Objective Three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence imaging microscopy of individual living cells is an essential tool for cellular biology, pathology and the study of infection and virulence therein. However, today, one critical constraint of established techniques is that samples must be stabilised by attachment to an optically transparent surface, thereby completely precluding their use for non-adherent cell types. The severity of this limitation becomes clear when one considers that for basic- and biomedical-research, cell-based assay and cell-diagnostic applications some of the most important targets are non-adherent cells, for example, stem cells, systemic cancer cells and lymphocytes. We therefore propose a completely new 3D imaging strategy targeted specifically at live, non-adherent cells. The core technology combines proprietary state of the art hardware for suspended cell manipulation with super high-speed dynamic imaging methods. Around this, our consortium draws together unique expertise from four SME and three academic teams providing the necessary critical-mass to industrialize this methodology as 1) a routine research-bench tool, and 2) a high-throughput, high-content imaging device AUTOMATION (automated tomographic analysis station).Towards these goals completed pilot studies already demonstrate the feasibility for hardware and mathematical development, which will pave the way towards prototype design, and construction. As such, AUTOMATION envisages an altogether new micro-imaging technology; enabling hands-off, rapid, quantitative 3D reconstruction, as never before realised. While offering the promise of benefits across multiple areas of FP6 biomedical research, the primarily technological aims of AUTOMATION place it outside the FP6 thematic priority. However, combining ambitious goals with new and exclusive technologies the NEST-Adventure programme wholly embraces the essence of our initiative. Fields of science social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Keywords fluorescence microscopy tomography Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Call for proposal FP6-2003-NEST-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator INSTITUT PASTEUR EU contribution No data Address 28-25, Rue de Docteur Roux 2 PARIS France See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ANDOR TECHNOLOGY LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Millennium Way 9 Springvale Business Park BELFAST See on map Total cost No data ECOLE NORMALE SUPÉRIEURE DE CACHAN France EU contribution No data Address Avenue du President Wilson 61 CACHAN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data EVOTEC TECHNOLOGIES GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Schnackenburgallee 114 HAMBURG See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SCIENTIFIC VOLUME IMAGING BV Netherlands EU contribution No data Address Alexanderlaan 14 HILVERSUM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TEKNILLINEN KORKEAKOULU Finland EU contribution No data Address Otakaari 1 1000 ESPOO See on map Total cost No data
