On January 1, 2025, the European Horizon Europe project, VOLABIOS (Validation and Comparative Multi-Omics Benchmarking of Fluid-Derived Volatilomics Biomarkers for the Prevention and Early Detection of Schizophrenia), officially begins its mission to revolutionize the early diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. This chronic mental illness affects approximately 1% of the global population—around 80 million people—and ranks among the top 15 causes of global disability, shortening life expectancy by 10-15 years. VOLABIOS aims to introduce advanced, cost-effective diagnostic tools to improve patients’ and families’ quality of life, reduce diagnostic errors by approximately 30%, and optimize treatment and monitoring strategies.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Early Diagnosis
VOLABIOS utilizes advanced technologies to transform early schizophrenia diagnosis while striving to uncover the molecular mechanics of the disease. It integrates Multi-Omics approaches—genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics—to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular changes driving schizophrenia. Mobile spectrometry (volatolomics) analyzes volatile organic compounds emitted by the body, offering a non-invasive diagnostic method. Artificial intelligence further enhances this framework by analyzing complex datasets to uncover patterns, correlations, and underlying mechanisms. Together, these technologies enable precise and rapid identification of chemical and biochemical signals serving as biomarkers for schizophrenia, improving diagnostic accuracy, reducing timelines, and paving the way for earlier interventions, deeper disease understanding, and better patient outcomes.
A Global Consortium for Groundbreaking Innovation
The VOLABIOS project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of 18 partners (+2 affiliated) from 11 European countries, combining expertise in academia, clinical research, technology, public health, and policy-making. United by a commitment to innovation, the team integrates cutting-edge research with practical healthcare applications, developing advanced diagnostic tools and ensuring alignment with public health priorities. An advisory committee of internationally recognized experts in psychiatry and neuroscience provides strategic guidance, ensuring the project stays focused on enhancing early diagnosis and improving patient outcomes. This collaboration equips the VOLABIOS project with the resources and expertise for groundbreaking advancements in mental health diagnostics.
Research Phases and Clinical Impact
The project will progress in multiple stages, starting with a retrospective analysis of 9 million medical records, including 120,000 linked to schizophrenia. Following this, clinical research will involve 3,692 patients from six medical centers across Europe, with individuals being monitored frequently over a period of 18 to 36 months to assess longitudinal changes and validate findings. A blind study involving 1,000 participants will further validate biomarkers and assess their efficacy. The outcomes of VOLABIOS aim to improve global healthcare systems by introducing innovative diagnostic tools, establishing an open-access knowledge base, and supporting future research in diagnosing complex mental disorders.
| Start date: 01 January 2025 |
| Duration: 4.5 years (54 months) |
| Funding: € 8,000,000 |
| Partners: 18 (+2 affiliated) |
| Project Coordinator: Technion Prof. Hossam Haick |
| Email: [email protected] |
| No. | Participant Organisation Name | Acronym | Type | Country |
| 1 | Technion – IIT | TECH | ACA | IL |
| 1.1 | Technion Research and Development Foundation LTD | TRDF | ACA | IL |
| 2 | EXUS MONOPROSOPI ETAIRIA PERIORISMENI EFTHINIS | EXUS | SME | EL |
| 3 | Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena – Servicio Andaluz de Salud | SAS | HOS | ES |
| 3.1 | Fundacion para la Gestion de la Investigación en Salud en Sevilla | FISEVI | NGO | ES |
| 4 | Universitaetsklinikum Aachen | UKA | HOS | DE |
| 5 | Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas | LSMU | HOS | IT |
| 6 | FIRALIS S. A. | FIRALIS | SME | FR |
| 7 | Universidade de Coimbra | UC | HOS | PT |
| 8 | Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf | UDUS | HOS | DE |
| 9 | Smartnanosense Innovation | SNSI | SME | UK |
| 10 | Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Technologikis Anapty | CERTH | RES | DE |
| 11 | Ainigma Technologies | AINIGMA | SME | BE |
| 12 | Greece Ministry of Health | MoHGR | PUB | EL |
| 13 | University of La Rioja | UNIRIOJA | ACA | ES |
| 14 | Time.lex | TLX | SME | BE |
| 15 | German Foundation for Therapeutics Schizophrenia | GFTS | NGO | DE |
| 16 | Cubic Snail G.P. | CUBIC | SME | EL |
| 17 | University of Cambridge | UCAM | ACA | UK |
| 18 | Zentrum für Soziale Innovation / Centre for Social Innovation GmBH | ZSI | RES | AT |