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TOXI-triage · Project

Rapid Toxic Emergency Triage System Using Portable Sensors and AI

healthTestedTRL 6
toxi-triage.eu

Imagine a chemical spill or a terrorist attack with toxic substances — first responders arrive but have no quick way to tell who's been seriously exposed and who hasn't. TOXI-triage built portable devices that can read breath, skin, and saliva samples on the spot, like a breathalyzer but for toxic injuries. The system also uses drones and AI to map the danger zone and track every casualty from the scene to the hospital. They tested everything in 2 field exercises and real poisoning clinics to make sure it actually works under pressure.

By the numbers
21
consortium partners across the project
8
countries represented in the consortium
2
field exercises conducted for operational testing
6
SMEs involved in the consortium
9
Work Packages delivered
14
total deliverables produced
2
prototype systems demonstrated (diagnostic + sampling)
The business problem

What needed solving

When a toxic chemical incident happens — whether industrial accident, terrorist attack, or environmental disaster — first responders currently lack fast, reliable tools to determine who has been seriously exposed and who is safe. Traditional lab testing takes hours or days, while casualties need immediate triage. This gap costs lives and wastes critical medical resources on people who may not need urgent care.

The solution

What was built

The project built two key prototype systems: a diagnostic system that assesses toxic exposure and injury using metabolic markers, tested on patients exposed to OP pesticides, toxic alcohol adulterants, and radiation; and a non-invasive sampling system with breath, skin, and saliva collection devices along with standard operating procedures. These were integrated with drones, standoff detectors, AI-powered sensor processing, and a wireless casualty tracking system.

Audience

Who needs this

HAZMAT and first responder equipment manufacturersChemical plant safety managers at petrochemical companiesDefense contractors building CBRN detection systemsNational civil protection agencies and emergency servicesHospital emergency departments handling mass casualty incidents
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Emergency Response Equipment
mid-size
Target: Manufacturers of first responder and HAZMAT equipment

If you are a manufacturer of emergency response gear dealing with the lack of rapid field-diagnostic tools for chemical incidents — this project developed prototype diagnostic systems that assess toxic exposure non-invasively using breath, skin, and saliva samples. The system was validated in 2 field exercises and clinical trials at poisoning clinics, offering a ready-to-license product line for CBRN response kits.

Industrial Safety
enterprise
Target: Chemical plant operators and petrochemical companies

If you are a chemical plant operator dealing with workplace exposure monitoring and incident response — this project built non-invasive sampling devices that detect metabolic markers of toxic injury in seconds. With 21 partners across 8 countries validating the technology, these tools can be integrated into your on-site safety protocols to rapidly triage affected workers during chemical spills or leaks.

Defense & Security Technology
enterprise
Target: Security system integrators and defense contractors

If you are a defense contractor looking for next-generation CBRN detection capabilities — this project integrated drones, standoff detectors, AI-driven sensor processing, and wireless casualty tracking into a unified command-and-control system. The 2 field exercises proved operational readiness, and the aptamer-based biosensing technology offers a differentiated edge over existing detection methods.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or acquire this technology?

The project produced prototype diagnostic and sampling systems through an Innovation Action with 21 partners. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (Loughborough University) and the relevant technology-developing partners. With 6 SMEs in the consortium, some components may already have commercial pricing structures.

Can this scale to industrial or national deployment?

The system was tested in 2 field exercises and clinical trials at poisoning clinics, including live agent tests at UN OPCW-designated laboratories. With 7 industry partners and 8 countries represented in the consortium, the technology was designed with operational deployment in mind. Scaling would require manufacturing partnerships for the hardware components.

What is the IP situation and who owns the technology?

IP is distributed across 21 consortium partners under Horizon 2020 rules, meaning each partner typically owns the IP they generated. Key technologies include aptamer-based biosensing, non-invasive sampling devices, and AI-driven sensor processing. Licensing discussions should start with Loughborough University as coordinator.

Has this been tested in real emergency conditions?

Yes — 2 field exercises were conducted to test and verify operational attributes. Additionally, clinical trials were run in poisoning clinics with real patients exposed to OP pesticides, toxic alcohol adulterants, and radiation. Live agent tests were conducted in laboratories designated by the UN's OPCW.

How does this integrate with existing emergency response systems?

The project was built around a casualty-to-discharge integration concept, with wireless traceability providing dynamic mapping including medical care tracking. The centralized command-and-control architecture was designed to overlay existing response infrastructure with embedded sensors, drones, and standoff detectors.

Is this only for CBRN events or does it have everyday uses?

The project explicitly designed for multiple uses beyond CBRN. Based on the project objectives, outcomes are intended for routine use in medical, environmental, urban, and search-and-rescue emergencies. This multi-use design was a deliberate strategy to ensure economic sustainability of the systems.

What regulatory approvals exist?

The diagnostic and sampling prototypes were tested in clinical trials and OPCW-designated labs, which provides a strong evidence base. However, based on available project data, full regulatory approval for medical devices (e.g., CE marking) would likely still need to be pursued for commercial deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

TOXI-triage assembled a strong consortium of 21 partners across 8 countries, with a balanced mix of 8 universities, 7 industry players, 2 research organizations, and 4 other entities. The 33% industry ratio and 6 SMEs signal genuine commercial intent — this wasn't purely academic. Loughborough University (UK) coordinated the effort, bringing together expertise from the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK. The geographic spread across Northern, Western, and Southern Europe suggests the technology was tested across different regulatory and operational environments. For a business partner looking to license or deploy these systems, the presence of 7 industry partners means there are likely manufacturing-ready partners already familiar with the technology.

How to reach the team

Loughborough University, UK — contact through university research office or project website

Order a report on this consortiumSee LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the TOXI-triage team and help negotiate access to their prototype diagnostic and sampling technologies. We handle the introductions so you can focus on evaluating the fit.

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