Funded projects
A framework to respond to the regulatory needs of future nanomaterials and market (FutureNanoNeeds – FNN)
Coordinator: University College Dublin – National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Funding agency: European Commission (FP7) [GA No. 604602]
Period: January 2014 to December 2017
Rapidly developing markets such as green construction, energy harvesting and storage, advanced materials for aerospace, electronics, medical implants and environmental remediation are potential key application targets for nanomaterials. FutureNanoNeeds will develop a novel framework to enable naming, classification, hazard and environmental impact assessment of the next generation nanomaterials prior to their widespread industrial use. It will uniquely achieve this by integrating concepts from several contiguous domains, such as phylontology and crystallography to develop a robust, versatile and adaptable naming approach, coupled with a full assessment of all known biological protective responses as the basis for a decision tree for screening potential impacts of nanomaterials at all stages of their lifecycle. Together, these tools will form the basis of a “value chain” regulatory process which allows a each nanomaterial to be assessed for different applications.
Assessment and mitigation of nano-enabled product risks on human and environmental health: Development of new strategies and creation of a digital guidance tool for nanotech industries (GUIDEnano)
Coordinator: LEITAT Technological Center, Spain
Funding agency: European Commission (FP7) [GA No. 604387]
Period: November 2013 to April 2017
The goal of GUIDEnano is to develop innovative methodologies to evaluate and manage human environmental health risks of nano-enabled products, in their whole product life cycle. A strategy to identify hot spots for release of nanomaterials (NMs) will be followed by decision trees to guide on the use of (computational) exposure models and, when necessary, design of cost-effective strategies for experimental exposure assessment. These will include on-site and off-site monitoring of industrial processes, use, accelerated aging, recycling and disposal set-ups. There will be a strong emphasis on the transformation of NMs. Similarly, a tiered strategy to evaluate the environmental fate and the hazards for ecosystem and human health of NMs will be developed. This will be incorporated into an web-based Guidance Tool, which will guide the nano-enabled product developers (industry) into the design and application of the most appropriate risk assessment & mitigation strategy for their products.
Cerium Oxide nanoparticles as a new therapeutic tool for tissue regeneration in liver diseases (Marató TV3 2012)
Coordinator: Hospital Clinic (Fundacio Privada Clinic per a la Recerca Biomèdica)
Funding agency: Fundació La Marató (La Marató de TV3)
Period: January 2012 to January 2016
Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and death. Liver transplantation has markedly improved this situation, although graft availability constitutes a major problem further aggravated by graft rejection. Initially hepatic cirrhosis was considered to be an irreversible phenomenon but there are currently numerous experimental indications suggesting that its regression is a feasible objective. Identification of new therapeutic tools able to stop the fibroproliferative process and induce organ regeneration represents a major therapeutic challenge. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) have a unique electronic structure that creates oxygen defects, thus behaving as sites for free radical scavenging. In this project, the antioxidant and tissue regeneration properties of engineered CeO2-NPs will be evaluated as a therapeutic tool to improve hepatic fibrosis and liver regeneration.
A pan-European infrastructure for quality in nanomaterials safety testing (QNano)
Coordinator: University College Dublin – National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Funding agency: European Commission (FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES) [GA No. 262163]
Period: February 2011 to January 2015
QNano is a Research Infrastructure for nanosafety assessment. QNano’s core aim is the creation of a ‘neutral’ scientific & technical space in which all stakeholder groups can engage, develop, and share scientific best practice in the field. Initially it will harness resources from across Europe and develop efficient, transparent and effective processes. Thereby it enables provision of services to its users, and the broader community, all in the context of a best-practice ethos. This encourages evidence-based dialogue to prosper between all stakeholders. However, QNano is also pro-actively seeking to drive, develop and promote the highest quality research and practices via its Joint Research Activities (JRA), Networking Activities (NA) and provision of Transnational Access (TA) functions, with a global perspective and mode of implementation.
Nanotechnology: Training Of Experts in Safety (NanoTOES)
Coordinator: Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg, Austria
Funding agency: European Commission (FP7-MARIE CURIE ITN) [PITN-GA-2010-264506]
Period: November 2010 to October 2013
Life Sciences and Nano Sciences interact today mainly in two areas: in the evaluation of accidental health and environmental effects derived from engineered nanomaterials, and in development and biological/clinical evaluation of nanoparticles with intended biological effects for application in medicine and biotechnology. It is essential for producers, distributors, consumers and regulators that the safety of products containing nanomaterials can be certified with reliable, validated assays. Research efforts are under way, but this important field still urgently lacks sufficient trained personnel. The NanoTOES project will work towards the refinement and standardisation of existing methods, will develop novel assays, and will during this process provide interdisciplinary training to Early Stage Researchers (ESR) and Experienced Researchers (ER) working at the intersection of biosciences and nanosciences.
Other current or recent funded projects:
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Developing Synthetic Strategies for Complex Multi-component Inorganic Nanocrystals with Tunable Physico-Chemical Properties (TUNANOCRYSTAL – Plan Nacional 2012).
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) – Spanish Government [MAT2012-33330] - February 2013 to January 2016 -
Developing New Strategies for the Production of Viable Hybrid Nanocrystals with Applicability in Energy Conversion and (Photo)catalysis (MINE).
European Commission (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG) [GA No. 322153 MINE] - December 2012 to November 2015 -
Toxicological impact of nanomaterials derived from polymer nanocomposites (NANOPOLYTOX).
European Commission (FP7) [GA No. 247899] - May 2010 to April 2013 [www.nanopolytox.eu/] -
Design of conjugated Inorganic Nanoparticles: New tools for cancer treatment (Plan Nacional 2009).
Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC) – Spanish Government [MAT2009-14734-C02-01] - January 2010 to December 2012 -
In vivo evaluation of the potential of nanoconjugates as vaccine adjuvants (VALTEC Vacunes).
ACC1Ó – Generalitat de Catalunya [VALTEC09-2-0089] - October 2009 to October 2012 -
Translation of gold nanoparticles conjugates with cisplatin to clinical-oncological stage: from the in vivo phase to phase I (VALTEC Cisplatí).
ACC1Ó – Generalitat de Catalunya [VALTEC09-2-0085] - October 2009 to October 2012 -
Suport a les activitats dels Grups de Recerca de Catalunya (SGR).
Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) [2009 SGR 776] - September 2009 to April 2014 -
Development of the Centre for NanoBioSafety and Sustainability (CNBSS).
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) – Spanish Government, and ACC1Ó – Generalitat de Catalunya - January 2009 to December 2012 [www.cnbss.eu]
Finished funded projects are listed here
