Eleonora Macchia

Eleonora Macchia is a PhD-qualified Researcher and Head of Research at Åbo Akademi University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, specializing in ultra-sensitive bioelectronic detection systems for medical diagnostics. Her work integrates physics, chemistry, and engineering to develop sustainable health technologies addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Education:

• PhD in Chemical Sciences

Macchia's research pioneers organic transistor-based biosensors capable of single-molecule detection, with breakthroughs in zeptomolar biomarker quantification for diseases like HIV and pancreatic cancer. She focuses on edible biocatalytic sensors, plasmonic affinity systems, and graphene opto-electronic platforms that overcome biofouling while enabling point-of-care diagnostics. Her fingerprint reveals dominant expertise in transistor technology (100%), field-effect transistors (38%), biosensors (26%), and organic electronics (22%).

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate escalating capabilities in multi-analyte detection, with trends toward edible sensor integration, clinical sample validation against gold-standard immunoassays, and electric field manipulation of biomolecular interfaces. These works collectively advance toward zero-power diagnostic systems for resource-limited settings.

Scientific Awards:

• GLOBAL WIIN GLOBALWIIN SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD 2023 for Innovation Excellence
• ITWIIN Award 2022 as Best Innovator (Italian Association of Women Inventors)
• Electro Travel Awards 2017
• Conference Attendance Grants (Solid State Ionics 2017, Sensori Chimici 2017)

Macchia secured €1.2M as Principal Investigator for the ProSiT project (2020-2023, Research Council of Finland) developing self-powered HIV diagnostic transistors, and contributed as Co-Investigator to the €2.8M EU SIMBIT project (2019-2022) creating bioelectronic smart arrays for clinical testing. She serves on the editorial board of Sensors journal and maintains extensive collaborations across 12 countries, particularly with Italian research teams on bioelectronic clinical validation.

Her laboratory network specializes in bioelectronic array fabrication, plasmonic sensor development, and clinical translation of transistor-based diagnostics, with current efforts focused on edible health monitors and zero-power molecular detection systems for sustainable healthcare.