The Spin-Off of the UV and the UPV, winner in the Laboratory category of the VLC/STARTUP awards, have delivered in a demonstration event the first vials that the Generalitat Valenciana will distribute among festivals and municipal festivals to prevent intoxication by drugs of submission, a scourge that is linked to about 40% of cases of sexual assault
The rector of the University of Valencia, M. Vicenta Mestre and the vice-president and Councilor of Social Services, Equality and Housing, Susana Camarero have visited the facilities and have known first hand the operation of the road detection of drugs of submission developed by the Spin-Off Optical Sens, the first company that proposes a technology that allows the detection of chemical drugs of submission and that this can be used at room temperature and by any user.
During the visit, in which they were accompanied by the regional secretary for Equality and Housing, Asunción Quinzá; the commissioner for the Fight against Violence against Women, Felipe del Baño; and the vice-rector for Innovation and Transparency of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Salvador Coll; they have seen the work developed by the company located in the Inter-University Institute for Molecular Recognition Research and Technological Development (IDM).
The professor of Organic Chemistry and founder of Optical Sens, has been in charge of explaining and demonstrating the simplicity of use of drug detection tests. This tool, which in the words of the professor "has a dual role, on the one hand, to help victims to know and verify if they have been drugged or if their drink has been altered and, most importantly, to deter aggressors".
In addition, the councilor has received the first vials that this summer the Government of Valencia will distribute at festivals and municipal festivals through the violet points to ensure a safer leisure for everyone.
The test developed is very small in size and has been implemented in a plunger system that uses straws with a reservoir on top. If the user has any doubts, he presses the plunger and within two seconds he has the answer as to whether his drink is contaminated.
Optical Sens does not generate a single format to offer this solution and seeks to adapt it to the user experience. Thus, they have opted for a bracelet or an advertising logo of the brand that can get wet and give that color change.
Optical Sens
Optical Sens SL, commercially known as Celentis, winner in the Laboratory category of the VLC/Startup 2023 Awards, is the first spin off of the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, which also brings together researchers from the Inter-University Institute for Molecular Recognition Research and Technological Development (IDM).
It aims to offer solutions with chemical sensors and biomarkers that meet the needs of the agri-food sector, health, hygienic-sanitary safety, the pharmaceutical sector and the chemical industry. It started its activity with chemical submission drug detection sensors and senescence sensors, however, it also works on the development of chemical sensors and biomarkers of high scientific and industrial value.
It is the first company to propose a technology that allows the detection of chemical submission drugs and that can be used at room temperature and by any user.
Luis Morró, CEO of the company told us what Optical Sens does