Biomechanics in health and disease: advanced physical tools for innovative early diagnosis (Phys2BioMed)

Basic data for this project

Description

It has long been proved that cell mechanics are related to various diseases and conditions. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Phys2BioMed project aims to identify and establish biomechanical markers for the early detection of cell and tissue dysfunction at the onset of disease. The objective is to create an interdisciplinary research training network for early stage researchers on the application of physical tools for the mechanical phenotyping of cells and tissues, developing novel early diagnostics. The network will merge training from diverse fields such as nanoscience and nanotechnology, physics, biology and medicine, defining the main features of new-generation instrumentation optimised for the mechanical phenotyping of clinical materials. Phys2BioMed will offer excellent interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral training to a team of motivated early stage researchers (ESRs) on the application of cutting-edge physical tools for the mechanical phenotyping of cells and tissues of clinical relevance, aiming at developing novel early-diagnostic tools. The Phys2BioMed network will merge diverse competences at European level, from different fields like nanoscience and nanotechnology, physics, biology, and medicine, and will expose ESRs to the non academic and private sector. A key element of the project is the peer-to-peer collaboration of research academic institutions with industries and world-leading medical and clinical centers; these are the main actors of the global challenge against diseases, and within Phys2BioMed they will highlight unmet clinical needs, and actively cooperate with academic colleagues for developing novel diagnostic strategies. ESRs will be trained-through-research by world-leading junior and senior PIs, and will benefit of lecture courses, dedicated international schools and workshops, and topical conferences. Secondments to other nodes of the network will represent the main and more effective channel of dissemination and cross-fertilization of competences, ideas, and knowledge within the network. Besides training talented young scientists, ready to work at the boundary of diverse disciplines in the field of nanomedicine, Phys2BioMed will provide scientific and technological outcomes on biomechanics, and the mechanical determinants of diseases. Technology-wise, it will define standardized procedures for nanomechanical measurements, and the definition of the main features of new-generation instrumentation optimized for the mechanical phenotyping of clinical specimens. In the longer-term, Phys2BioMed will provide the platform and know-how to build a data bank of mechanical fingerprints of diseases, setting the ground for the development of effective early-diagnostic tools.