Fluencia: Team for Real-Time Hormone Monitoring in Women’s Health

Women’s health is entering a measurable era. Hormones that govern fertility, ovarian aging, and the transition to menopause fluctuate dynamically, yet clinical practice still relies on sporadic blood tests that capture only brief snapshots of a highly dynamic system. The gap between biological reality and clinical measurement is large, and that gap carries economic and medical consequences. Female infertility is a growing challenge, particularly in Europe, while IVF and related treatments still depend on intermittent blood testing and narrow timing windows. Clinical decisions are often made from incomplete hormone snapshots, which can reduce treatment efficiency and increase risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The need extends beyond infertility: conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency and menopause also require better hormonal insight to enable earlier diagnosis, more personalized therapy, and improved quality of life.

Status Quo


Fluencia builds on prior research at the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology under the supervision of Prof. Cuniberti and is developing a wearable skin patch for real-time monitoring of key reproductive hormones, including estradiol, via interstitial fluid. The goal is to replace fragmented testing with continuous, actionable hormone data that can improve timing-critical decisions in IVF and unlock broader applications in women’s health, including menopause management. The team has already developed a first prototype and is now seeking funding and strategic support to accelerate validation and translation.

Clarification on funding lines


The Fluencia work is thematically and personnel-wise distinct from other research efforts from our Chair: a DFG-funded line focuses on fundamental sensor and materials R&D (including smart‑polymer microneedles), and a DATI line explores collection-only ISF sampling for ex‑situ analysis without wearable biosensing measurements. Related research at the chair is separate from Fluencia. WEREPRO (DFG) concentrates on fundamental sensor and materials research—including CNT-based sensor fabrication and smart‑polymer microneedle concepts—with emphasis on underlying materials and device physics rather than an integrated wearable measurement system. This work is independent of the Fluencia concept and planned activities under the EXIST proposal, ensuring a clear separation that avoids any double‑funding concerns.

Publications

Fluencia: Team for Real-Time Hormone Monitoring in Women’s Health

Women’s health is entering a measurable era. Hormones that govern fertility, ovarian aging, and the transition to menopause fluctuate dynamically, yet clinical practice still relies on sporadic blood tests that capture only brief snapshots of a highly dynamic system. The gap between biological reality and clinical measurement is large, and that gap carries economic and medical consequences. Female infertility is a growing challenge, particularly in Europe, while IVF and related treatments still depend on intermittent blood testing and narrow timing windows. Clinical decisions are often made from incomplete hormone snapshots, which can reduce treatment efficiency and increase risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The need extends beyond infertility: conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency and menopause also require better hormonal insight to enable earlier diagnosis, more personalized therapy, and improved quality of life.

Status Quo


Fluencia builds on prior research at the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology under the supervision of Prof. Cuniberti and is developing a wearable skin patch for real-time monitoring of key reproductive hormones, including estradiol, via interstitial fluid. The goal is to replace fragmented testing with continuous, actionable hormone data that can improve timing-critical decisions in IVF and unlock broader applications in women’s health, including menopause management. The team has already developed a first prototype and is now seeking funding and strategic support to accelerate validation and translation.

Clarification on funding lines


The Fluencia work is thematically and personnel-wise distinct from other research efforts from our Chair: a DFG-funded line focuses on fundamental sensor and materials R&D (including smart‑polymer microneedles), and a DATI line explores collection-only ISF sampling for ex‑situ analysis without wearable biosensing measurements. Related research at the chair is separate from Fluencia. WEREPRO (DFG) concentrates on fundamental sensor and materials research—including CNT-based sensor fabrication and smart‑polymer microneedle concepts—with emphasis on underlying materials and device physics rather than an integrated wearable measurement system. This work is independent of the Fluencia concept and planned activities under the EXIST proposal, ensuring a clear separation that avoids any double‑funding concerns.

Publications