Objective
Photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs) are electron spin pairs formed in well-defined spin states. Spin chemistry of SCRPs plays important roles in biology, as famously implicated in the leading hypothesis for avian magnetoreception. At the same time, synthetic molecules supporting SCRPs provide a versatile platform for quantum information applications with synthetic chemical tunability. Recently, significant interest in SCRPs in chiral (non-superimposable mirror image) systems has grown as systems to study mechanisms of chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS), which describes spin-dependent interactions with chiral molecules like proteins at room temperature. However, the role of CISS in the spin dynamics of SCRP and physiological relevance of CISS in biological systems remain poorly understood and are significant open questions in both quantum science and modern biophysics. Quantum sensing of SCRPs using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond offers untapped potential to elucidate the complex spin dynamics of these systems and create a long-anticipated breakthrough in identifying the potential biological roles of CISS.
In the proposed work of Q-CISS, novel quantum sensing experiments using single NV centers in nanophotonic diamond waveguides will be used to detect, measure, and manipulate photogenerated SCRPs at the single to few-molecule regime and at room temperature. First, this interdisciplinary approach will systematically build new knowledge by investigating well-defined synthetic achiral and chiral model systems. Second, key experiments are outlined to identify unambiguously the potential roles of CISS in SCRP dynamics in biological proteins hypothesized to be involved in avian magnetoreception. Collectively, Q-CISS will establish a unique approach to investigate combined roles of molecular chirality and spin physics in biological systems, while more broadly advancing room-temperature quantum sensing strategies for the chemical sciences.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1700 FRIBOURG
Switzerland
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