The “AngeLab” project, in which the Basurto University Hospital Genetics Unit and the Genetics Service of the Donostia University Hospital-Biodonostia Institute participate, has enabled the development of three devices based on microfluidics technology mainly focussed on analysing the foetal DNA circulating in the mother’s bloodstream with a view to establishing the baby’s genetic conditions.
“AngeLab” minimises presently existing invasive techniques by developing safer diagnostic devices, more accessible and cheaper than the techniques currently used to test for prenatal genetic disease.
IK4-IKERLAN coordinated the wide-ranging consortium of research centres, universities and companies from all over Europe which participated in the study.
The researchers, Raquel Sáez Villaverde and Leire Otaolea Santacoloma, practitioners at the Donostia University Hospital Genetics Service and members of the research group in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Biodonostia Institute, wish to thank midwives and gynaecologists at the Donostialdea IHO for “their collaboration in collecting the more than 400 samples from pregnant women in order to proceed with validating the mechanisms developed by the Doctor in Biology, Sara Perlado Marina”.
