The project aims to develop a prototype of a new medical device to screen for metabolic diseases by detecting early chemoreceptor dysfunction in the carotid bodies. Changes in the activity of these receptors appear to be one of the earliest events in the cascade that culminates in hypertension and obesity.

Currently, no portable, easy-to-use medical devices can diagnose carotid body function.

Thus, this project aims to develop such a medical device – the CBmeter – through the collaboration and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of academic and industry researchers.

Principal Investigator: Maria Pedro Guarino (maria.guarino@ulo.pt)

Duration: 18 months (2017 – 2019)

Institutional Partners and Others

• Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco
• Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Leiria, E. P. E.
• Makertech, Lda.

Reference: SAICT-POL/23278/2016

Funding

• Bolsa Bragança Parreira/SPD
• FCT