Connecting Greek and Portuguese Innovation Ecosystems to Develop a Hub for Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Solutions at the Point-of Care – Tackling Cross-border Threats (DxHub)
Project: DxHub, https://dx-hub.eu
Funding: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07
Timely detection of infectious diseases is essential for protecting human health, animal welfare, agricultural productivity, and environmental safety, the foundational elements of the One Health approach. However, despite technological advances, early diagnosis remains a challenge due to delays in centralized laboratory testing, especially in rural and remote areas. These delays often lead to uncontrolled disease spread, inappropriate treatment, and broader public health or food security crises. Contributing to these challenges are fragmented innovation pipelines, inadequate support for translational research, and limited collaboration across the human, veterinary, agri-food, and environmental health sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for decentralized, rapid, and reliable diagnostics, highlighting vulnerabilities in global supply chains and national testing infrastructures. In response, the European Commission has prioritized the development of flexible and robust diagnostic systems through initiatives such as the European Health Union, EU4Health Programme, and Horizon Europe. In alignment with these goals, DxHub, a Center of Excellence, aims to address these persistent gaps by fostering the creation of innovative, accessible, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for on-site use. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and a One Health framework, DxHub connects academic institutions, businesses, local communities, and public authorities (the Quadruple Helix) across Crete (Greece) and Oeiras (Portugal). Its mission is to accelerate the transformation of diagnostics into market-ready solutions that deliver tangible benefits to public and animal health, as well as food safety.
