ProID · Project

Rapid Protein Identification Platform Using Laser Light for Disease Diagnostics

healthPrototypeTRL 3Thin data (2/5)

Imagine being able to read a protein like a barcode — scanning each building block one by one using a special laser technique. That's what ProID built: a platform that shines light through tiny nanoscale holes to identify individual proteins at the single amino-acid level. Think of it like a supermarket scanner, but instead of reading product barcodes, it reads the molecular makeup of proteins in your body. This could tell doctors exactly which proteins a patient is producing, opening the door to much earlier disease detection and personalized treatments.

By the numbers

consortium partners across multiple disciplines

countries collaborating (DE, FR, IT, LU, SE)

total project deliverables produced

SME partner in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Current protein analysis methods are slow, expensive, and cannot efficiently determine which specific proteins an individual patient is actually producing. This gap limits the ability of diagnostics companies, pharma firms, and clinical labs to deliver fast, personalized disease detection and treatment. A rapid, cost-effective protein identification tool would unlock major advances in precision medicine and drug development.

The solution

What was built

The project built an ultrafast Raman spectroscopy platform combining plasmonic nanopores, SPAD array detectors, and machine learning-based bioinformatics software. A key concrete output is the SROE final prototype, documented in a deliverable report on its design and performance, capable of recording single-protein Raman spectra at single amino-acid resolution.

Audience

Who needs this

Clinical diagnostics companies developing next-generation protein-based testsPharmaceutical R&D teams needing faster protein characterization in drug discoveryScientific instrument manufacturers seeking next-gen Raman spectroscopy productsProteomics service laboratories looking for higher-throughput analysis toolsPersonalized medicine startups building patient-specific protein profiling platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Diagnostics & Clinical Testing

enterprise

Target: Diagnostic device manufacturers and clinical laboratory companies

If you are a diagnostics company struggling with slow or expensive protein analysis methods — this project developed a platform combining plasmonic nanopores with ultrafast single-photon detectors that can read protein sequences at single amino-acid resolution. This could dramatically cut the time and cost of identifying disease-related proteins in patient samples, giving you a competitive edge in precision diagnostics.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech R&D

enterprise

Target: Drug development and biotech firms doing proteomics research

If you are a pharma or biotech company spending weeks on protein characterization during drug development — this project built ultrafast Raman spectrometers using SPAD arrays and machine learning algorithms that can discriminate proteins with reduced spectral data points. Faster protein ID means faster target validation and shorter drug discovery timelines.

Scientific Instruments

mid-size

Target: Spectroscopy and lab equipment manufacturers

If you are an instrument maker looking for next-generation spectroscopy technology — this project delivered a working SROE prototype combining SPAD array detectors with dedicated optical elements that improve sensitivity and speed while reducing the number of detector elements needed. Licensing or co-developing this technology could open a new product line in single-molecule Raman spectroscopy.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost compared to current protein analysis methods?

Based on available project data, specific cost figures were not published. However, the platform uses SPAD arrays that reduce the number of detector elements needed to sample a Raman spectrum, which suggests lower hardware costs than conventional setups. Commercial pricing would depend on licensing terms with the consortium.

Can this scale to handle clinical or industrial throughput volumes?

The project demonstrated a final SROE prototype, but this remains at the research-to-prototype stage. Scaling from single-molecule detection in a lab to clinical throughput would require significant engineering and validation. The 9-partner consortium across 5 countries provides a strong foundation for scale-up partnerships.

What is the IP situation and how could a company license this?

The project was funded under FET Open (FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020), a Research and Innovation Action. IP generated during the project is typically owned by the consortium partners. Interested companies should contact the coordinator, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, to discuss licensing of the nanopore fabrication, SPAD detector, and bioinformatics components.

How close is this to being used in a real clinical or lab setting?

The project delivered a final prototype report for the SROE detector system, indicating a working proof-of-concept exists. However, as a FET Open project focused on emerging technologies, clinical validation and regulatory approval would still be needed before deployment. Based on available project data, no clinical trials or pilot deployments have been reported.

What software or data tools come with the platform?

The project developed bioinformatics software specifically designed for discriminating Raman spectra of proteins with reduced spectral data points. Machine learning algorithms were built to match spectral signatures to known proteins. The EuroSciVoc classification includes proteomics and software as key outputs.

Does this work only for human proteins or also for other applications?

The project objective focuses on the human proteome — the full set of proteins a human can express. However, the underlying Raman spectroscopy and nanopore technology is not inherently limited to human proteins. Based on available project data, adaptation to other biological or industrial applications was not explicitly addressed.

Consortium

Who built it

The ProID consortium brings together 9 partners from 5 European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden), with a strong academic and research core: 5 universities and 3 research organizations. The industry presence is minimal at just 1 partner (11% industry ratio), with 1 SME. This composition is typical for a FET Open project exploring breakthrough science rather than near-market technology. For a business looking to engage, the coordinator — Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia — is a well-known deep-tech research institute with experience in technology transfer, making it the natural entry point for licensing or co-development discussions.

FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIACoordinator · IT
MICRO PHOTON DEVICES SRLparticipant · IT
EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORYparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVAparticipant · IT
UMEA UNIVERSITETparticipant · SE
UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURGparticipant · LU
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Italy — a leading research institute with established tech transfer capabilities

Order a report on this consortium See FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the ProID protein identification platform or connect with the research team? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction and help you evaluate the business fit.

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