Objective
The original objectives of the Concerted Action were to allow the participating groups to:
a. collaborate on various issues of automated cytogenetics, to optimize the use of national resources, and to avoid unnecessary duplication of work,
b. to contribute to the standardization of cytogenetic analytical and preparative techniques,
c. to promote common European scientific and economic interests in the international competition in the field,
d. to initiate further European research activities (eg in image processors and image analysis),
e. to recommend systems and methods to European industry and to potential users.
European collaboration on automated cytogenetics was resulted in the following achievements:
improved performance and specifications of automatic metaphase finders;
development of new and more efficient techniques for segmenting metaphases into isolated chromosomes;
development of new and more efficient procedures for features extraction and chromosome classification;
development of alternative hardware and software for automated cytogenetic analysis;
development of prototype instrumentation for automated molecular cytogeneticanalysis;
testing of European systems for cytogenetic analysis that are commercially available.
Through the collaborating network, a number of important problems of automated cytogenetics have been solved. Examples are in the refinement of karyotyping classifiers; in the use of the X windows standard for supporting interaction; in the evaluation of commercial systems; and in the sharing of data bases. Recently the groups have focused intensively on new staining techniques for cytogenetic analysis, the so called in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques. These techniques which may also be applied to interphase cells may eventually be shown to be more reliable and standardised than the conventional techniques used in the past. Furthermore the new ISH techniques may be ideal for automation because the results of analysis may be based on the statistical evaluation of data from many cells as compared to the present techniques where each cell is analysed individually.
In the course of the project a number of new groups have become involved with industry. Recently 3 new systems have been made commercially available on the basis of collaboration between groups and industry.
Cytogenetic analyses have become increasingly important for: 1) analysis of constitutional chromosomes abnormalities causing mental retardation and congenital malformations, eg Down Syndrome, 2) analysis of chromosome abnormalities associated with malignant diseases, and 3) monitoring biological effects of irradiation and of environmental mutagents by aberration scoring. All three kinds of cytogenetic analysis are time consuming and expensive, and automation is therefore required to cope with the increasing demands for cytogenetic analysis.
Methodology used
Automated cytogenetic analysis is a multidisciplinary task which requires input from many different specialities ranging from cytogenetics, biological dosimetry, and medicine to computer engineering, pattern recognition, image processing and physics. Furthermore, the various kinds of cytogenetic analyses require automated machines with different capabilities and specifications although some features are common. Consequently, the participating groups have conducted individual and different research projects, and the collaboration between the participating groups focused on:
a. Exchange of information through plenary workshops, mini (topic oriented) workshops, laboratory visits and newsletters.
b. Exchange of biological materials, eg slides.
c. Exchange of databases, eg images and extracted features.
d. Exchange of software (algorithms), eg for segmentation and classification.
e. Interlaboratory research projects on selected topics, eg development of classifiers and test of machines.
f. Collaboration with industry through exchange of information during workshops and through collaborative agreements between companies and individual groups.
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.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence pattern recognition
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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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.
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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
2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
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.