The University of Szeged has secured nearly HUF 20 million in funding for an innovative research project that could transform toxicity testing. The AI-powered Biological QR-Code system uses microscopic living organisms to detect even subtle toxic or physiological effects within minutes. The technology could provide a faster, more cost-effective alternative to conventional testing methods while also helping reduce the need for animal testing.
The innovative project aims to develop a next-generation, ultra-sensitive system for assessing the biological effects and toxicity of substances based on the Biological QR-Code (B-QR-C) concept. The system combines three evolutionarily distinct microscopic model organisms – Stenostomum leucops (a flatworm), Chaetogaster diastrophus (an annelid), and Philodina acuticornis (a rotifer) – enhancing both the biological relevance of the results and their translational potential.
The B-QR-C model can detect even the slightest toxic or physiological effects in living microscopic organisms within minutes, at concentrations as low as the picomolar range. Powered by artificial intelligence, the system rapidly analyzes data in a cost-effective and ethical manner, offering a solution tailored to the needs of 21st-century laboratories and industry.
“The significance and novelty of this development lie in the B-QR-C test system’s ability to assess the effects of substances on living biological systems faster, more sensitively, and more ethically than conventional toxicological methods. The method monitors the behavior of microscopic organisms and the subtle biological patterns they produce, then analyzes these data using artificial intelligence,” explained Dr. Zsolt László Datki, the project’s principal investigator.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The researcher added that these patterns reflect both species-specific and substance-specific responses. This enables the detection of subtle, early biological effects that may only become apparent later – or require significantly more costly testing – using conventional methods. The system could be applied to a wide range of fields, including the early screening of drug candidates, environmental and water quality monitoring, the testing of industrial chemicals, and basic research.
“One of B-QR-C’s greatest advantages is its potential to reduce the number of experiments involving vertebrate animals while preserving the biological complexity of living systems. So it’s more than just a new laboratory testing method – it represents a technological platform that could provide faster, more cost-effective, and more animal-friendly decision support for both research and industrial development,” Datki emphasized.
The project opens new avenues for research in bioindication, biopolymers, biomolecules, and invivomics. The B-QR-C system represents a new technological platform that bridges the gap between cellular models and higher-order animal testing, enabling rapid, accurate, cost-effective, and ethical biological assessment tailored to the research, development, and industrial needs of the 21st century.
The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2, which means that it has been validated as a multidimensional system under laboratory conditions. The current project aims to advance it to TRL 4, where the technology will be validated and demonstrated in a relevant environment. The ultimate goal is to establish a standardized, internationally recognized system for broad application in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, environmental protection, and basic research.
The project received HUF 19.95 million in non-refundable funding through the Proof of Concept (PoC) program of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. The grant is administered by SZTE TTC Zrt. and is financed 90% by the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, with the remaining 10% provided from the company’s own resources. The project began on May 1, 2026, and will run for 12 months.
Proof of Concept (PoC) funding is designed to support early-stage research by helping promising technologies reach the stage at which their feasibility and practical applications can be demonstrated through experimental validation. At this point, it also becomes possible to realistically assess their commercial potential.
Source: SZTEinfo
Feature image for illustration only.
Source: Pixabay.com
