Objective The interaction and communication between individual cells plays a central role in virtually all fields of biology, from the cooperative work of cells in the immune system, through the differentiation of stem cells, and to the proliferation of cancer cells. In recent years it has been shown that these processes are fundamentally coupled to cell-to-cell heterogeneity and variability. Despite the fact that studying cellular ensembles obscures these fundamental biological processes, most current studies consider cell populations, largely due to technological limitations in the ability to dynamically compartmentalize, manipulate, and analyze single cells. We propose to develop and demonstrate a new concept for a single-cell-level bioanalytical workspace that is dynamically configurable in real time. Making use of electrokinetically driven surface deformations, a physical mechanism recently invented in my lab, the MetamorphChip will be able to dynamically modify its own microfluidic structure, thus allowing complete freedom in the manipulation of individual cells and their environment, in real time. The project is divided into 5 aims: 1. Deepening our physical understanding of electrokinetically driven surface deformations, and using it to create a “library” of fundamental dynamic elements. 2. Designing, building, and testing the first prototype MetamorphChip.3. Demonstrating the ability of the MetamorphChip to manipulate single cells and their microenvironment.4. Performing advanced biochemical analysis on single cells using the chip. 5. Demonstrating the use of the MetamorphChip for experimental study of immune cell interaction. I strongly believe that successful implementation of this project would fundamentally change the way in which single-cell experiments are conceived and performed. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid dynamicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2015 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2015-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Net EU contribution € 1 744 056,00 Address SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa Israel See on map 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 € 1 744 056,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Israel Net EU contribution € 1 744 056,00 Address SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa See on map 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 € 1 744 056,00