Project description
Nanotechnology brings cancer diagnostics to the next era
Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) is a well-established method for the detection of nucleic acids in cells using fluorescent probes. However, FISH application in cancer diagnostics is limited due to the slow turnaround of results, the high cost and the complexity of the protocol. To address this, the EU-funded AmpliFISH project is working on novel probes based on nanoparticles. These FISH nanoprobes will exhibit single-molecule DNA/RNA sensitivity, owing to their 1 000-fold higher brightness than traditional probes, and they will be more economical and simple to use. AmpliFISH probes will be specially designed for cancer research and clinical diagnostics offering the capacity for the simultaneous detection up to nine biomarkers in a single assay.
Objective
Rapidly expanding field of cancer diagnostics generates strong demand for new biosensing tools. In particular, it concerns probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), that enables detection of DNA and RNA cancer biomarkers directly in diseased cells. Although FISH technique has already been accepted for cancer diagnostics in clinics, its applications are still limited because the method is slow, expensive and requires complicated amplification protocols to obtain sufficient fluorescence signal. Here, we propose a solution based on ultrabright DNA-functionalized dye-loaded fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles recently developed within the ERC grant BrightSens and protected by two patent applications. We aim to develop ultrabright FISH probes (nanoprobes) for cancer research and clinical diagnostics. These nanoprobes will feature single-molecule DNA/RNA sensitivity, low cost, fast and direct one step cell staining protocol, and compatibility with clinical samples and single-cell assays. The amplification of FISH performance will be ensured by our dye-loaded polymeric nanoparticles of 7-20 nm size that are ~1000 fold brighter than single organic dyes. The project is composed of five tasks: (1) Synthesis and optimization of FISH nanoprobes; (2) validation of FISH nanoprobes in cancer cell lines; (3) development of multiplexing assays for detection at least 9 biomarkers; (4) their validation in clinically relevant samples; and, finally, (5) commercialization of FISH nanoprobes. The developed probes will constitute highly competitive products that can greatly improve performance of FISH assays in clinics and research laboratories and thus impact human health. Therefore, they will be directly proposed for commercialization by licensing to existing companies and/or through creation of a startup.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology biosensing
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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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-2019-PoC
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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.
67081 STRASBOURG
France
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.