Objective The contamination of food and feed with harmful fungal derived mycotoxins is a problem worldwide and worsening. Over 400 different mycotoxins are now known, some of them have been studied in great detail, while the data about toxicity and occurrence for many others are scarce. This information is required to determine the risk in relation to animal and human health and establish maximum permitted levels that do not pose any health concerns. The fast elimination of contaminated food and feed from the supply chain is crucial for the protection of human and animal health as many of these toxins can cause serious diseases both after acute and chronic exposure. The occurrence data cannot be provided without fast and reliable detection methods that allow quantification of these toxic contaminants. This research, therefore, is focused on delivering new fast antibody-based (ELISA) screening methods for the detection of three important mycotoxins: T-2/HT-2, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin and on the development of a first multiplex flow-through rapid (FTR) test for the simultaneous detection of mycotoxins in food and feed. These tests could be used by food and feed producers, importers and testing laboratories to assure food and feed safety on the European market. The researcher will work for two years with the food safety company EuroProxima (EP) in the Netherlands that will provide training and support of the development of the commercial analytical assays. The project will be also supported by the partner organisations - Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and RIKILT Wageningen UR (RIKILT) who will be hosting secondment phases in order to facilitate the work packages. This project aims to combine academic excellence with specialist SME know-how to work on a project with significant impact on public health and that offers a substantial commercial opportunity. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologyengineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood safetymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator R-BIOPHARM NEDERLAND B.V. Net EU contribution € 177 598,80 Address BEIJERINCKWEG 18 6827 BN ARNHEM Netherlands See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 177 598,80