On 20 January, Nadine Schmieder-Galfe received the 2017 Saxon Female Founders Award worth EUR 5,000. Entrepreneur Schmieder-Galfe and the team of ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN developed a system that allows for a revealing mechanical haemogram from just one drop of blood.

The success story began in the summer of 2015, when a team of five TU Dresden scientists founded the spin-off ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN. In this process, they were supported by the Transfer Office of Technische Universität Dresden.

By means of the system, which the scientists developed, they are now able to obtain a revealing mechanical haemogram with just one single drop of blood. Within a few minutes, it can be ascertained if the used medication actually attacks pathogens in the body. If the so-called “AcCellerator”, a medical device, is ready for market launch, it could save many patients’ lives.

“Sepsis is the third leading cause of death”, explains Nadine Schmieder-Galfe. Even though the immune systems mostly succeeds in fighting pathogens, the inflammatory reaction can get out of control. Precisely in this moment, a quick and perfectly coordinated therapy is vital. Consequently, many doctors are continually searching for a form of diagnosis that definitely shows in what way the medication works, or if therapy possibly needs to be adjusted.

In the issue “Biotechnology” of the Dresden Transfer Letter, Ms Schmieder-Galfe presents the founding team’s ideas.