The Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMBG) is one of the leading research centres in Ukraine in the field of analytical biotechnology, with a great potential for the development of market-driven innovations. With the support of high-profile research and innovation (R&I) institutes from Europe, which, together with IMBG form the BIONANOSENS consortium, the Ukrainian institute should be positioned as an international Centre for Excellence in analytical biotechnology also beyond national borders. BIONANOSENS implements tailor-made twinning actions helping to build and strengthen capacities at the beneficiary’s end. Both the overall goal and the single objectives related to it (to establish institutional grant management procedures, better access to international networks, project proposal writing services, promotion and training of young researchers, service and facilitation to the dissemination and exploitation of research results etc.) are taking into full account IMBG’s current operational situation. BIONANOSENS further exploits the findings of a SWOT analysis, which was conducted for IMBG from 2012 to 2013 as part of the COMBIOM project (FP7). All activities are carried out against the state-of-the-art standards in managing EU funded R&I projects – including Responsible Research and Innovation, gender balance, open access (data management, Intellectual Property management), exploitation and commercialisation orientation, and ethics.

According to Eurostat, cancer accounts for the second cause of death in Europe. We are aiming at a breakthrough technology that will contribute to increase drastically patients five years survival and have significant positive impact on their quality of life. Such ambition will be reached thanks to a new future technology that will ensure the efficient treatment of cancer with low side-effects (even if radioresistant), allow to perform accurate diagnostic and give access to in situ monitoring of the treatment. The other ground-breaking aspect of this technology is the fact that everything will take place at the same time, with the same machine which will be much less stressful and disturbing for patients compared to other treatment. SCANnTREAT is based on the association of cutting-edge technologies: spectral photon counting scanner CT (SPCCT) which is a ground-breaking imaging modality and a new X-ray based treatment known as X-rays activated Photodynamic Therapy (X-PDT). The perfect match between these two technologies will be ensured with specifically designed probes acting both as contrast media and therapeutic agents. The SCANnTREAT consortium will gather 3 academic and 1 industrial partners who are international leaders in their respective fields (chemistry, biochemistry, physics, radiobiology, experimental imaging, radiotherapy, clinics).

Radioactive gases are key targets for the environment, making gas monitoring an important issue. SPARTE will focus on the detection and activity measurement metrology of tracers related to nuclear activities. In this respect, the detection of 85Kr, 133Xe, 3H, 37Ar, being all emitter or electron capture radionuclides, is targeted. SPARTE will implement and achieve a radically novel radioactive gas detection and radioactivity metrology, by introducing highly porous scintillating aerogels and/or Metal-Organic Frameworks designed to dramatically extend gas-matter interaction for effective detection through scintillation. These materials after development and optimization will combine an efficient, fast and isotropic scintillation ensuring homogeneous 3D response and high sensitivity for metrology. The goal will be to realize functional solid-based sensors generating a close intermixing between the sensor and the analyte and to combine efficiency and homogeneity. Major breakthroughs are foreseen: a calibration method for low activity range of 85Kr and 133Xe, a real time detection system of for some noble gas and 3H with a significantly improved sensitivity in an easy deployable system, a detector for 37Ar. SPARTE consortium proposes a unique combination of competences aimed at succeeding in the difficult task of pioneering a new technology track, from sensor as porous scintillator to critical radioactive gas detection and metrology method development. It covers the six critical skills - i.e. aerogels and MOFs scintillating monolith preparation, structural and scintillation characterization, ionizing radiation detection and its modeling – needed to reach our goals. The consortium combines 4 leading research centers and 2 SMEs around 3 core expertises - processing, characterization and metrology - also encompassing the industrial perspective, in order to create the interdisciplinary “substrate” necessary for a successful outcome of the project.