Developing Devices for Early Detection

	AFM (atomic force microscope) image of a pancreatic cancer cell

The general mission of this group is the development of new technologies for a cheap, reliable and early cancer diagnosis.

 

The group has three major objectives:

1. Strengthening of N2L research competence in cancer diagnostics by bilateral projects between N2L biomedical partners and technology developers. This objective has a focus on the support of SRPT partners with biological material, samples and biomedical expertise.
2. Generation of funded biomedical research projects for the development of new in vitro and in vivo devices and technologies for early cancer detection, rapid classification and decision support systems involving partners from outside of N2L, biomedical groups within N2L and technology developing N2L partners recruited for defined application driven projects.
3. Organisation of a European research area in nanotechnology and cancer diagnostics directed by N2L.

Cooperation with External Partners

The core group is made up by biomedical experts working in the field of cancer diagnostics from N2L. External partners for specific projects are hospitals with a broad experience in clinical studies, bio informatics researchers, pharmaceutical industry, diagnostics industry, medtech industry, other networks or nanomedicine organisations. The core group will acquire high competence in new nanotechnology development by own cooperative research projects and lab visits of technology partners.

 

Offers to N2L and external partners:

• A broad expertise in cancer biology and the application of new technologies in cancer research and diagnostics. Critical review and test of technology transfer to biomedical applications.
• Defined biomedical materials for testing and development of new technologies for N2L partners including a list of possible preparation methods and transport conditions of the selected material.
• A catalogue of possible cooperation projects as example for N2L cancer research opportunities developed together with N2L strategy and foresight experts.
• Set up of projects in the area of nanotechnology and cancer research. Organizing consortia for the preparation of EU FP7 applications or industry funded projects.
• Running projects include the development of new diagnostic lab-on-a-chip systems, the development of surfaces selective for diagnostic markers or disease related cells or the application of new optical technologies in in vivo cancer diagnostics. Collaborations have already been established with the technology driven group Surface functionalisation (lead by Pascal Colpo, JRC, Italy) and with the technolgogy driven group Biochips (lead by Paul Galvin, Tyndall, Ireland).