Miniature magic bullet
Located in a strategic corner of northeast Italy and considered an autonomous region with special status, Friuli-Venezia Giulia boasts a leading science park. The EU-funded project 'Bio-nanotechnology European infrastructure in AREA science park' (Binasp) was set up to establish bio-nanotechnology research infrastructure and facilities in this region. Bio-nanotechnology is a promising field in biomedicine that can bring rapid advances to diagnosis and therapy in different healthcare situations. Biological nanoprobes, for example, may one day be injected into the body to track tumour cells and even repair them. BINASP was conceived with six laboratories related to bio-nanotech in mind, representing a key part of the research structures in the AREA science park. The project's aim is further nanotechnology research, especially in biology and medicine. This involves development of new partnerships with EU nanotech stakeholders, joint research projects, start-up grants and much more. Plans to manage sophisticated laboratories and related equipment have also been on the agenda, in addition to developing higher education programmes and fellowships in the field. The project initiatives and exploitation of results are expected to lead to novel products, services and diagnostic tools in bio-nanotechnology. This may one day open up a very exciting field in healthcare technology and medical therapy, propelling them to a brighter high-tech future.