These competitive grants funded by AGAUR support the transfer of knowledge and technologies from research to society and industry. The LLAVOR projects help transform early-stage ideas into transfer plans with validated potential, while the PRODUCTE projects fund prototype development and proof-of-concept demonstrations.
Congratulations to all three researchers for their success!
Probiotic cellulose to balance vaginal microbiome (PROBIOTIC-CEL)
The PROBIOTIC-CEL project (LLAVOR grant), led by Anna Roig (NN research group), aims to develop an innovative biobased material as an effective probiotic solution to restore vaginal microbiota while minimizing side effects and recurrence rates.
Vaginal dysbiosis, an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, is linked to various health issues, including bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections. A healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by specific bacterial species, which help maintain an acidic pH and inhibit harmful microbes.
Treatment options are limited, and probiotics are a promising but challenging solution due to low bioavailability and adherence issues, primarily for oral administration. PROBIOTIC-CEL addresses these challenges with a new material-based approach.
The team is composed by Anna Roig, Anna Laromaine, Nicole Alexia Jiménez and Alfonso del Rey, with the collaboration of Gemma Castillón, Deputy Director of the Medical Department at the IVI Fertility Clinic in Barcelona. The project is funded with 20,000 € and lasts from September 2025 to March 2026.
PROBIOTIC-CEL project is led by Anna Roig
Sublimation technology for the in-situ creation of operational substrates (SUBLINSUB)
The SUBLINSUB project (LLAVOR grant), led by Núria Aliaga (FunNanoSurf research group), presents a lab-scale advanced multifunctional device for directly depositing organic molecules on any surface. Its novelty lies in enabling molecular deposition and in-situ measurements at once.
This technology provides a solvent-free, efficient procedure for direct deposition of molecules onto desired substrates, devices, or circuits, while simultaneously analysing the sublimated material with methods such as solid UV-Vis absorption.
The device reduces steps, time, energy cost, and molecular consumption, while maximizing deposition efficiency and testing possibilities. It opens new opportunities for organic electronics, coatings, biosensing, and chemical purification.
The team is composed by Núria Aliaga-Alcalde, Daniel Herrera, Arántzazu González-Campo, Gerard Felipo-Esteve, Coral Herranz, Gerard Albuger, Alfonso del Rey, Miquel Galindo and Carlos Montero. The project is funded with 20,000 € and lasts from September 2025 to March 2026.
SUBLIMSUB project is led by Núria Aliaga
Rapid and non-invasive test for diagnosis with LF-EGOFETs
The LF-EGOFET POCT project (PRODUCTE grant), led by Marta Mas (eMolMat research group), focuses on developing a Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) device that combines lateral flow (LF) assays with electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors (EGOFET).
Point-of-Care tests are integrated diagnostic devices that enable detection of clinically relevant biomarkers in biological fluids outside conventional laboratories. They make diagnostics faster, cheaper, and more efficient, facilitating earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment.
The new POCT device will provide more precise, faster, and quantitative results compared to standard methods, allowing for disease progression monitoring and treatment efficacy assessment.
The team is composed by Marta Mas-Torrent, Claudia Martínez, Diego Gutiérrez, María Jesús Ortiz, Dean Kos, N. Sabater and Alfonso del Rey. The project is funded with 138,000 € and lasts from September 2025 to March 2027.
The Producte project is led by Marta Mas
What are the LLAVOR and PRODUCTE grants?
LLAVOR are intended for projects with potential for integration into the productive sector. They support early-stage innovation projects focused on conceptualizing a transfer plan for technologies or knowledge and validating their technical and commercial feasibility. The aim is to reach a sufficient level of maturity to move towards proof-of-concept or service validation.
PRODUCTE supports the development of prototypes and the valorization and transfer of research results from Catalan research teams. These grants are for projects that have completed their conceptualization phase, identified a product or service candidate, and carried out validations. Funding is directed at proof-of-concept activities to reduce uncertainties regarding technical and commercial viability.
We acknowledge the funding from Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
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