Fondazione Don Gnocchi strengthens its role in national healthcare research with the funding obtained through the latest call “Ricerca Finalizzata” promoted by the Ministero della Salute. Among the seven projects funded for a total of approximately €3 million, particular attention is drawn to the activities led by LABION and the development of the SPEC-UTI project.
At the heart of this achievement is LABION with the project SPEC-UTI (Raman-SPECtroscopy Proximity Diagnostic Tools for Healthcare-Associated Urinary Tract Infections) that has been selected among the winners of the Ricerca Finalizzata 2024.
SPEC-UTI: a new frontier in infection diagnostics
Developed in collaboration with Professor Gian Maria Rossolini and his team at Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Florence, SPEC-UTI aims to revolutionize the diagnosis of healthcare-associated urinary tract infections through the use of Raman spectroscopy. This technology enables rapid, label-free analysis of biological samples, potentially reducing diagnostic times and improving treatment precision.
The project reflects a strong collaborative effort and a shared vision to address one of the most critical challenges in healthcare: the timely and accurate identification of infections acquired in clinical settings.
SPEC-UTI stands out within the broader portfolio of funded projects for its high translational potential. By integrating advanced spectroscopy with clinical microbiology, the initiative aims to deliver practical tools that can be directly implemented in healthcare environments, enhancing patient management and supporting more effective infection control strategies.
The success of SPEC-UTI highlights the LABION ability to design and carry out projects that combine multidisciplinary expertise, technological innovation, and clinical relevance. In a highly competitive national landscape this result confirms the value of a research model oriented toward real-world impact.
Project abstract:
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections. In long-term acute-care rehabilitation facilities (LTACRFs) the burden of UTI is typically exacerbated by antimicrobial resistance and appropriate treatment may be challenged by delayed diagnostic result.
This project aims at developing a portable low-cost system, based on Raman Spectroscopy (RS) technology, for rapid diagnosis of UTI from urine samples at the bedside. The system will first be tested on bacterial cultures and spiked urines to optimize the detection of uropathogens, using different substrates (CaF2, CaF2 plus silver nanoparticles, aluminum).
Clinical evaluation will then be performed in an LTACRF. This approach has the potential for rapid UTI diagnosis in LTACRFs and could contribute to reducing the rates of unnecessary treatments and unresolved/complicated infections requiring transfer to acute care hospitals.