The Micro Nano Sensor Group at Politecnico di Bari will coordinate METACARE — Meta-Enhanced Test for Advanced Care, selected for funding under EIC Pathfinder Open 2026. Prof. Francesco Dell’Olio will serve as Principal Investigator and scientific coordinator.

With a planned duration of 42 months and approximately €4.1 million in funding, METACARE brings together six partners from four European countries to develop a new photonic platform for diagnosing sexually transmitted infections.

The project aims to detect four pathogens — Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis — from a single urine sample in less than 30 minutes. These are research targets that will be assessed during the project.

At the heart of METACARE are nanophotonic metasurfaces: carefully engineered surfaces that manipulate light and enable the detection of specific molecular interactions. By combining these structures with molecular recognition, microfluidics and a compact optical reader, the consortium aims to build a diagnostic demonstrator suitable for future testing close to the patient.

The Micro Nano Sensor Group will contribute its expertise in photonic device design and optical characterization. The technology will be developed and evaluated using laboratory and clinical samples, with performance compared against established diagnostic methods.

Alongside Politecnico di Bari, the consortium includes the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), imec, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Silicon Austria Labs and Weatecho, a Politecnico di Bari spin-off. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona will contribute to the clinical activities through its collaboration with ISGlobal.

METACARE aims to lay the foundations for faster, more accessible diagnostic tools, supporting timely treatment and improved management of sexually transmitted infections.