Objective The development of novel technologies to diagnose and clinically treat invasive Aspergillus fumigatus infections is the scope of this research consortium. A. fumigatus is a ubiquitous mould whose spores are airborne and thus frequently inhaled. Humans with impaired immunity, e.g. those with haematological malignancies or bone marrow transplant recipients, are at a dramatically increased risk of severe, invasive A. fumigatus infection known as invasive aspergillosis (IA). IA is a rare disease in Europe but causes tremendous costs to the public health sector. Currently definitive diagnosis of IA is only obtained at autopsy or relies on invasive biopsy, an extremely unpleasant procedure which is not always applicable in suffering patients. Thus, a convenient, fast and specific diagnosis of IA is not available forcing clinicians to administer antifungal drugs on spec if a standard antibiotic treatment failed to reduce fever in risk patients. It would be of high financial benefit for clinics and has the potential to increase the survival rates of immuno-compromised patients, if a definitive diagnosis of IA could be obtained early and its response to treatment be monitored. This would allow applying the correct therapy at a dose and duration exactly tailored to patient needs. Equally important is the development of new treatment options which can replace existing systemic antifungal drugs with their known severe side effects. The approach of the consortium is to develop new disease specific tracers based on monoclonal antibodies along with the combined molecular imaging technologies PET/MR and PET/CT. Newly developed tracers shall then be functionalised by a combined labelling with radio-isotopes allowing diagnostic PET imaging but also immuno-radiotherapy, thus representing truly anti-infectious theranostics. This would provide a framework for new tools in the management not only of this rare but life-threatening mycosis but principally also for other infectious hazards. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineradiologynuclear medicine Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH.2013.1.2-1 - Development of imaging technologies for therapeutic interventions in rare diseases Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN Address Geschwister-scholl-platz 72074 Tuebingen Germany See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Tübingen Tübingen, Landkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Bernd Pichler (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 2 042 973,65 Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM ESSEN Germany EU contribution € 1 110 540,34 Address Hufelandstrasse 55 45147 Essen See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Matthias Gunzer (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window ISCA DIAGNOSTICS LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 894 190,01 Address Tregolis road lowin house TR1 2NA Truro See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Robert Misselbrook (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window CHEMATECH SAS France EU contribution € 1 006 110,00 Address Rue du bas de chanot 7 21800 Chevigny saint sauveur See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Frédéric Boschetti (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT Switzerland EU contribution € 531 350,00 Address Forschungstrasse 111 5232 Villigen psi See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Aargau Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Irene Walthert (Mrs.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET Denmark EU contribution € 402 377,00 Address Anker engelunds vej 101 2800 Kongens lyngby See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Mikael Jensen (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window