The Parolo Lab participates in competitive research and innovation projects spanning biomarker discovery, molecular recognition, point-of-care diagnostics, clinical validation and translation. These projects bring together academic, clinical and industrial partners around specific scientific and technological challenges.
Current & Recent Projects
Ongoing and recent competitive projects, collaborative R&D and translational programmes led or co-led by The Parolo Lab.
QUADPOC — Multiple Detection of Four Sexually Transmitted Infections at the Point of Care
Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2024 · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2025
Reference: PID2024-160316OB-I00 · Budget: €156,000 · Co-PI: Ciara O’Sullivan
Project objective: Development of a point-of-care diagnostic strategy for the multiplex detection of four sexually transmitted infections.
Partners: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Related links: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/proyectos-generacion-conocimiento-2024/publicaciones
DENMAL — Aptamer-Based Rapid Diagnostic Test for Simultaneous Malaria and Dengue Detection
CaixaImpulse Stage 1 · “la Caixa” Foundation · 2024
Reference: CI24-10491) · Budget: €50,000 · Co-PI: Ciara O’Sullivan
Project objective: Development of an aptamer-based rapid diagnostic test for the simultaneous detection of malaria and dengue, combining molecular-recognition engineering with a format suitable for decentralized testing.
Partners: ISGlobal · Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Related links: https://caixaresearch.org/en/caixaimpulse-health-innovation-call
SerDNA — Next Generation Serology: Immune Profiling via Graphene-Enhanced DNA Scaffold Sensors
Retos Colaboración Público-Privada · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2024
Reference: CPP2023-010774 · Budget: €711,993.50 · Co-PI: Natalia Rodriguez (ISGlobal), Victor Puntes (VHIO), Claudia Simao (GraphenicaLab)
Project objective: Development of next-generation serological sensing based on graphene-enhanced DNA-scaffold architectures for immune profiling.
Partners: ISGlobal · VHIO · GraphenicaLab
Related links: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/proyectos-colaboracion-publico-privada-2023/publicaciones · https://graphenicalab.com/
G_SensStrongy — Graphene-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis
Retos Colaboración Público-Privada · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2023
Reference: CPP2022-009773 · Budget: €266,950 · Co-PI: Luis Pires (GraphenicaLab)
Project objective: Development of a graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for point-of-care diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.
Partners: ISGlobal · GraphenicaLab
Related links: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/proyectos-colaboracion-publico-privada-2022/publicaciones · https://graphenicalab.com/
G_SensMalaria — Portable Graphene Multiplex Electrochemical Sensor for Rapid Detection of Severe Malaria
Retos Colaboración Público-Privada · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2022
Reference: CPP2021-008658 · Budget: €181,821 · Co-PI: Luis Pires (GraphenicaLab)
Project objective: Development of a portable graphene-based multiplex electrochemical sensor for rapid detection of biomarkers associated with severe malaria.
Partners: ISGlobal · GraphenicaLab
Related links: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/proyectos-colaboracion-publico-privada-2021/publicaciones · https://graphenicalab.com/
Electrochemical Detection of Diagnostic and Prognostic Malaria Biomarkers
JIN Project · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2021
Reference: PID2020-116770RJ-I00 · Budget: €181,500
Project objective: Development of a novel electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of malaria.
Partners: ISGlobal
Related links: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/proyectos-idi-2020-modalidades-retos-investigacion-generacion-3
Earlier Projects and Fellowships
Earlier competitive projects and fellowships that established the scientific foundations of the research now developed within The Parolo Lab.
Ramón y Cajal Fellowship — Point-of-Care Sensors for Clinical Applications
Ramón y Cajal Fellowship · Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation · 2023
Reference: RYC2022-036743-I · Budget: €244,350
Project objective: Development of point-of-care sensors for infectious diseases.
Host: The Interfibio group at the University Rovira i Virgili – Spain
MAKI — Real-Time Monitoring of Acute Kidney Injury Biomarkers
BIST Ignite Programme · Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology · 2020
Reference: 2019 BIST Ignite 2020 · Budget: €20,000 · Co-PI: Gemma Aragay
Project objective: Real-time sensing of diagnostically relevant biomarkers in urine for monitoring acute kidney injury.
Host: The Merkoçi’s group at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Spain
Partners: Catalan Institute for Chemical Research (ICIQ)
PREMOTHER — Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis
Marie Skłodowska Curie Reintegration Fellowship · European Commission · 2018
Reference: 795635 · Budget: €170,121.60
Project objective: Development of electrochemical DNA-switch sensors for the detection of HIV- and syphilis-related antibodies, with the goal of supporting prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
Host: The Merkoçi’s group at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Spain
Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship — Electrochemical Molecular Sensing
Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship · Generalitat de Catalunya · 2015
Reference: 2014 BP_A 00068 · Budget: €72,468
Project objective: Development of electrochemical molecular sensing approaches based on DNA recognition and structure-switching mechanisms.
Host: The Plaxco’s group at University of California Santa Barbara – USA
i-sense Exploratory Project — Carbon-Nanotube Paper Electrodes
i-sense Exploratory Project · University College London · 2014
Reference: T26210S (ATT11124) · Budget: £50,000 · Co-PI: Milo Shaffer, Benjamin Miller, Neal Skipper and Rachel McKendry
Project objective: Development of carbon-nanotube-based paper electrodes for low-cost sensing and point-of-care applications.
Host: The McKendry group at University College London / London Centre for Nanotechnology – UK
Partners: Imperial College London
Related links: https://www.i-sense.org/carbon-nanotube-electrodes-sensitive-and-rapid-influenza-diagnostics
BE Fellowship — Paper-Based Sensors
BE Fellowship · Generalitat de Catalunya · 2012
Reference: 2011 BE1 00520 · Budget: 7.167,00 €
Project objective: Development of paper-based sensing technologies.
Host: The Whitesides’ group at Harvard University – USA
FI Predoctoral Fellowship — Nanoparticle-Based Point-of-Care Sensors
FI Predoctoral Fellowship · Generalitat de Catalunya · 2011
Reference: 2011FI_B00903
Project objective: Doctoral research on plastic and paper platforms for nanoparticle-based immunosensors.
Host: The Merkoçi’s group at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Spain
Where it all began
Erasmus Studentship · European Union · 2009
An eight-month Erasmus experience that marked the beginning of an international research path in biosensing and point-of-care diagnostics.
Host: The Merkoçi’s group at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Spain