Chronic intestinal inflammation represents an increasingly significant public health challenge, with profound impacts on patients’ quality of life and substantial healthcare costs. The rising prevalence of this condition, both in Europe and globally, underscores the urgent need for improved diagnostics and effective monitoring. This project focuses on the further development of the ingestible Sensor Pill — the first medical device of its kind for direct in-vivo measurements of inflammation in the human gastrointestinal tract. The technology has already been validated in healthy participants and certified as a research tool under Dutch regulations.
In this project, we aim to advance the technology and take critical steps toward its market implementation in the Netherlands and Germany. We will gather evidence to demonstrate the clinical applicability of the Sensor Pill for patients with chronic intestinal inflammation and develop a strategy for clinical implementation in the region, considering the regulatory and clinical practices of both countries. Additionally, the first prototype for direct Bluetooth communication between the Sensor Pill and a smartphone will be developed. This innovation will offer a user-friendly experience and enhance the market readiness of the solution.
Finally, we will design an advanced, targeted Gut Microbiome Profiling Kit for faecal diagnostics of intestinal inflammation. The microbiome profiles will be combined with Sensor Pill data to improve a Digital Twin of the gastrointestinal tract, integrating multimodal data to detect and localize intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis.
By combining medical technologies, digital healthcare, and biotechnological solutions in a cross-border collaboration between academic institutions and SMEs, this project will drive innovation and significantly enhance research and market opportunities in the Dutch-German border region.
