Resolving the signal-to-noise ratio challenge for precision liquid biopsy and early solid tumor surveillancecore
bio.Secret · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-07-01–2028-06-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02 · scheme HORIZON-CSA · topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02-ACCESS-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
bio.SECRET introduces a fundamentally new liquid-biopsy approach for early detection and monitoring of solid-tumour recurrence. Existing solutions - imaging, serum biomarkers and first-generation liquid biopsies (ctDNA, exosomes) - are limited by low sensitivity, high variability and delayed detection, leaving a critical clinical gap in identifying recurrence and minimal residual disease at an early, actionable stage.bio.SECRET directly overcomes these limitations by analysing the tumour secretome, the enriched mixture of molecules actively released by cancer cells. This upstream, tumour-centric strategy resolves the intrinsic signal-to-noise problem in plasma and enables the detection of low-abundance, biologically relevant biomarkers that conventional assays cannot capture. Pre-clinical data show a 4.9× increase in sensitivity, 99% reduction in plasma-protein interference, and identification of 1,300+ novel proteins, demonstrating clear technological superiority.The project will advance the platform from TRL 4 to TRL 6 through: (i) optimisation and standardisation of the secretome-generation workflow using 150 patient-derived samples; (ii) identification and analytical validation of a secretome-derived biomarker panel for breast-cancer recurrence; and (iii) development of the first bio.SECRET Monitor™ – Breast multiplex immunoassay prototype, benchmarked against CA15.3 and CEA.In parallel, the project will establish full investment and market readiness. Activities include: securing IP protection (priority patent filing and FTO analysis), developing CE-IVDR and ISO 13485 roadmaps, validating the value proposition with clinicians and diagnostic-lab users, and defining a clear commercial pathway. The dual strategy combining licensing of the discovery platform and biomarker panels to diagnostic and pharmaceutical partners (early revenues), and commercialisation of bio.SECRET Monitor™ diagnostic kits for clinical deployment, starting with breast cancer.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITINERANTSENSOR - LDA | PT | coordinator | €348,803 | Yes |
Get the EU Defence Funding Calendar — free
The full calendar of open EU defence and dual-use funding calls, sorted by deadline, updated nightly. Delivered with DFM Analysis, our weekly briefing on who is funding what in European defence.
Or browse all open defence & dual-use calls on the funding calendar →
Defence Finance Monitor is an analytical and informational product. Grant data is official CORDIS; the paid Annual Professional subscription is handled on DFM Analysis.