading preventable cause of mortality and morbidity. This public health concern is further exacerbated by the emergence and escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is jeopardizing essential benefits made since the discovery of antibiotics especially, the contribution of these drugs to improvements in maternal, neonatal and child mortality. Despite the advancements made in the reduction of morbidity and mortality from neonatal infections, diagnostics still relies primarily on conventional microbiology techniques which are time-consuming and can be inaccurate. Diagnostics with a faster turnaround time would likely improve surveillance in all settings but also enable timely management of infections. FIT-BI is timely as it will enable the development of rapid diagnostic kits allowing real-time bacterial identification and prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, curbing thereby extensive antibiotic use and AMR; and contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals 1 and 3 in an advanced and sustainable manner. This promising undertaking will greatly expand the ER's scientific expertise in multi-disciplinary and state-of-the-art fields including Molecular Biology, Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry, impacting her future career, and positioning her as a leading independent researcher bridging the world of academia and industry. Furthermore, the proposed application has great public potential, as it will contribute to tailoring antibiotic therapy, and improving patient management and prognosis while de-escalating AMR in Europe and beyond.