Biology:SensUs
| SensUs Student Competition | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Contest date | September 2nd, 2022 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | Eindhoven, The Netherlands |
| First year | 2016 |
| Contact | contact@sensus.org |
| Website | www.sensus.org |
| Livestream | digital.sensus.org |
| Photos | Flickr |
| Videos | Youtube |
SensUs [1] is the annual international student competition on molecular biosensors for health.[a 1] Multidisciplinary student teams from universities worldwide design and build biosensing systems, and demonstrate their prototypes and business models during a final public contest event. The competition stimulates education and innovation in the field of biosensing, with a worldwide scope. The long term aim is to improve the quality of life of patients.
Approach of the competition
Each year, SensUs addresses a different healthcare theme and a corresponding biomarker. The participating teams develop sensors for measuring the selected biomarker. The teams have the same functional end goal, but develop creative solutions and unique biosensor prototypes. The prototypes are shown, demonstrated and discussed at the annual SensUs contest. The teams also develop corresponding business models. SensUs is an international platform for learning and innovation in the field of molecular biosensors for healthcare applications.
During the SensUs contest, the teams and their biosensors are judged by an international, multidisciplinary jury. The jury gives awards for Analytical Performance (AP), Creativity (CR), and Translational Potential (TP). Furthermore, a Public Inspiration (PI) award is conferred by the public. The public can vote from all over the world, on the teams that they think are most inspiring.
This year
SensUs 2022
The SensUs 2022 competition focuses on the problem of acute inflammation, which occurs for example in sepsis. 17 international teams from 14 different countries are expected to develop innovative biosensing systems to detect interleukin-6 (IL-6) in blood. IL-6 is a biomarker for acute inflammation and it can reach high concentrations in case of sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by infection. Therefore, IL-6 is an important marker for early diagnosis and monitoring of sepsis.
On the 2nd of September, 2022, the Teams will present their innovative biosensors during the SensUs Event of 2022.[2]
History
SensUs 2021
SensUs 2021 focused on rapid detection of acute respiratory viral infection.[3] The international teams developed innovative biosensing systems to detect the H1 protein of Influenza A in saliva. Due to Covid-19, the sixth edition of the SensUs Student Competition was organized online on the 3rd of September, 2021.[4] For more information about influenza, see the following link: [2].
The SensUs Event was live-streamed. The stream was viewed by nearly 1000 people worldwide and over 4000 people cast their votes.
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| PULSe | KU Leuven | Belgium | 1st PI, 1st CR |
| BiosensUM | Université de Montréal | Canada | |
| TruSense2021 | Zhejiang University | China | 2nd PI |
| DeTectUs | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | |
| AUSense | American University in Cairo | Egypt | |
| AixSense | RWTH Aachen | Germany | 2nd AP |
| T.E.S.T | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | 1st TP |
| UT+ | University of Twente | The Netherlands | |
| LxUs | University of Lisbon | Portugal | |
| SenseNC | North Carolina State University | United States of America | 2nd CR |
| Influwegians | University of Glasgow | Scotland | |
| UppSense | Uppsala University | Sweden | |
| SensSwiss | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Switzerland | 1st AP, 2nd TP |
SensUs 2020
On the 28th of August 2020 the fifth edition of SensUs Student Competition took place. 15 international student teams developed biosensors for the measurement of unbound valproate, a drug that is used to treat epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease that affects about 50 million people worldwide and is characterized by recurrent seizures.
Due to Covid-19, the final Event was organized online. 8.000 people voted and there were 15.000 website-and livestream users from all over the world. [5]
A list of the participating universities and the results in SensUs 2020 can be found below.[6]
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| EpiSense | KU Leuven | Belgium | 1st TP |
| BiosensUM | Université de Montréal | Canada | |
| TruSense | Zhejiang University | China | 1st PI |
| DeTectUs | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | |
| AUSense | American University in Cairo | Egypt | 2nd PI |
| Minerva | Imperial College London | England | |
| AixSense | RWTH Aachen | Germany | |
| T.E.S.T | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | 1st CR[7] |
| UT+ | University of Twente | The Netherlands | |
| LxUs | University of Lisbon | Portugal | 2nd TP |
| SenseNC | North Carolina State University | United States of America | |
| SenseGlasgow | University of Glasgow | Scotland | |
| SensingBarcelona | Polytechnic University of Catalonia & University of Vic & University of Barcelona | Spain | |
| UppSense | Uppsala University | Sweden | 2nd CR |
| Helvet'Sens | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Switzerland |
The Analytical Performance Award was not awarded in this edition, since the laboratories for most of the Teams were closed due to Covid-19.
SensUs 2019
The theme of SensUs 2019 was "Managing rheumatic disease, by measuring with ease".[8] The disease focus was Rheumatoid Arthritis and the molecule to be detected was Adalimumab.
Adalimumab is a biological drug that binds to TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. The overexpression of this cytokine plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis. Many patients do not respond to treatment with Adalimumab or lose response during treatment. A biosensor for Adalimumab could detect this at an early stage and help save unnecessary costs. Worldwide annual sales of Adalimumab are more than 10 billion US dollars.[9] The finals of SensUs 2019 took place on the 30th of August 2019 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. More than 10.000 people voted and the cumulative online visitor count was 22.000 from over 80 countries. Photos of SensUs 2019 can be found here
A list of the participating universities and the results in SensUs 2019 can be found below.
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| SynoSense[10] | KU Leuven | Belgium | 1st TP |
| BiosensUM[11] | Université de Montréal | Canada | 2nd CR |
| TruSense[12] | Zhejiang University | China | 2nd PI |
| DeTectUs[13] | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | |
| AUSense[14] | American University in Cairo | Egypt | 2nd AP |
| Joint Venture[15] | Imperial College London | England | |
| AixSense[16] | RWTH Aachen | Germany | 1st PI |
| T.E.S.T.[17] | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | 1st AP, 1st CR |
| LxUs[18] | University of Lisbon | Portugal | |
| SenseNC[19] | North Carolina State University | United States of America | |
| Glasensor[20] | University of Glasgow | Scotland | |
| SensingBarcelona[21] | Polytechnic University of Catalonia & University of Vic | Spain | |
| AdUpSense[22] | Uppsala University | Sweden | |
| EPFSens[23] | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Switzerland | 2nd TP |
SensUs 2018
On the 7th and 8th of September 2018, the finals of the third edition of the SensUs Student Competition took place in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The theme was “Measuring antibiotics for better healthcare”. The teams developed biosensors for the detection of vancomycin, an important last resort antibiotic drug.[24]
The Teams tested vancomycin in blood plasma and pitched the business models that they had developed. The public votes were cast on the online platform called SensUs Digital.[25] More than 10.000 users watched SensUs via the digital platform and 3750 people cast their votes. In parallel, a competition was held for teams of High school students. Photos of SensUs 2018 can be found here.
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| SensImperial | Imperial College London | England | |
| AIXSense | RWTH Aachen University | Germany | |
| DeTectUs | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | |
| VanGow | University of Glasgow | Scotland | 1st CR, 2nd AP |
| VancoSense | KU Leuven | Belgium | 1st TP |
| SenseNC | North Carolina State University | United States of America | |
| American University in Cairo | The American University in Cairo | Egypt | 1st PI |
| T.E.S.T. | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | 2nd PI |
| U.V.S. | Uppsala University | Sweden | |
| SenSwiss | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Switzerland | 1st AP, 2nd CR, 2nd TP |
| BiosensUM | Université de Montreal | Canada | |
| TruSense | Zhejiang University | China | |
| UScience Tech Barcelona | Polytechnic University of Catalonia & University of Vic | Spain |
SensUs 2017
SensUs 2017 was the second edition of the competition. The finals of SensUs 2017 took place on the 8th and 9th of September 2017.[26] Ten student teams from three continents built biosensors to detect NT-proBNP in blood plasma, which is an important biomarker for Heart failure.[27] During the Event the Teams showed their biosensors to the public, measured NT-proBNP live and presented pitches on technology and on translation to society.
About 500 people visited the Event at Eindhoven University of Technology. The Event was broadcast on the SensUs Digital platform,[28] including livestreams, live data, Q&A, photos and videos and voting functionality. The cumulative visitor count on SensUs digital was 5000 from 74 countries, of which 1500 people cast their votes for the Public Inspiration award (PI). Photos of SensUs 2017 can be found here.
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC SensUs | Imperial College London | England | |
| SensAble | University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern | Germany | |
| DeTectUs | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | 2nd CR, 2nd PI |
| GlasGo | University of Glasgow | Scotland | |
| Carediobit | KU Leuven | Belgium | 2nd AP, 2nd TP |
| SenseNC | North Carolina State University | United States of America | |
| AUC Imhoteps | The American University in Cairo | Egypt | |
| T.E.S.T. | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | 1st AP, 1st TP, 1st PI |
| UppSense | Uppsala University | Sweden | 1st CR |
| Swissense | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Switzerland |
SensUs 2016
SensUs 2016 was the first edition of the SensUs Competition. The aim was to develop biosensors for the measurement of creatinine in blood plasma, which is a key biomarker for Kidney failure. The student teams originated from five universities: University of Leuven, Imperial College London, Uppsala University, Technical University of Denmark and Eindhoven University of Technology. The teams had worked during 9 months to develop biosensors in their own universities, and thereafter all came to the SensUs Event on the 9th and 10th of September 2016 at Eindhoven University of Technology. Photos and videos from SensUs 2016 can be found here.
Participating teams and results
| Team | University | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| SensUpp | Uppsala University | Sweden | |
| KreaSensa | KU Leuven | Belgium | AP, TP, PI |
| Creative9 | Technical University of Denmark | Denmark | |
| IC SensUs | Imperial College London | England | |
| T.E.S.T. | Eindhoven University of Technology | The Netherlands | CR |
Notes
- ↑ A biosensor is a compact device that interacts with a biological system to acquire a signal for diagnostic or monitoring purposes. A molecular biosensor is a biosensor with a molecular interaction as a central aspect. It is an analytical device with a molecular recognition element and with a transduction principle that turns the biomolecular interaction into a measurable signal. Molecular biosensors operate on samples taken from the body (in-vitro testing e.g. using a drop of blood) or are worn on or inside the body (for real-time in-vivo sensing).
References
- ↑ "SensUs | Let's compete for quality of life!". https://www.sensus.orgsensus.org/.
- ↑ "SensUs Event 2022" (in en). https://www.sensus.org/student-competition/Event2022.
- ↑ "Studenten zoeken naar manier om griep snel op te sporen: ‘Bij corona liepen we achter de feiten aan’" (in nl-NL). 2021-08-21. https://www.ad.nl/eindhoven/studenten-zoeken-naar-manier-om-griep-snel-op-te-sporen-bij-corona-liepen-we-achter-de-feiten-aan~a8449e11/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sensus.org%2F.
- ↑ "SensUs Event 2021" (in en). https://www.sensus.org/student-competition/sensus-event-2021.
- ↑ "Studentencompetitie SensUs zet in op biosensor voor betere dosering epilepsiemedicijn" (in nl-NL). 2020-09-04. http://innovationorigins.com/nl/studentencompetitie-sensus-zet-in-op-biosensor-voor-betere-dosering-epilepsiemedicijn/.
- ↑ "Teams 2021" (in en). https://www.sensus.org/2020/teams.
- ↑ "Science is here: Science is here #5: SensUs and biosensors with Menno Prins and Jesse Jägers" (in en). https://scienceishere.libsyn.com/science-is-here-5-sensus-and-biosensors-with-menno-prins-and-jesse-jgers.
- ↑ "Snellere dosering reumamedicijn dichterbij door studentencompetitie SensUs" (in nl-NL). 2019-06-25. https://innovationorigins.com/nl/snellere-dosering-reumamedicijn-dichterbij-door-studentencompetitie-sensus/.
- ↑ "Adalimumab". September 24, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adalimumab&oldid=980074085.
- ↑ "SynoSense". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Belgium.
- ↑ "BiosensUM". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Canada.
- ↑ [1][|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ "DeTectUs". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Denmark.
- ↑ "AUSense". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Egypt.
- ↑ "Joint Venture". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/England.
- ↑ "AixSense". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Germany.
- ↑ "T.E.S.T.". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/TheNetherlands.
- ↑ "LxUs". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Portugal.
- ↑ "SenseNC". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/UnitedStates.
- ↑ "Glasensor". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Scotland.
- ↑ "SensingBarcelona". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Spain.
- ↑ "AdUp Sense". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Sweden.
- ↑ "EPFSens". https://www.sensus.org/2019/teams/Switzerland.
- ↑ "SensUs 2018". https://www.sensus.org/archive/2018.
- ↑ "SensUs - Home". https://digital.sensus.org/.
- ↑ "SensUs 2017 ― Visitors, votes and winners". https://www.sensus.org/news/sensus-2017-visitors-votes-and-winners.
- ↑ "Problem 2017: Heart Failure". https://www.sensus.org/archive/2017/aim.
- ↑ SensUs Digital (2017)
External links
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