Starting in October 2025, InfectoGnostics will receive another four years of funding from the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under the “Research Campus – Public-Private Partnership for Innovation” initiative. The jury particularly commended the campus’s strategic development and its contribution to the clinical translation of novel diagnostic solutions.
For more than eleven years, InfectoGnostics in Jena has been bringing together strong partners from science, industry, and clinical practice under one roof and on equal footing. The common goal: to diagnose infectious diseases faster and more precisely, detect antibiotic resistance before treatment, and translate innovative research findings into practical solutions.
Seven New Projects for Next-Generation Diagnostics
In the third funding phase, InfectoGnostics will launch seven new flagship projects addressing key challenges in modern infection diagnostics. Plans include molecular rapid tests for care facilities to enable early detection of diarrheal pathogens, as well as quantitative on-site tests for determining inflammation markers, which could also be used as home tests.
Other projects will develop innovative methods for pathogen detection from cell-free DNA and a fully automated multiparameter analyzer that combines protein- and DNA-based tests on an open platform. In addition, a Raman-based system for analyzing immune responses will be researched, enabling direct T-cell characterization at the patient’s side. Another focus will be the development of automated organ-on-chip platforms, which can be used as diagnostic tools to test the effectiveness of substances against bacterial pathogens – helping in the development of new effective antibiotics.
All projects are designed to make diagnostic technologies applicable in real-world healthcare contexts. This is supported by an accompanying general medicine transfer project that incorporates regulatory, clinical, and economic considerations from the outset. In this way, InfectoGnostics strengthens its role as a pioneer for practical and socially relevant diagnostic solutions.
Looking Back: Second Phase Laid the Groundwork for Innovation and Sustainable Structures
The second funding phase, which runs until September 2025, has been characterized by the establishment of open technology platforms, the expansion of shared research infrastructures, and the increasing involvement of end-users and external stakeholders to translate diagnostic products into practice. Many developments from the Research Campus have already been tested in clinical studies or developed into demonstrators and market-ready products – for example, in the fields of digital PCR, rapid test applications, or wastewater monitoring.