EIT Health supported start-up IQ Biozoom in strategic alliance with renowned institutions in the field of innovative home diagnostics

IQ Biozoom, a Polish start-up developing non-invasive home diagnostics, has partnered strategically with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (Portugal) and Turkey’s TUBITAK UME National Institute of Metrology. The foundation for this partnership was the success of IQ Biozoom in the accelerator programme organised by EIT Health. IQ Biozoom was the only one from Poland among the 10 finalists for the InnoStars Awards. The established partnership is expected to intensify research work on fast, home-based methods of measuring cortisol.

The IQ Biozoom team is working on innovative devices to measure the concentration of biochemicals in liquid analytes such as saliva, sweat, urine or tears. Currently, non-invasive home tests are being developed to measure glucose and lactate levels in saliva, and in the near future, CRP proteins and hormones, such as cortisol, will also be tested. By creating a non-invasive home test to monitor levels of this hormone, it will be possible to more easily and quickly diagnose many disorders, such as depression or abnormal somatic reactions to chronic stress.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra is considered to be one of the most important schools of medicine in Portugal, internationally recognised for its innovative and ground-breaking fundamental, clinical and translational research, with a particular focus on the mechanisms of disease, the identification of therapeutic targets, the development of new therapeutic strategies and the identification of novel biomarkers.

Among the partners in the established partnership is Turkey’s TUBITAK UME National Institute of Metrology, which plays a key role in developing innovative solutions for precision measurements and standards. It specialises in advanced metrology research, offering support to industry, science and medicine by developing new measurement methods.

“The partnership with the Turkish National Institute of Metrology TUBITAK UME and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra is an important step for IQ Biozoom. Working with TUBITAK UME will enable us to benefit from their advanced functionalisation techniques, accelerating the development of our diagnostic devices. Thanks to the University of Coimbra, we will gain access to an excellent research base, allowing for effective clinical validation of our products. This collaboration will help us confirm the medical utility of our innovations and effectively bring them to market, contributing to better home diagnostics.” – emphasises Dr. Jakub Kaczmarski, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at IQ Biozoom.

How important is the IQ Biozoom project to millions of patients?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone crucial for glucose regulation and inflammation, affecting metabolism, immune function and emotional well-being. Stress, lack of sleep and unhealthy habits can raise cortisol levels, leading to weakened immunity, metabolic disorders and sleep disorders. Cortisol deficiency, in turn, results in symptoms such as fatigue and mood disorders. Cortisol is a biomarker for diagnosing various diseases, and the development of home tests can help more accurately diagnose health conditions, including psychiatric conditions and abnormal stress responses. The development of non-invasive home tests to monitor cortisol levels will also enable more accessible and faster diagnosis of many disorders, including those of a psychological nature, such as depression or abnormal somatic reactions to chronic stress.

“The innovative approach based on modern semiconductor devices, such as thin-film transistors, which IQ Biozoom specialises in, is key to a precise and easy-to-use diagnostic tool that can significantly contribute to progress in monitoring and treating stress-related disorders. This is the third diagnostic area, alongside monitoring glucose and lactate levels in the body, that we are addressing as a technology company. By implementing IQ Biozoom devices in clinical practice, we open new possibilities for personalised medicine and contribute to increasing the availability of rapid diagnostic tests, thus better-monitoring health conditions,” assures Dr Jakub Kaczmarski.

EIT Health Accelerator Programme brings benefits for start-ups

The collaboration between IQ Biozoom and the University of Coimbra was initiated thanks to the active involvement of EIT Health, a network of best-in-class health innovators supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. In 2023, IQ Biozoom was among the 10 finalists of an accelerator programme aimed at early-stage start-ups from Central, Eastern and Southern European countries, organised by EIT Health.  Participation in the programme enabled the team to establish a strategic partnership with the medical faculty of a Portuguese university, one of EIT Health’s 120 valued partners.

“The perspective of a joint research project based on extremely interesting technology, which is today at the forefront of modern science, has greatly interested us. We are eager to engage in the clinical validation of new technology, especially in relation to such an important area today as the issue of stress and non-invasive cortisol monitoring,” comments Inês Rosendo, clinician and scientific worker at the Medical Faculty of the University of Coimbra.

The Industry Focal Point for Medical Technology and Health which supports researchers and entrepreneurs in the medical technology and health industries in obtaining funding and implementing projects for innovative research and implementation of cutting-edge technologies under Horizon Europe, played an important role in establishing this collaboration.