PEDPOC · Project

Handheld Blood Test Device for Early Detection of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women

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Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication that can be fatal for mothers if caught too late. Right now, diagnosing it often requires lab work that takes time most hospitals don't have. A Swiss startup built a small handheld device — think of a blood sugar meter, but for detecting preeclampsia markers — that reads a single-use cartridge and gives results right at the bedside. The technology uses tiny electrical sensors on a chip to spot warning signs in a drop of blood, faster and cheaper than current methods.

By the numbers

EUR 100,000

EU contribution for commercialization feasibility assessment

Consortium partners (1 SME + 1 university) in Switzerland

Total project deliverables including transistor sample fabrication

50%

Industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Preeclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, yet current diagnosis depends on laboratory tests that take time and cannot be performed at the bedside. Clinics and hospitals in remote or resource-limited settings lack fast, affordable screening tools. A portable, low-cost diagnostic device that works at the point of care could catch dangerous cases earlier and save lives.

The solution

What was built

The project fabricated extended-gate field-effect transistor samples for electrical biomarker detection and assessed the commercial viability of a handheld reader with single-use cartridge design. IP rights from the predecessor RECORD-IT project were consolidated for future licensing or investment.

Audience

Who needs this

Point-of-care diagnostics companies expanding into maternal healthHospital networks and maternity clinics seeking bedside preeclampsia screeningBiosensor and MEMS chip manufacturers looking for medical applicationsMedtech investors seeking early-stage diagnostic device opportunitiesNGOs and health organizations serving resource-limited maternal care settings

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Device Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Point-of-care diagnostics manufacturers

If you are a medical device company looking to expand your point-of-care testing portfolio — this project developed microscale solid-state sensor technology using extended-gate field-effect transistors for electrical biomarker detection. The single-use cartridge and handheld reader design promises a smaller form factor and lower cost compared to commercially available technologies. With 2 consortium partners including 1 SME and 1 university, the IP is being consolidated for licensing or co-development.

Maternal Healthcare Services

enterprise

Target: Hospital chains and maternity clinic networks

If you are a hospital network or maternity clinic dealing with delayed preeclampsia diagnoses that put mothers at risk — this project created a bedside diagnostic approach using a handheld reader and single-use cartridge. The device detects multiple biomarkers in blood electrically, eliminating the wait for centralized lab results. The EUR 100,000 EU-funded project validated the commercial feasibility of technology originally developed under the RECORD-IT project.

Semiconductor & Biosensor Components

SME

Target: MEMS and biosensor chip fabricators

If you are a semiconductor or MEMS company seeking new applications for your fabrication capabilities — this project developed extended-gate field-effect transistor samples for biological sensing. The technology promises an increased signal-to-noise ratio at microscale, opening a path into the growing in-vitro diagnostics market. The consortium includes 1 industry partner and 1 university in Switzerland, with IP consolidation underway.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or co-develop this technology?

Based on available project data, the EU contributed EUR 100,000 under a Coordination and Support Action focused on IP consolidation and demonstrator development. Specific licensing terms are not published. Contact the coordinator MOMM Diagnostics GmbH in Switzerland to discuss commercial terms.

Can this technology scale to industrial production volumes?

The project fabricated extended-gate field-effect transistor samples as part of its demonstrator development. The objective states the device uses a single-use cartridge format designed for point-of-care use, which implies volume manufacturing intent. However, the project was focused on verifying commercialization potential rather than scaling production.

What is the intellectual property situation?

The project explicitly aimed to consolidate intellectual property rights as a primary goal. The underlying technology originates from the EU FETOPEN project RECORD-IT (ID: 664786). IP is held by or licensed to MOMM Diagnostics GmbH, the coordinating SME.

What regulatory approvals would be needed?

As a medical diagnostic device, this would require CE marking under the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) and FDA clearance for the US market. Based on available project data, regulatory approval was not within scope of this EUR 100,000 feasibility-stage project.

How does this compare to existing preeclampsia tests?

The objective states the technology promises an increased signal-to-noise ratio at a smaller form factor and lower cost compared to commercially available technologies. It detects multiple biomarkers electrically using a single-use cartridge, whereas current methods typically require centralized laboratory analysis.

What is the current development timeline?

The project ran from May 2019 to October 2020 and is now closed. The deliverables included fabrication of extended-gate field-effect transistor samples. The project aimed to develop a demonstrator to approach investors, suggesting the next phase would require investment funding.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a lean 2-partner consortium based entirely in Switzerland, consisting of MOMM Diagnostics GmbH (an SME and project coordinator) and one university partner. The 50% industry ratio is strong for a project of this type. The small team and focused EUR 100,000 budget indicate this was a targeted feasibility and IP consolidation effort rather than a full-scale development program. For a business partner, this means you would be dealing directly with the startup that owns the technology, with academic backing for the core science — a straightforward negotiation path with no complex multi-party IP to untangle.

EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALTparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

MOMM Diagnostics GmbH, Switzerland — SME developing point-of-care preeclampsia diagnostics. Contact via SciTransfer for a warm introduction.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this sensor technology or partnering with MOMM Diagnostics? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and provide a detailed technology brief.

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