Project description
Advanced ultrasound imaging for single-cell analysis
Ultrasound imaging is a widely used, a non-invasive technique for visualising tissues deep within the body. However, current methods lack the resolution to observe cellular processes, limiting their application to basic oncology. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CellUS project aims to overcome this limitation by developing a novel super-resolution ultrasound imaging technique capable of single-cell resolution. The method will be based on nanoscale gas vesicles (GVs) as contrast agents. GVs are tiny, gas-filled protein structures naturally expressed in aqueous photosynthetic bacteria and archaea as a means to achieve buoyancy. The method will be applied to study cancer microenvironments in spheroid models, ultimately providing a powerful tool for oncology research, drug screening, and treatment monitoring.
Objective
The discovery of the green fluorescence protein (GFP) and the parallel development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy (2008 and 2014 Nobel Prizes) led to major breakthroughs in basic biology and medicine by enabling the visualization of the pathways of individual molecules inside living cells. While optical imaging is limited to studying thin specimens (<1mm) due to light scattering in tissue, the introduction of nanoscale gas vesicles (GVs) as the GFP for ultrasound provides an alternative to light for deep tissue cellular imaging. However, current ultrasound imaging methods are bound by the diffraction limit, leading to a resolution of ~100 m at an ultrasound frequency of 15 MHz. While this allows for the detection of cell populations, signals arising from individual cells cannot be isolated. With this project, my goal is to develop a new super-resolution method for cellular ultrasound imaging. The first application of this method will consist in characterizing cancer microenvironments.
The first research objective will be to develop a 3D super resolution method for cellular imaging that relies on nonlinear ultrasound imaging of engineered cells expressing GVs. To put this research effort in context, the grand challenge for super-resolution cellular ultrasound imaging would be to reach a resolution of 10 m which is the characteristic length of a single cell. The second research objective will consist in applying this imaging method to preclinical cancer research. The development of super resolution cellular imaging would provide a new tool for drug screening and treatment monitoring. To do so my project will be conducted on multi-cellular tumorous spheroid models.
The output of this project will be an new ultrasound imaging method for oncology and basic biology research. The successful completion of this project will equip biomedical researchers around the world with a tool to inspect cellular functions deep into opaque tissue.
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 physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences physical sciences acoustics ultrasound
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
2628 CN Delft
Netherlands
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.