We have been successful with major research projects. They will focus on human health and the risks posed by microplastics

Health Risks in Wastewater

The DRACARIS project—Wastewater Monitoring and Biosensors in the Fight Against Lifestyle-Related Diseases—focuses on developing new methods for monitoring health risks in the population. It utilizes wastewater analysis, biosensors, and artificial intelligence.

Simply put, researchers want to find out what wastewater can tell us about the health of the population. The project will include the development of multisensors capable of detecting selected pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in sewer systems. The research will also focus on biosensors capable of analyzing biomarkers of lifestyle-related diseases in biological samples, such as blood, sweat, or saliva.

Another key component will be the W-BOT artificial intelligence system, which will process the collected data and help identify high-risk areas. The project is also expected to produce an interactive map showing the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and selected health risks.

The project’s contribution could be significant, particularly in terms of early warning and prevention. If health risks can be detected earlier, healthcare and other public institutions can respond to them more effectively.

MicroPoll s. r. o., Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť, a. s., the Institute of Chemistry of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava are collaborating on the project. Pilot activities are also planned in the towns of Skalica and Myjava. The total amount of eligible project expenditures is 6,510,346.88 euros.

Microplastics Under the Microscope

The second project, PLASTICUS—Multidisciplinary Research on the Occurrence, Toxicity, and Predictive Modeling of Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Body—addresses a topic that is increasingly drawing public attention: microplastics and nanoplastics.

The project aims to better understand how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body, what effects they may have, and what health risks may be associated with them. Researchers will therefore develop new methods for detecting these particles, investigate their toxicity, and create models that could help predict their behavior and potential health consequences.

For example, the project plans to develop electrochemical sensors for detecting micro- and nanoplastics, optimize analytical methods, and conduct toxicological research. It will also include a predictive model using artificial intelligence designed to link environmental and biological data.

The results may find applications not only in science but also in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and the development of regulatory measures. The project can thus help create better tools for monitoring one of the new environmental challenges, the impact of which on human health still needs to be examined in greater detail.

In this case, UCM is the lead applicant. The project partners are the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the Center for Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), and YMS, a. s., which will primarily contribute to IT solutions and big data processing. The research will also take place in UCM laboratories and at SAS facilities. The total amount of eligible project expenditures is 6,297,707.47 euros.

Practical Applications

Both projects demonstrate UCM’s focus on research that bridges the natural sciences, healthcare, technology, artificial intelligence, and practical applications. This is not merely about acquiring new scientific knowledge. The projects also involve the development of specific sensors, analytical methods, software solutions, and predictive models that may be applicable in real-world settings in the future.

Both DRACARIS and PLASTICUS connect academic institutions with research organizations and industrial partners. It is precisely this connection that can be crucial in transferring results from the laboratory to practical application.

Funding for both projects comes from the “Slovakia” program, under a call focused on completing research infrastructures and supporting applied research and development in the “Healthy Society” domain. Their common goal is to bring the results of scientific research closer to real-world applications.