The EU-funded project PAIR is reportedly working on developing two advanced technology aimed at preventing the spillover of new pandemics. Even four years after the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the world has not been able to completely recover. Notably, all pandemics over the last 120 years have been caused by RNA respiratory viruses. These viruses most often originate in animals and then jump to humans, especially under favourable conditions.
Under PAIR, the two technologies being developed are PANPOC and PANRISK.
The initiatives and technologies will first be introduced and tested in five European nations: Denmark, France, Latvia, Italy, and Spain. The EU will also issue new guidelines for a European One Health genomic-informed surveillance and outbreak response once the feedback from these nations is registered.
More about PANPOC
This device is made up of an integrated heater and optical detection systems. The device uses a real-time fluorescence-based detection system, which can be used for both clinical diagnostics (human samples) and veterinary surveillance.
The technology will enable health and veterinary authorities, clinical end-users, and primary care providers to detect RNA respiratory viruses with high accuracy.
The device has been developed using the Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology. It operates at a constant temperature, making the overall detection process simpler and cost-effective.
It also comes with a simple design, so operators don’t need to have special skills to run the device. After it’s fully developed, this system will allow the simultaneous analysis of 16 different samples for 3-4 different agents (target viruses) and provide a Point-of-Care that will deliver reliable results on-site in less than one hour while eliminating transport time to a central laboratory.
The PAIR initiative thus offers promising solution in helping authorities better prepare for more health crises and pandemic scenarios.
