Obiettivo When it is inhaled, asbestos triggers a chain of events that can lead to mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lung lining, and to lung cancer. After prolonged stay in the lungs the asbestos fibers develop an iron coating that is thought to be responsible for the cytotoxic response, and which nature is still unclear. The fibres with their coating, developed after prolonged stay in human lungs, are known as asbestos bodies. Despite the large and increasing incidence of respiratory/pulmonary diseases among the general population due to asbestos and other toxic fibers, the carcinogenic mechanism is not yet fully understood. A deeper knowledge of the interaction between the fibers and the biological tissue can help scientists to develop more efficient medical treatments and to improve prevention strategies. The proposed research project aims to reveal the composition and formation mechanism of asbestos bodies combining cutting-edge synchrotron radiation fluorescence and imaging microtomography and microdiffraction with transmission electron microscopy. Synchrotron radiation techniques will allow revealing the elemental distribution and morphology of unaltered lung tissue samples with unprecedented level of detail, preserving their tridimensional structure. Microdiffraction and transmission electron microscopy will reveal possible degradation of the embedded asbestos fibres, which is a long standing question. The project will exploit an innovative collaboration between physicists, chemists, doctors, and biologists. In particular, physics techniques usually employed in the field of fundamental research or in material science will be combined with laboratory methodologies, creating an environment favourable for breaking-through results. The methodologies developed during the project can be extended to the study of other toxic particulate, such as vehicular or industrial particulate matter and man-made nanoparticles, which are of increasing concern for human health. Campo scientifico engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibersmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologylung cancernatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyelectron microscopymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses Programma(i) 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 Argomento(i) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Invito a presentare proposte H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinatore CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Contribution nette de l'UE € 180 277,20 Indirizzo PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma Italia Mostra sulla mappa Regione Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Tipo di attività Research Organisations Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 180 277,20
