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H2020Staff exchange2017–2022

MNR4SCell · Micro/Nano Robotics for Single Cancer Cells

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-01-01 → 2022-10-31
EU contribution
€1,215,000
Participants
15
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Micro/Nano Robotics for Single Cancer Cells

Cancer is considered as the second leading cause of death worldwide. There were an estimated 17 million cancer cases around the world in 2018. The number is expected to increase to 27.5 million by 2040. It is important to develop methodologies that improve understanding of disease condition and progression. Physicochemical forces drive proliferation, differentiation, and migration of cells in live tissue. Significant alteration of these forces or heterogeneity within the tissue implicates a role of nanomechanics in cancer diagnosis. Over the past few years, single cell biology has been performed using micro/nano robotics for exploration of the nanomechanical and electrophysiological properties of cells. However, most of the research so far has been empirical and the understanding of the mechanisms and thus possible for cancer therapy are limited. Therefore, a systematic approach to address this challenge using advanced micro/robotics techniques is timely and important to a wide range of the technologies where micro/nano manipulation and measurement are in demand. The ultimate goal of MNR4SCell is to establish long-term research collaboration between Europe and China in the challenging field of micro/nano robotics for the characterisation, diagnosis and targeted therapy of single cancer cells. The synergistic approach established by MNR4SCell will keep the leading position of the consortium in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs in micro/nano robotics and biomedical applications. The scientific objectives of the project are given as follows: • To establish a long-term and lasting research collaboration network through the MNR4SCell programme by exchange of researchers for short periods during the project. • To exchange ideas and technology concepts for further development of micro/nano robotics for the measurement, diagnosis and targeted therapy of single cancer cells. • To strengthen research partnerships through staff exchanges and networking activities between European and Chinese organisations. •To take a synergistic approach to the research areas and explore novel methodologies and applications for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Cancer is considered as the second leading cause of death worldwide. It is important to develop methodologies that improve understanding of the disease condition and progression. Over the past few years, single cell biology has been performed using micro/nano robotics for exploration of the nanomechanical and electrophysiological properties of cells. However, most of the research so far has been empirical and the understanding of the mechanisms and thus possible for cancer therapy are limited. Therefore, a systematic approach to address this challenge using advanced micro/robotics techniques is timely and important to a wide range of the technologies where micro/nano manipulation and measurement are in demand. The proposed “Micro/nano robotics for single cancer cells (MNR4SCell)” project focuses on the staff exchange between the 8 world recognised institutions of EU and China, and the share of knowledge and ideas, and further the development of the leading edge technologies for the design, modelling, and control of micro/nano robotics and their applications in single cancer cell measurement, characterisation, manipulation, and surgery. This project meets the objectives and requirements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE). The ultimate goal of MNR4SCell is to establish long-term international and multidisciplinary research collaboration between Europe and China in the challenging field of micro/nano robotics for single cancer cells in the characterisation, diagnosis and targeted therapy. The synergistic approach and knowledge established by MNR4SCell will serve as the building blocks of the micro/nano robotics and biomedical applications, and thus keep the consortium’s leading position in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs in nanotechnology and cancer therapy.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK · COVENTRYCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
  • AARHUS UNIVERSITET · Aarhus CDenmark
  • CARL VON OSSIETZKY UNIVERSITAET OLDENBURG · OldenburgGermany
  • Changchun University of Science and Technology · ChangchunChina
  • EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH · ZuerichSwitzerland
  • ELEMENTS SRL · CesenaItaly
  • HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · HARBINChina
  • INSTITUTE OF MECHANICS - BAS IMECHBAS · SofiaBulgaria
  • JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · BaltimoreUnited States
  • SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY · GUANGZHOUChina
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM · NottinghamUnited Kingdom
  • Tianjin University · TianjinChina
  • UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE · LutonUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE · CharlotteUnited States
  • Zhejiang University · HANGZHOUChina

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union