ECLectic Network Event 5: preparing the second half of the doctoral journey

From 6 to 10 July 2026, the ECLectic consortium gathered in Wageningen, the Netherlands, for Network Event 5, hosted by imec Netherlands and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) at the OnePlanet Research Center in Wageningen. OnePlanet is a multidisciplinary innovation centre where WUR and imec collaborate with academic and industrial partners to develop cutting-edge sensor, chip and digital technologies for applications in health, agriculture, food and the environment.

From Communication to Exploitation: building the path towards innovation

As ECLectic enters its second half, the programme deliberately broadened its perspective from communicating research results to understanding how these results can generate long-term value.

Building upon the dissemination and communication activities developed during the first part of the Doctoral Network, the participants took a further step towards research exploitation through dedicated sessions on innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme introduced the roadmap towards Deliverable 6.3 – Virtual Company, while an inspiring keynote by Daisylea de Souza Paiva explored how cutting-edge scientific discoveries can successfully evolve into market-ready products.

This entrepreneurial perspective was further enriched by two testimonials from researchers who transformed their academic work into successful start-ups. Carina Nieuwenweg (Novya Biotech) and Lutger Rutten (Sixth Sense Diagnostics) shared their personal experiences of building companies from research developed within the Wageningen innovation ecosystem, offering the Doctoral Candidates first-hand insights into technology transfer, entrepreneurship and the challenges of translating scientific knowledge into real-world healthcare solutions.

Finally, during the Virtual Company Workshop, organised together with the University of Bologna Knowledge Transfer Office, participants further developed the concepts introduced during previous network events, learning how to identify valuable valuable project foreground and knowledge assets, assess exploitation opportunities and think strategically about the scientific knowledge they are generating—not only within the scope of ECLectic itself, but also in terms of its broader societal and industrial potential.

Training at the intersection of science and technology

The scientific programme extended well beyond a traditional lecture series. Thanks to the commitment of Dr Klaus Mathwig (imec Netherlands), supervisor of Doctoral Candidate 6, and Dr Vittorio Saggiomo (Wageningen University & Research), co-supervisor of the same Doctoral Candidate, participants took part in an advanced scientific programme on microfluidics and a hands-on workshop hosted in Dr Saggiomo’s laboratory, where they had the opportunity to translate theoretical concepts into practical experience. The ECLectic consortium would like to sincerely thank both organisers for their dedication in designing and delivering an outstanding scientific programme and for successfully hosting Network Event 5.

The Microfluidics School brought together experts from OnePlanet Research Center, Wageningen University & Research, imec and the University of Groningen, covering topics ranging from organ-on-a-chip technologies and ingestible devices to optical cell sorting, unconventional microfluidics and point-of-care biosensing. The programme concluded with a poster session that encouraged scientific discussion among researchers and guest participants.

Reviewing progress and preparing the next phase of the project

Beyond the training activities, NE5 represented an important strategic milestone for the consortium. Extensive dedicated sessions were organised around every scientific Work Package, allowing each Doctoral Candidate to present the progress achieved so far while discussing how research activities, deliverables and upcoming secondments should be aligned during the second half of the project.

Complementing these discussions, each Doctoral Candidate participated in an individual one-to-one meeting with the project management team. These conversations revisited their Career Development Plans, assessed scientific progress, discussed publication strategies and future career aspirations, and helped optimise the international secondments that will begin in autumn to maximise both individual growth and collaboration across the consortium.

Beyond the scientific programme, NE5 also reinforced one of the core values of the ECLectic Doctoral Network: building a collaborative research community. Informal networking moments—including social evenings spent together watching the FIFA World Cup and an afternoon cycling through the beautiful Hoge Veluwe National Park—provided valuable opportunities for Doctoral Candidates and supervisors to strengthen professional relationships in a relaxed setting. These shared experiences continue to foster the trust, collaboration and interdisciplinary spirit that underpin the success of the network.

📸 Want to relive the highlights of Network Event 5? Check out the photo gallery and behind-the-scenes moments on ECLectic’s social media channels:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_msca_dn/
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclectic-msca-doctoral-network/
X → https://x.com/eclectic_msca_dn

by ECLectic Project

ECLectic Network Event 5 to take place in Wageningen, The Netherlands

From 6 to 10 July 2026, the ECLectic consortium will come together in Wageningen, The Netherlands, for Network Event 5, hosted by Imec-Netherlands and Wageningen University. The event will bring together Doctoral Candidates and supervisors for a week of advanced training, knowledge exchange, and collaborative activities.

Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the ECLectic Doctoral Network, the scientific programme will focus on microfluidics, a key technology for the development of innovative biosensing and diagnostic solutions. Through dedicated workshops and hands-on training sessions, participants will deepen their understanding of microfluidic systems and their integration into next-generation analytical platforms.

In addition to the technical programme, the event will continue the consortium’s training activities on exploitation and innovation. Dedicated sessions will explore the pathway from research outcomes to societal and economic impact, providing Doctoral Candidates with practical insights into how scientific results can be translated into exploitable innovations, intellectual property, and potential market applications.

Network Event 5 will also offer valuable opportunities for interaction among researchers and partners from across the consortium, fostering collaboration, strengthening professional networks, and encouraging interdisciplinary exchange.

The event represents another important milestone in the ECLectic training programme, supporting the development of a new generation of researchers equipped with both scientific excellence and innovation-oriented skills.

Photo copyright: António Valente.

by ECLectic Project

News from the lab: Doctoral Candidate Chiara Giustini

If you are wondering what is going on in the ECLectic DN labs, a series of videos is coming up to help us understand the work behind each doctoral research project.

Chiara Giustini is a PhD student at CIC biomaGUNE, Spain and she is part of the team of researchers of ECLectic Doctoral Network.

ECLectic International Doctoral Network – Light up the future

#ECLecticDoctoralNetwork #ECLecticDN #MSCA #mscactions #doctoralnetwork #euproject #PHD #HorizonEurope #HEU #research #REA_research #phdlife #electrochemistry #electrochemiluminescence #ECL

by ECLectic Project

News from the lab: Doctoral Candidate Nayla Takeuti

Nayla Naomi Kusimoto Takeuti is a PhD student at Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy, and she is part of the team of researchers of ECLectic Doctoral Network.

ECLectic International Doctoral Network – Light up the future

#ECLecticDoctoralNetwork #ECLecticDN #MSCA #mscactions #doctoralnetwork #euproject #PHD #HorizonEurope #HEU #research #REA_research #phdlife #electrochemistry #electrochemiluminescence #ECL

by ECLectic Project

New paper in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Autocatalytic Electrochemiluminescence

Claudia Martinez Asenjo, Francesco Petrini, Alessandro Fracassa, Dr Sara Knežević, Elisa D’Arrigo, Prof. Paul S. Francis, Prof. Francesco Paolucci, Prof. Neso Sojic, Dr Frédéric Kanoufi, Prof. Giovanni Valenti

Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful analytical technique that generates light through electrochemically induced reactions, enabling ultrasensitive biosensing and imaging of submicrometric objects. Conventional ECL systems, such as those using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and tri-n-propylamine (TPrA), require high applied potentials (oxidation at ∼1.4 V versus Ag/AgCl), leading to electrode surface modification and parasitic reactions. Herein, we present a novel autocatalytic ECL mechanism that drastically lowers the triggering potential to −0.2 V by exploiting the synergistic interplay between oxalate (C₂O₄²⁻) and peroxydisulfate (S₂O₈²⁻) radicals, mediated by Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ reduction. This system generates ECL without direct oxidation of the luminophore, but instead through a mild reduction process, relying on homogeneous radical reactions (SO₄^•⁻ and CO₂^•⁻) to populate the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺* excited state. Experimental investigation at different Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺/S₂O₈²⁻/C₂O₄²⁻ concentration ratios, backed by finite element simulations, demonstrates the autocatalytic cycle’s capability of exciting luminophores with a bandgap as high as 2.77 eV (blue-emitting Ir(III) complex), while also showing a more stable ECL emission and achieving an emitting layer as thick as ∼4.8 ± 0.2 µm. These findings establish a low-potential ECL pathway with a large emitting layer, extending the applicability of such nontoxic coreactants—historically limited by their short-lived radicals—and potentially paving the way for new frontiers in ECL.

Graphical abstract

The presented autocatalytic cycle, mediated by the reduction of Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ and arising from the synergistic interplay between oxalate (C₂O₄²⁻) and peroxydisulfate (S₂O₈²⁻) via their radical intermediates, prompts ECL emission from Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ at potentials as low as -0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl. This system generates ECL without direct oxidation of the luminophore, but instead through a cascade of redox-mediated electron transfers triggered by the mild reduction of Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺.

Autocatalytic Electrochemiluminescence

Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Read the full article

by ECLectic Project

Seminar and tutorial on switchSENSE® biosensor technologies at Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, a seminar and hands-on tutorial on switchSENSE® biosensor technologies was held at Universitätsklinikum Freiburg. The event was organized by ECLectic Doctoral Candidate Tereza Jahodová (DC10) as part of her secondment at the institute.

Tereza’s research project (DC10) focuses on developing applications of surface-based biosensor technologies like switchSENSE and SPR for the detection and analysis of sepsis-associated pathogens. At the moment, she is working on an approach to study pathogen single-point mutations using kinetic parameters of DNA binding. Her host beneficiary within the ECLectic Doctoral Network is Bruker Biosensors, a Munich-based company specialised in advanced surface-based biosensing technologies and a beneficiary of the DN. Tereza is also enrolled as a PhD candidate at LMU Munich, where she carries out her doctoral studies.

As part of the ECLectic MSCA Doctoral Network, Tereza is currently undertaking a two-month secondment at Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, where she is learning how to extract DNA from patient samples and detect causative pathogens using PCR, in close collaboration with Abdulkadir Sadiq (DC9).

Abdulkadir’s research project (DC9) focuses on developing species-specific PCR and qPCR assays for the detection and quantification of sepsis-associated pathogens in bloodstream infections. He is currently using these molecular methods as a benchmark to evaluate the analytical performance of a lab-on-a-chip device based on electrochemiluminescence. His work aims to compare detection limits, reliability, and quantification accuracy to support the development of rapid point-of-care diagnostics for early sepsis detection.

Tereza and Abdulkadir are jointly working on preparing single-stranded PCR products of S. aureus and E. coli genes with a goal to analyze their sequence on the HeliX device, combining their complementary expertise to advance the diagnostic potential of the ECLectic technologies.

At the beginning of November 2025, Bruker Biosensors shipped a HeliX device to Universitätsklinikum Freiburg. This allowed Tereza and Abdulkadir to test and analyze their samples directly on-site, gaining practical insights into the performance of the system and validating the work developed so far within the project.

The invitation to the seminar and tutorial was circulated among the medical and research staff of the Freiburg University Hospital.
The aim of the session was to showcase switchSENSE® technologies, followed by a practical tutorial using the HeliX device. During the hands-on demonstration, participants explored how the system can be applied to study the binding properties of the therapeutic antibody Hemlibra.

This initiative was carried out within the framework of the ECLectic Doctoral Network’s collaboration and training program, reinforcing the project’s mission to provide interdisciplinary, intersectoral learning opportunities.

Thanks to Tereza’s secondment at Universitätsklinikum Freiburg and the close, day-to-day collaboration between Tereza and Abdulkadir, this joint work naturally evolved into a dissemination activity involving all relevant local stakeholders – including clinicians, researchers, and technology developers – fostering dialogue and strengthening the visibility of the project’s scientific advancements.

by ECLectic Project

ECLectic Network Event 4: Three days of biosensing, clinical translation and interdisciplinary training at Dublin City University

From 20 to 22 October 2025, the ECLectic consortium gathered at Dublin City University (DCU) for its fourth Network Event, a three-day meeting that combined scientific updates, biosensor innovation and advanced training. Hosted at the Life Sciences Research Facility on the Glasnevin Campus, NE4 represented an important milestone in consolidating project progress and strengthening the interdisciplinary training framework of the MSCA-DN.

The event opened with the project meeting, during which the ten Doctoral Candidates (DCs) presented the advancement of their research activities. Under the guidance of WP leaders, DCs illustrated their latest scientific results and discussed how ongoing secondments, upcoming deliverables, and future tasks align within the overall project timeline. The lively poster session at the end of Day 1 further encouraged exchange among supervisors and DCs.

The programme also included an impactful set of expert lectures offering DCs an overview of current trends in biosensing, infection diagnostics, gene-editing technologies and antibody engineering. Through these talks, ECLectic junior researchers strengthened their scientific background while gaining exposure to clinical translation pathways, industrial perspectives and innovation strategies, all core aspects of ECLectic’s interdisciplinary training model. As the project moves forward, training increasingly focuses on transversal skills such as intellectual property management, patent strategies, and the steps required to transform a scientific idea into a functional biosensor or diagnostic device.

As with previous network events, NE4 offered important opportunities for informal exchange as well. These shared moments help reinforce the collaborative spirit of the network and the supportive environment central to MSCA training principles.

The final day included a guided tour of DCU’s Core Technologies and Life Sciences facilities, allowing participants to explore advanced infrastructures relevant to the project’s scientific activities.
The meeting concluded with a collective discussion on the next steps for the consortium, including coordination aspects related to training activities, dissemination and communication, and the upcoming phases of the project.

NE4 successfully combined scientific discussion, training, and community building. With this solid progress, the consortium now moves forward with the next research milestones and deliverables and upcoming secondments, continuing its path toward developing innovative ECL-based biosensing solutions for early sepsis diagnosis.

Watch what happened during the event on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_mscadn/

by ECLectic Project

New paper in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Electrochemiluminescence Modulation by a Versatile Organic Redox Mediator

Miaoxia Liu, Xianjing Huang, Bertrand Goudeau, Chenying Wang, Neso Sojic, Haidong Li

Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract

Adding a redox-active iridium complex has emerged recently as a new mechanistic pathway to enhance electrochemiluminescence (ECL). But, these redox mediators are costly, require sophisticated synthesis, and induce concomitantly intense ECL emission or a strong background. Herein, we report the use of nortropine N-oxyl (NNO) radical as a non-emissive redox mediator for modulating the co-reactant ECL emission of the archetypical [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ luminophore, thanks to its particular reactivity involving hydride transfer from amines. The reversible oxidation of NNO produced its oxoammonium cation and catalyzed the oxidation of tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) and 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) co-reactants. The electrocatalysis of NNO induced a significant decrease in the homogeneous solution-based ECL. However, it offered the versatility to amplify the heterogeneous ECL by 7.3-fold for TPrA or even up to 12.5-fold for DBAE in a bead-based immunosensing format, and by 5.4-fold on single cells. The electrocatalytic mechanism of NNO was further deciphered by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The background-free ECL modulation by NNO depends on either the depletion of amine radical or the generation of another alkoxyl radical at the electrode. Such dramatic ECL amplification opens new perspectives for improving the existing ECL bioassays and microscopy and the design of new biosensing schemes.

Graphical abstract

The electrocatalysis of NNO for the co-reatant oxidation enhances the heterogeneous ECL of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ on labeled microbeads or cells. This unique electrocatalytic oxidation of co-reactant makes NNO a versatile non-emissive redox mediator for ECL studies.

Read the full article

by ECLectic Project

Towards ECLectic Network Event 4 on Biosensors @ Dublin City University

After the summer break and the start of the new academic year, the ECLectic consortium is ready for its fourth Network Event, which will take place at Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland, from 20 to 22 October 2025.

The event will gather all Doctoral Candidates (DCs) and Principal Investigators (PIs) to discuss the progress of each individual research project and the overall advancement of the ECLectic Doctoral Network.

The training session will focus on electrochemical methods and biosensors, with a particular emphasis on biomedical and bioanalytical applications. This theme aims to further strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of the training programme, bridging chemistry, biology, and materials science.

Hosted by the Department of Chemical Sciences at DCU, Network Event 4 will combine scientific discussions and hands-on training sessions with networking and community-building activities.

In addition to its scientific content, the meeting will offer opportunities to exchange experiences, share best practices, and foster collaboration across institutions and sectors. Several DCs are currently engaged in their international and intersectoral secondments, making this event an ideal occasion to discuss logistical aspects, scientific outcomes, and interdisciplinary synergies emerging from these mobility periods.

Follow all updates on ECLectic social networks:

X: https://x.com/ECLectic_MSCADN

IG: https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_mscadn/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclectic-msca-dn-83b529300/

by ECLectic Project

New paper in Chemical & Biochemical Imaging

Gamma correction and color space transformations for quantitative analysis of electrochemiluminescence images using smartphone cameras

Stephania Rodríguez Muiña, Rajendra Kumar Reddy Gajjala, Eduardo Fernández Martín, and Francisco Javier del Campo

Published in Chemical & Biochemical Imaging

Abstract

Quantitative imaging of luminescent signals, ranging from electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and chemiluminescence to colorimetric assays, is increasingly performed using consumer-grade digital cameras and smartphones. However, device-dependent variability, nonlinear signal encoding, and the absence of standardized workflows hinder reproducibility and quantification accuracy. This work presents a generalized methodology for robust signal quantification in luminescent systems using digital imaging, with ECL as a model case. By combining synchronized electrochemical control, manual optimization of imaging parameters, gamma correction, and color space transformations, accurate device-independent analysis is enabled. Using Ru(bpy)32+/TPrA as a test system, we evaluate RGB, CIEXYZ, and CIELAB color spaces, identifying optimal channels for sensitivity and dynamic range. Our performance assessment underscores the importance of transfer function selection and supports both linear and nonlinear quantification models. Results show that linearized r and X color channels offer broad dynamic ranges with moderate sensitivity, while encoded R and a* channels provide higher sensitivity at low concentrations, requiring nonlinear modeling to extend their quantification range. This scalable approach enables standardized, high-throughput optical analysis using low-cost camera platforms, with broad applications in diagnostics, biosensing, and analytical chemistry.