H2020 FET projects related to medical and neuro-technologies

BrainHack intends to organize the international artistic community experimenting with Brain/Neural Computer Interaction (BNCI) and to link it to the BNCI scientific community. Hackathons will be used as a platform to stimulate learning and exchange between artists, scientists and BNCI technology providers.

BREAKBEN sets out to picture the dynamics of human brain function at unprecedented resolution and reliability. By using new multimodal techniques it will be possible to link accurate magnetic measurements of neural activity with near-simultaneous high-definition measurements of brain structure.

CellViewer seeks to visualise in single cells with nanoscale resolution macromolecules such as proteins and genetic information carriers (DNA, mRNA) in parallel and at the systems level. This will permit to study the mechanisms of self-renewal and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and consequently to predict stem cell changes resulting from specific input stimuli. 

CHROMAVISION aims to develop a pioneering chromosome imaging and manipulation platform that will fuel the next decades of structural chromosome research. The aim is to develop the Super-Resolution Correlative Tweezers Fluorescence Microscope that will for the first time enable 3D, super-resolution, real-time metaphase chromosome observation and manipulation studies under near-physiological conditions.

CONQUER will explore a fundamentally new contrast mechanism with the potential to push magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) far beyond its limits towards a powerful molecular imaging modality. This will be achieved by exploiting the cross relaxation between 1H and large quadrupolar nuclei (QN) for contrast agent design, based on bio-compatible QN compounds and nanoparticles.

Graphene Flagship aims to take graphene and related layered materials (LM) from a state of raw potential to a point where they can revolutionize multiple industries – from flexible, wearable and transparent electronics, to high performance computing and spintronics. This will bring a new dimension to future technology – a faster, thinner, stronger, flexible, and broadband revolution.

Human Brain Project (HBP): the goal of the Human Brain Flagship Project is to put in place a cutting-edge ICT-based scientific research infrastructure, that will permit scientific and industrial researchers to advance our knowledge in the fields of neuroscience, computing and brain-related medicine.

Lumiblast envisages a paradigm shift in cancer therapy by using mitochondria-powered chemiluminescence to treat inaccessible brain tumours in a non-invasive manner.  The photons are produced inside the tumor cells avoiding the major limitation of using external light to treat solid, deep-sited and inaccessible tumors. Each tumor cell is expected to become a small lamp that will activate the photosensitive agents, thus killing the tumour cells from the inside.

MAGNEURON proposes a radically new concept for remote control of cellular functions by means of magnetic manipulation. Magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with proteins will be implanted into target cells, where they can be controlled by external magnetic fields. Possible applications are cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, or brain injuries.

MESO-BRAIN targets a transformative progress in neuroscience and medicine by developing 3 D human stem cell derived neural networks. This would transform cellular neuroscience research and pharmaceutical drug discovery and could eventually be employed to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia and trauma.

MSMED targets proteomics, i.e. the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. By developing the kind of mass spectrometry so robust and powerful that it will be present in every biological laboratory and in every clinic, the project will radically improve future diagnosis, interpretation of disease mechanisms and drug action.

NANOSMELL seeks to develop controlled (reversible) odour emissions and to solve the combinatorial code of olfaction.  The project aims to propose an odour-emitting component in devices such as televisions, phones, computers and more. The approach is based on DNA-based "artificial odorants" being tagged with a nanoparticle changing their conformation in response to an external electromagnetic field.

NEURAM targets the establishment of a new discipline – visual genetics – to visualize nuclear processes in the brain of living organisms in real-time to be utilized for example in early stage disease diagnosis, cancer detection, and toxicity studies.

SYMBIOTIC seeks to develop an autonomous electrochemical biosensor that is lightweight, disposable and of low cost by using an outstanding innovative approach: hosting synergistically the bio-receptor element inside a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The proposed electrochemical biosensor will be completely autonomous operating at room temperature and using the oxygen present in the air, thereby allowing diagnosis everywhere.

VOXEL seeks to prototype new cameras that will combine the X-ray penetration and nanometre spatial resolution.  The ultimate goal is to provide an alternative to tomography with a disruptive technology enabling 3D X-ray imaging at very low dose.