Project description DEENESFRITPL Nucleic acid nanotechnology for the creation of cell-free point-of-care diagnostics The biological complexity of tumours and the diversity of diagnostic biomarkers require the development of innovative analytical tools for the detection of multiple targets in a sensitive, specific and low-cost way to allow real-time monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic effects. The goal of the EU-funded PRO-TOOLKITS project is to introduce innovative cell-free point-of-care diagnostic kits and genetically manipulated biosensing tools. The researchers will develop rationally designed programmable nucleic acid modules that respond to a wide range of molecular markers and environmental stimuli. The project's work will lead to significant breakthroughs in the fields of in vitro diagnostics, biosensing and synthetic biology. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective WHY: The biological complexity of tumours and the large diversity of diagnostic biomarkers call for the development of innovative analytical tools that can detect multiple targets in a sensitive, specific and low-cost way and allow real-time monitoring of disease pathways and therapeutic effects. To provide such transformative tools creative thinking, innovative approach and the exploration of new research avenues that span different disciplines is necessary. WHAT: The goal of the PRO-TOOLKITS project is to address this need by developing innovative cell-free point of care diagnostic kits and genetically encodable biosensing tools. HOW: I oriented my independent career as a P.I. towards the design and development of synthetic nucleic acid-based nanodevices and nanomachines. With the help of an ERC Starting Grant I made ground-breaking contributions in the field of nucleic acid Nanotechnology. Motivated by these advancements I propose to challenge my know-how and expertise to explore new research avenues that will open exciting possibilities in biosensing applications. The key, ground-breaking IDEA underlying this project is to take advantage of my expertise and harness the advantageous features of RNA synthetic modules that can translate the expression of proteins in controlled in-vitro cell-free systems and can be also genetically encoded in living organisms and function inside the cells. I will develop rationally designed programmable nucleic acid modules that respond to a wide range of molecular markers and environmental stimuli through innovative nature-inspired mechanisms and that can be orthogonally wired to provide cell-free diagnostic kits and genetically encoded live-cell biosensing tools. The project will provide transformative approaches, methods and tools that will represent a genuine break-through in the fields of in-vitro diagnostics, biosensing and synthetic biology. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybiosensingnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acidsnatural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biologyengineering and technologynanotechnologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNA Keywords Biosensors DNA nanotechnology aptamers cell-free systems synthetic biology nanobiotechnology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA Net EU contribution € 1 999 375,00 Address VIA CRACOVIA 50 00133 Roma Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 375,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA Italy Net EU contribution € 1 999 375,00 Address VIA CRACOVIA 50 00133 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 375,00
