13.6.2025

Hongbo Zhang receives Business Finland funding for DNA project

Professor of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials Hongbo Zhang has been awarded Business Finland R2B funding for development and commercialization of a novel, rapid and sensitive DNA detection method called GenesMAP.

Utilizing a unique design with DNA nanotechnology, the method does not require an amplification step (PCR, RPA etc.) and allows the detection of a target double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sequence in a biological sample within one hour at room temperature.

Utilizing fluorescent probes and microfluidic droplets, the target dsDNA can be quantitatively detected by counting fluorescent droplets under a microscope. In principle, any gene sequence can be targeted through design of a specific detection probe sequence.

The method is simple to use in practice, involving only reagent mixing and droplet counting. During the project, the Zhang group plans to detect CAR-T cells in blood as a proof of concept. A patent for the technique has been filed in November 2024.

The project runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027 and has a total budget of 720 000 euros.

Hongbo Zhang is the principal investigator of the Functional Materials for Medicine research group at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory at Åbo Akademi University. He is one of the principal investigators associated with the InFLAMES flagship, a joint organization of the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University aiming at being an internationally recognized, top-level, immunological research and development cluster that will be globally attractive both for researchers and business partners.