Objective
The objective of this project is to develop a technology to determine the structure of individual biological macromolecules at atomic resolution. This would open up new areas of science and technology since the majority of proteins would then be accessible to direct structure determination at an accuracy allowing drug design. The technology is based on low energy electron point source microscopy, which is highly novel.
Holography with low energy electrons does not employ lenses and thus does not suffer from lens aberration. In addition, it provides high contrast images and does not cause significant radiation damage. The structural information is contained in a hologram, which contains all information of the object wave. Phase and amplitude of the object wave are recorded and allow for a complete mathematical reconstruction of the original object. Although this project is high risk because of the ambitious nature of the objective, we plan to accomplish it in three years.
We will proceed by solving the following tangible objectives: Demonstrate that it is possible to suspend a single molecule in the path of a low energy electron beam (e.g. a coherent electron wave) without it undergoing a significant conformational change, obtain high contrast holograms before significant beam damage occurs and reconstruct the molecule from the hologram.
This project is highly interdisciplinary because finding solutions to these challenges requires specialized knowledge in diverse areas of science. Leaders in their fields of endeavour from across Europe have formed a consortium to bring together a critical mass of expertise needed for this project.
If successful, this project would have an impact well beyond it's objective. It would change the culture of life sciences as it would bring about new understanding of life processes at the molecular level. The long term industrial benefits would be a greatly improved ability for rational drug design.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine medicinal chemistry
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
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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.
Topic(s)
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.
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.
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.
FP6-2004-NEST-C-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
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.
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.
Coordinator
ZURÏCH
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.