Project objectives

1. Creating a Romanian research network in nano-biotechnology for health, which is continuing and amplifying the previous activity of the CENOBITE network (2002-2004). The original CENOBITE team is extended from 9 to 13, plus 5 associate partners (acting as subcontractors). The “medical” and “applicative” side is strengthened: the consortium is oriented now towards applications (together with 2 hospitals, 2 universities of medicine and pharmacy, 2 medical research units). An integrated network will be achieved through common research, training, dissemination activities, as well as sharing the use of some key equipments.

2. Focusing the research on the domains targeted by the ETP Nanomedicine. This will be achieved by financing 14 “research mini-projects”, devoted precisely to the three domains of the ETP NanoMedicine (i.e. regenerative medicine, targeted drug-delivery, nano-diagnostics). Clustering at the level of these objectives will allow the leverage of results, as well as flexibility and easier integration at the European scale. The budget is mainly devoted to research, according to the vision for the networks of excellence in FP7.

3. Creating a physical platform of research integration through NANOBIOLAB, a laboratory implemented in the technological area of IMT-Bucharest, part of MINATECH-RO (The Scientific and Technological Park in Micro and Nanotechnologies). This will reinforce the technological character of this network, with no less than 6 national research and technological development institutes. IMT-Bucharest has the only “clean room” space available in Romania today. Part of the technological area will become the NANOBIOLAB platform, devoted to experiments with biological material, with full access for members of the RO-NANOMED consortium. This is the Nano-Bio-Technological Centre (NBTC) model from Cornell University, Ithaca, U.S. (direct contacts IMT-NBTC established in 2004). IMT is already working as a “technological pole” integrating research, education and technological transfer, i.e. providing access to various facilities (for fabrication characterization, computing) to researchers from other organizations, M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, researchers from other companies.

4. Providing intensive networking at national level, by extending the network with new partners (including companies, NGOs etc.) The RO-NANOMED project will not finance these new partners, but they will have access to information (including databases), as well as to some events (seminars, course, brokerage events) organised by the network. They will have the opportunity to join the existing projects or the teams preparing future proposals.

5. Promoting durable integration of national activities in the European Technology Platform. The previous experience of the common work, as well as the focus on the main scientific topics in Nanomedicine will facilitate European cooperation.

The technological orientation together with the wide medical expertise provides a chance for Romanian partners to participate in FP7 consortia, to cooperate with commercial companies and become active members of the ETP working groups. Extensive contacts will be promoted with the European Platform NANOMEDICINE, in order to get Romanian specialists involved in the working groups, as well as in other activities. The “core” members coordinating the clusters of research projects have already the experience of cooperation in FP6 (including Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence). IMT-Bucharest has an outstanding experience in networking, coordinating 3 EU projects devoted to networking at the national, Eastern-European and pan-European scale.