Activities

FLUFET – 2nd year meeting - Tenerife (Spain)

To celebrate two years of FLUFET, the consortium gathered for a face-to-face meeting that brought the entire team together. We looked back on the milestones achieved over the past year, exchanged insights across disciplines, and took the time to critically assess our progress. Just as importantly, we worked ahead, addressing challenges and shaping solutions for the year to come.

With shared vision and strong collaboration, we’re ready for what’s next. It is a pleasure to have this amazing group of people working together!

Futurematerials 2025 – Tenerife (Spain)

Our researcher Davide Campagnol from Universidade da Coruña gave a talk about "Charge density modulation in graphene FET biosensors for virus detection via chemical modification" at the Futurematerials2025 – the 6th International Conference on Materials Science and Nanotechnology.

With shared vision and strong collaboration, we’re ready for what’s next. It is a pleasure to have this amazing group of people working together!

5th European Biosensor Symposium – Tarragona (Spain)

Our researcher Rene Pfeifer from CIC biomaGUNE is presenting the poster "Detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (ectodomain) by mini graphene field effect transistors (mGFET-4D)" at the 5th European Biosensor Symposium.

This event brings together leading researchers in biosensing technologies, a great opportunity to share our progress and connect with the scientific community. If you see him around, don't hesitate to ask about our project.

Sharing Our Story (Divulgando o noso) – Coruña (Spain)

Until September 30, thanks to the University of A Coruña and its “Divulgando o noso” initiative, you can view infographics on various topics at the bus shelters of the City of A Coruña.

From the FLUFET project, coordinated by the NanoSelf Lab at the CICA UDC Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology, we present an infographic on how we will detect the next pandemic (though let’s hope there isn’t one).

In this project, we’re developing a sensor based on graphene transistors that can detect the presence of viruses in wastewater from farms.

The device operates automatically: it collects samples, concentrates viral particles, measures their interaction with biological receptors, and, through an electrical signal, indicates when viruses are present.

Additionally, the system continuously self-cleans, allowing it to continue operating without interruption.

Farms are key locations for this surveillance, as proximity to animals facilitates the evolution of viruses and their potential transmission to humans—a phenomenon known as zoonosis.

Keystone Symposia – Geneve (Switzerland)

At the recent Keystone Symposia “Predicting and Responding to Emerging Viral Infections” in Geneva, Tea Carletti from our partner institute ICGEB Trieste, presented data on the FLUFET biosensor.

The conference gathers top international scientists in virology, immunology, epidemiology and public health to fill knowledge gaps in emerging and re-emerging viruses and zoonotic threats, with a particular emphasis on pandemic preparedness. Our work within the FLUFET project sparked great curiosity and appreciation for its innovative concept and broad potential applications in zoonosis prevention.

Graphene2025 – San Sebastian (Spain)

FLUFET partners participated in Graphene 2025, a conference with more than 500 experts from around the world, including Konstantin Novoselov, Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for his work on graphene

A contribution from Graphenea was presented by Alba Centeno talking about our project and also, presenting a new Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) run focused on biosensing as part of the 2D-PL European project.

Also, excited to see Virginia Cendán Castillo, PhD student, representing UDC at Graphene2025 in San Sebastián!

This is a great opportunity to share her research, connect with global experts, and strengthen our collaboration in the graphene and 2D materials field.

Honey, I shrunk science by Ingenyus – A Coruña (Spain)

This week, thanks to the opportunity provided by ingenyus*, Alejandro Criado (UDC) was able to talk a bit about the importance of nanotechnology and how we’re trying to apply this knowledge to real-world problems, such as FLUFET, a project focused on virus detection.

Visit to Graphenea's facilities – Donosti (Spain)

We are happy to foster close collaboration between our partners!

Members of CICbiomaGUNE and UDC visited Graphenea’s facilities to exchange knowledge and drive progress together. It is a real pleasure to collaborate with these people!!

First Year Meeting FLUFET – Madrid (Spain)

In February 2025, FLUFET celebrated its first year of progress in the framework of the EIC Pathfinder project. In this meeting, milestones achieved were reviewed, learnings were shared and next steps were planned. Partners such as UDC, INL, BCMaterials, VTT, Graphenea, CIC biomaGUNE and ICGEB participated.

CICA Conference – A Coruña (Spain)

We are pleased to announce the presentation by Ivan Coluzza, a FLUFET researcher, at CICA about protein modelling and theoretical calculation, sharing insights on Biomimetic Polymers: Bridging Protein and Material Design.

Student visit INL – Braga (Portugal)

Students from the Healthcare professional family visited the INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga. It was a day full of learning, innovation and discovery, in which they were able to learn about the most cutting-edge advances in the field of research and technology applied to health.

During the tour, they explored the laboratories, interacted with experts in nanotechnology and microfluidcis and discovered how FLUFET is improving healthcare.

Graphene Week –Prague (Czech Republic)

Last week at GrapheneWeek, our partners Graphenea (Alba Centeno and Amaia Rebollo) and VTT (Miika Soikkeli) have their respectives presentations. Amaia Rebollo delivered an insightful talk on ‘Opportunities in Graphene-based Biosensors,’ and also took the opportunity to highlight FLUFET!

International Conference on Pandemic Preparedness -Trieste (Italy)

FLUFET partners ICGEB and CIC biomaGUNE recently participated in the "International Conference on Pandemic Preparedness" held in Trieste. Organized by Alessandro Marcello from ICGEB and Area Science Park, the conference aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging viruses with epidemic potential, with a focus on prevention, surveillance, detection, drug discovery, and fostering international collaboration for effective pandemic response strategies.

In the first picture, from left to right: Tea Carletti, Alessandro SILVESTRI, Alessandro Marcello and Kirti Shila Sonkar.

Future Materials Conference – Athens (Greece)

Alejandro Criado is at the FutureMaterials Congress in Athens, highlighting the impact of FLUFET in his talk titled: 'Essential Role of Chemistry in Shaping Graphene FETs for Biosensing.

Join us

If you are an electronic engineer or electrochemical scientist with a background or experience in field effect transistors we would like to know if you would be interested in working with us.

Contact us in proxecto.flufet@udc.gal or nanoselflab.com.

Welcome to the team!

We would like to inform you that we have now completed the selection process and would like to welcome to:

• At ICGEB Dr Kirti Shila Sonkar
• At CIC BiomaGune Dr. René Pfeifer
• At INL Dr. Juan P. Merino
• At the UDC Dr. Davide Campagnol

We are hiring!

One of our project partners, ICGEB, is looking for a postdoc with a PhD in Biochemistry, with a strong background in protein biochemistry and cell biology.

Another partner, INL, is looking for a Research Fellow in Biophysics for viral detection.

FLUFET Kick-off meeting!

FLUFET has started! On April 3 and 4, the kick-off meeting for the presentation of the FLUFET project took place at the Paraninfo of the University of A Coruña. Members of the entire consortium, consisting of research centers and companies from Spain, Italy, Finland and Portugal, attended to discuss the organization and challenges of the project and plan for the coming months.

We were able to discuss the structure and management of computational methods, to propose protocols for surface functionalization, design how to integrate microfluidics into the system, the future design of the sensing system, how to check the stability and accuracy of the measurements and future applications.

The good interaction and synergies between the members suggest a promising future for this project that proposes to respond to the problem of detecting viruses and new zoonoses in farm environments.