Project description
Safer analysis of pharmaceutical drugs
Understanding how drugs are absorbed, distributed and metabolised is essential for pharmaceutical development. Many drugs contain halogen atoms, such as fluorine or bromine, which serve as useful chemical tracers in these studies. However, current methods rely on radioactive labelling, which is costly, time-consuming, and generates hazardous waste. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PHARM-N-ICP project pioneers a radiolabel-free approach to detect and quantify halogens directly in biological samples. Researchers will develop validated methods for bulk quantification, metabolite profiling, and high-resolution tissue mapping of halogenated drugs. This analytical platform will reduce reliance on radioactive tracers and animal studies, advancing safer and more efficient pharmaceutical drug analysis.
Objective
Halogens occur in about 25 percent of approved small-molecule drugs and are key tracers in ADME studies, yet quantitative metabolite profiling still depends on radiolabeled compounds that are costly to synthesize and generate radioactive waste. This project will pioneer negative-ion ICP-MS for pharmaceutical halogen analysis, offering a radiolabel-free, structure-independent alternative that enables direct, sensitive detection of fluorine or bromine. The objectives are to: (1) establish validated methods for bulk quantification of F and Br in biological matrices; (2) develop HPLC–negative-ion ICP-MS for robust and quantitative metabolite profiling; and (3) deliver quantitative two-dimensional maps revealing the distribution of halogenated drugs in tissues at micrometer-size resolution via LA-ICP-MS using matrix-matched standards. The work will implement and optimize a pre-commercial prototype, characterize reagent backgrounds and spectral interferences, mitigate them using collision–reaction cell technology, and determine figures of merit—reporting limits of detection in absolute units (mass per sample for bulk ICP-MS, on-column mass for HPLC–ICP-MS, and areal LoD for LA-ICP-MS), with ng per g equivalents where appropriate—before applying the workflows to pharmaceutical samples with input from industry; performance targets will be refined after pilot tests in relevant matrices. Results will advance plasma spectrometry at bulk, molecular, and spatial levels, reduce reliance on radiotracers and the use of animals, and deliver the an end-to-end, radiolabel-free workflow for halogen quantification across bulk analysis, chemical speciation, and elemental mapping.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-2025-PF
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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.
9000 Gent
Belgium
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.