Objective Cytogenetics has made major contribution to the understanding of chromosomal basis of constitutional and acquired diseases. They are widely applied in clinical practice for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of severe conditions such as cancer and genetic diseases. They are also used for monitoring biological effects of mutagenic and carcinogenic agents such as chemicals and radiation. In recent years a new technique has developed in Western Europe that extends the capabilities of cytogenetics to the molecular level: the field of molecular cytogenetics. Using labelled nucleic acid probes it is possible to specifically mark multiple DNA targets in meta- and interphase nuclei, such that the marked regions can be visualized with the aid of fluorescence or brightfield microscopy. Deviations from the normal pattern of hybridization permit the identification of genetically aberrant cells. This new ability has major impact in areas such as prenatal diagnosis, oncology, hematology, pathology and genetic toxicology. The number of cells that must be examined to reach a reliable decision on the molecular cytogenetic make-up of a cell sample, the complexity of the images and the amount of analysis time available, clearly indicate that instrumentation for the (semi) automated examination of microscope images is crucial to achieve the required objectivity and speed. This has been the driving force for proposing the Concerted Action "Automation of Molecular Cytogenetic Analyses" (CA-AMCA). Given the universal applicability of these biomedically important methodologies, there is a similar need in the NIS countries, but in these countries there exists an information gap regarding implementation and further development of the in situ hybridization methodology and its associated microscopies as well as regarding the image acquisition, -processing and -analyses techniques. The objective of this proposal is, therefore, to enable the participating groups to efficiently help filling their currently existing information gap and to contribute to reaching the original goals of the CA-AMCA with specific scientific input from their national perspectives by using the channels provided by the existing CA-AMCA. Programme(s) IC-PECO/COPERNICUS - Scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and European non-member countries, 1992- Topic(s) 0201 - CEEC participation in BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH programme Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Rijksuniversiteit Leiden EU contribution No data Address 72,Wassenaarseweg 2333 AA Leiden Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUTE OF PEDIATRICS AND CHILDREN SURGERY - MINISTRY OF HEALTH Russia EU contribution No data Address 2,Taldomskaya 2 127412 MOSCOW See on map Total cost No data Kiev Polytechnic Institute Ukraine EU contribution No data Address 37,Peremoga Avenue 252056 Kiev See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER OF MENTAL HEALTH - RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES Russia EU contribution No data Address 2,Zagorodnoe Sh 2 113152 MOSCOW See on map Total cost No data