Bringing NANO technologies TO LIFE

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ECAD LaboratoryECAD Laboratory 07.04.2006

Bringing NANOtechnologiesTO LIFE

Nano2LifeNano2Life :

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Nano2Life : About …

Nano2LifeNano2Life (N2L) is the first European Network of Excellence in nanobiotechnologysupported by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme.

Its objective is to support Europe position as a competitive player and to make it aleader in nanobiotechnology transfer by merging existing European expertise andknowledge in the field of Nanobiotechnology. Founded in 2004, N2L comprises23 major European organizations and 41 industrial companies within the field ofNanobiotechnology as well as associate members from EU candidate countries,

South Korea, Japan, Australia and North America. The Network acts as an Europeannanobio think tank supporting a strong exchange of knowledge, ideas and vision

among its members through the incubation of joint research projects; the networkingof intellectual and technical resources; new education and training courses and the

transferring of technology.

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Nano2Life : …About …Nano2LifeNano2Life aims at setting the basis for a virtual European NanobiotechInstitute, focused on the understanding of the nanoscale interfacebetween biological and non-biological entities, and its possibleapplications in the area of complex and integrated novel sensortechnologies for health care, pharmaceuticals, environment, security,food safety, etc.

The benefits for citizens from nanobiotechnological research areexpected to be several, for example the development of a morepersonalised and less invasive medicine, and more thorough controlmeasures of the environment and food;The medical benefits are based on the miniaturisation, sensitivity andintegration of several functions in a single device. This will bring amore sensitive and faster medical diagnosis; a more efficient therapywith less side effects, and new artificial replacements of deficientfunctions in regenerative medicine.

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Nano2Life : …About …

In order to accomplish its goals, N2L has more than 200 scientistspresently involved in a Joint Programme of Activity (JPA) aiming at:

• creating the first ever technological roadmap for Nanobiotechnology, • identifying the key bottlenecks that need to be overcome in Nanobiotechnology, • founding the first European Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects Board (ELSA) in the field of Nanobiotechnology, • implementing a scientific programme focused on twelve strategic research areas, considered as key areas for the future development of innovative nanobio-devices, • constituting a durable and long lasting integration of the network partners resources.

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Nano2Life : Research Projects…

Strengthening European excellenceStrengthening European excellence

Nanobiotech presents a unique challenge in that it must navigatebetween two different scientific worlds: nanotech versus life sciences

i.e., physicists, chemists and engineers on one side, biologists andmedical doctors on the other.

The new knowledge and brand new concepts will come out of thismerging. The merging is a challenging task, as the background, theway of doing and thinking science and obviously the terminology ofthe scientists involved is wide and different. The accomplishment of

this long and complicated process is envisioned as important for"Strengthening European excellence Via Integrated Projects".

On the long road for the goal, it is necessary to define some commonvision about scientific and technological goals and bottlenecks to

overcome, on the basis of current research activities.

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Nano2Life : …Research Projects…

Joint Program of Activities (JPA) … Joint Program of Activities (JPA) …

It is believed that some of the bottlenecks and the goals could muchbetter addressed by tackling the issues with a broad expertisescientific base. As initial part of the task, our Joint Program ofactivities (JPA) is driven by the following objectives:

To identify gaps which limit fundamental and technological breakthrough in nanobiotechnology To identify and prioritize research topics and technologies according to existing expertise and to scientific and industrial needs To initiate and support new research seed projects and fellowships

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Joint Program of Activities (JPA) … Joint Program of Activities (JPA) …


These objectives are negotiated via the following activities:

Regular plenary meetings of all actors Mobility program for facilitating ad-hoc cooperation initiative Cooperation with education and training activities of the network.

A continuous effort to facilitate the interaction between scientists andexperts of different disciplines is what the activity is is all about. Once a biologist, as an example, is discussing biological issues withan engineer or a physicists, new concepts, approaches and verticalfertilization occurs. In the beginning of the N2L project, most of the activities arerestricted to N2L partners, but will be opened to a broader public later.The research activities are organised by WP 7, on which page you willfind further information.

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Strategic research programmes…Strategic research programmes…


The SRP goal is to lay ground and built a platform of multidisciplinaryR&D in nanobiotech, involving basic research and industry while supportingthe N2L general objectives: 1) becoming an EU reference network in nanobiotech 2) transforming the SRP into European task forces in their specific areas of expertise.The basic approach of the N2L research programme remains a bottom upapproach based on creativity and novel ideas initiated by the labs. Each SRPwould define its relevant scope as broad as possible, taking into considerationits structure, its members and other parameters such as local thursts,socio-economic factors, environmental issues, ethics impacts,gender issues etc.The SRP are places where all volunteer scientists of N2L can participateby bringing their own science, technology or expertise. The SRP shoudl beplaces of excellence where the latest science and technology should bediscussed and made available.

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Strategic research programmes…Strategic research programmes…

Nano2Life : …Research Projects

The 12 SRP include 6 technology driven SRP (SRP-T) and 6 applicationdriven (SRP-A):

• Surface functionalisation and nano patterning • Protein, DNA and cell chips • Non-carbon nanotubes, nanoscale assemblies and self assemblies • In-vivo nano-imaging • In vivo cell and tissue analysis • Bioanalytics instrumentation • Cancer related nanodiagnostics • Nano-bio-info-cogno applied to neurodegenerative medicine • Cell biology • Environment monitoring and security • In vitro toxicology • Drug delivery including theranostics

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Nano2Life : Education&Training…Spreading of excellenceSpreading of excellence

An important part of Nano2LifeNano2Life’s Joint Programme of Activity is related toeducation and skills development. Currently, the chronic shortage of skilled humanresources remains a barrier to: • rapid progress of excellent Research & Develpoment in the nanobiotech sector • maintenance of the current rate of expansion in the field • transfer of skills to the industrial sector • training of new scientists and engineers to the required level of excellence

To avoid a shortage in these areas, the partners of Nano2LifeNano2Life agreed to set up inthe next 3 years:

• a European M.Sc. course in nanobiotech based on the accreditation of currently independent initiatives

• a mobility programme for exchange of Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows and senior scientists especially between different disciplines (physics – biology) to facilitate the necessary transfer of skills and knowledge and to improve communication and understanding• training courses to transfer key technologies and know-how generated within Nano2Life to industry, which will be organised by partners already experienced in this kind of further education.

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Nano2Life : …Education&Training…ObjectivesObjectives

The implementation of this plan relies on 9 universities and it is the main objective of a dedicated Education & Training Work Package (WP). The main objectives ofthis WP are:• to identify existing courses (including e-learning), workshops, summer schools, academic degree structure and available resources

• to identify current needs in education and training

• to apply the “Nano2LifeNano2Life” label to relevant courses and degrees

• to develop a Nano2LifeNano2Life-unified curriculum and study programmes for academic degrees

• to organise training programmes for founding and associated partners (academia, industry and other bodies)

• to coordinate external efforts for fellowships and exchange training programmes

• to use workshops and summer schools to promote and facilitate Nano2LifeNano2Life-wide activities

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Nano2Life : Expertise&Technologies…

Sharing the resourcesSharing the resourcesThe partners possess wide-ranging scientific andtechnical expertise and a range of state-of-the-artequipment and facilities which are crucial to thedevelopment and characterisation of devices and

systems addressing the Nano2LifeNano2Life vision and scientificobjectives.

The resources invested by the partners in programmesin nanobiotech amounts to 870 scientists and about 87Million Euros per year. An initial audit of expertise,

know-how and facilities is being undertaken andanalysed with respect to identified requirements.

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ObjectivesObjectives

This map of expertise, facilities, equipment accessibilityand capability will directly guide and underpin projectlocation decisions for the Joint Research Programme

(JRP). This JRP will seek to benchmark key clusters ofexpertise and facilities across Europe that contribute toEuropean Research in the field of nanobiotech aiding

our global competitiveness to ensure Europe iswell-placed to lead in these areas. This global

benchmarking will guide new national and Europeaninvestments to maintain Europe’s position at the

leading edge of this technology.

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Ongoing Action Ongoing Action A web based inventory tool has been published to the Nano2Life partners to gather information regarding significant equipment. The accumulating data

currently numbering 700+ items is displaying a wide variety of facilities within the N2L community. Analysis of this data will allow for the identification of the geographical clustering of equipment. This will enable N2L members to determine the most appropriate choice by distance or cost when considering

using the resources of a fellow N2L institution.

Further to the inventory of equipment a collation of recent research activity performed by scientists within the N2L network is being conducted. Once this

information gathering exercise has been completed, it will be offered to the N2L partners for verification before being published on the wider community.

It is proposed that this resource will take the form of a searchable database. The user

will insert keywords, and will be directed to a list of N2L scientists active in that field. In addition it will be possible to view the publications of each

scientist.

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Bringing NANO technologies TO LIFE