Hahn-Schickard

Together with research partners, Hahn-Schickard is working on innovative methods for the early detection of colorectal cancer. A research team developed a novel epigenetic blood test that can detect cancer markers from very small blood samples by combining immunoprecipitation and digital multiplex PCR. The method enables gentle sample preparation and requires only 500 µL of blood plasma—about twenty times less than comparable methods. In a pilot study, the test achieved high diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 90%. The results demonstrate the potential of the method for the early detection of colorectal cancer and represent an important step toward practical blood tests for clinical application. The research is being conducted as part of the "OUTLIVE-CRC" project in collaboration with the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and the German Cancer Research Center.

With LabDisk technology, Hahn-Schickard has developed an innovative platform that performs complex diagnostic analyses fully automated in a closed and contamination-free cartridge—from sample input to result. The solution, based on centrifugal microfluidics, enables automated sample preparation and analysis of various biomarkers with high precision and reproducibility. The technology is suitable for demanding molecular workflows and diverse applications, including genotyping, oncology, prenatal, and point-of-care diagnostics. By automating complex processes, time, personnel, and reagent efforts are significantly reduced, bringing high-performance molecular analytics closer to clinical practice.

The future of electronics manufacturing lies in sustainable, resource-efficient, and flexible production. **Generative manufacturing processes** and **digital process chains** enable the cost-effective production of small batch sizes and individually customized products, creating the foundation for efficient and future-proof manufacturing. A central component is the **eco-design approach**, which considers the entire product lifecycle and promotes energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. At the same time, the material base is expanded to include recyclable and recycled materials with high reliability. This allows resources to be conserved, the ecological footprint to be reduced, and the long-term functionality of electronic products to be ensured. Sustainability, innovation, and economic efficiency are thus successfully combined.

Sensors and microelectronic implants have become indispensable in modern medicine. They enable new approaches in diagnostics, therapy, and patient monitoring, making a significant contribution to improving healthcare. Together with the innBW institutes NMI and Hahn-Schickard, IMS CHIPS is working on innovative microelectronic solutions for medical applications in various research projects. Research focuses include systems for monitoring wound healing, active electronic implants to stimulate the body's own insulin production, and technologies for automating laboratory diagnostics. These efforts utilize spectroscopic methods and high-resolution multi-electrode arrays, which enable precise stimulation and measurement of living cells.