The CD-MEDICS IP project started on 1st February 2008 and is set to run for a period of 4 years. It is sponsored under the EU Framework 7 program and has 20 partners from 10 countries currently participating. Valentia Technologies is one of the intrinsic partners, which is playing active role throughout this research study.
We (Valentia Technologies) are focused on developing next-generation health informatics applications by leveraging various mobile, network and sensor technologies. Our applications are patient-centric, with emphasis on directly improving health outcomes and lifestyle quality. Our clients range from acute emergency management to ‘aging-in-place’ care.
In this regard, the key objective of CD-MEDICS is to obtain an instrument that will be a low-cost non-invasive intelligent diagnosis system that can be present at point of care, such as a doctor’s surgery which will bring benefits to patients and healthcare professionals.
The applications of the proposed integrated micro system and its individual modules forcoeliac disease diagnosis, monitoring and management are multiple. The analysis of the HLA-DQ2 & 8 genes will provide information on the genetic predisposition of an individual, while serum IgA and IgG indicate antibodies associated with gluten in the diet.
The specific objectives of CD-MEDICS are:
Demonstration of usefulness of anti-glutenin antibodies to improve sensitivity and selectivity in the screening and diagnosis of coeliac disease and development of immunoassays and HLA typing protocols.
Development of generic geno sensor array micro modules for HLA typing.
Development of individual micro modules for sample treatment, mixing, metering, nucleic acid amplification, HLA typing and autoantibody detection.
Development of a nano structured micro system with multiple sample treatment modules integrated with the sensor arrays on a single disposable device.
Provision of a wireless communication approach that seamlessly links devices through one of many potential methods ensuring that communication capabilities are always maximized.
Clinical evaluation encompassing both end-user feedback and bioethical issues.
Innovation management ensuring exploitation of developed technology.
Integration of multidisciplinary education and skills development with research activities.
Ethical scrutiny and fostering of dialogue as a means of generating both greater appreciation of the contribution to our well-being of advanced technology and an enthusiasm for science.
Some of the key considerations of CD medics are:
It is estimated that 1% of the European population may have coeliac disease. For each diagnosed case of the condition there are 7 undiagnosed cases. The disease is under diagnosed due to the lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and the public - even though the sensitive and specific diagnostic tests are available.
The classic manifestation of the disease with diarrheoa and malabsorption of nutrients is not very common any more, atypical and silent symptoms are much more frequent.
It is thus critical to increase the knowledge of the disease via the training of doctor, dieticians and other healthcare professionals.
Gluten must not be removed from the diet before diagnostic tests are undertaken – without gluten in the diet it will be impossible to test for the disease.
Withdrawal of gluten from the diet is the only treatment of the disease, and leads to an improvement of health, a decrease in the levels of auto antibodies associated with the disease and the repair of intestinal mucosa. Withdrawal of gluten from the diet also prevents the development of associated illness and complications.
Although the gluten-free diet is in principle easy to follow, there are a number of factors that complicate correct adherence, such as poor labeling of gluten-free products and the lack of an adequate analytical method for the detection of gluten.
However, a healthy balanced diet can be eaten by eating naturally gluten-free foods such as vegetables, fish, eggs and pulses and specialist gluten-free products. Celiac societies throughout Europe provide practical help to people with the disease and the families and friends with information on gluten-free foods and advice about keeping healthy.
