Over the last couple of decades technological developments in two unrelated fields have been able to transform our views of biology and medicine: Non-invasive imaging techniques, such as MRI, have dramatically improved diagnosis and research of organisms and tissues, while genomics technology has provided a battery of new approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms behind all biological phenomena. However, as non-invasive imaging has relied on non-optical techniques while molecular biology is strongly coupled to optical probes, a fusion of the two fields has so far not occurred. The aim of this proposal is to bridge this gap by combining multidisciplinary research in Biology, Bioorganic Chemistry, Theoretical Physics and Biomedical Optics with the objective to develop novel imaging tools that will enhance genomic and post genomic research and biotechnological capabilities in Europe by:

• Development of inverse methods and basic theory of light transport for improved 3D tomographic approaches.

• Development of basic theory for nanoscale phenomena and application for improved microscopic molecular imaging techniques.

• Development of organ specific imaging biotechnologies and novel fluorescent probes and biosensors.

• Assessment of the above techniques in specific biological systems so that they become available to a variety of end-users in the scientific community. The development of such tools will offer multilevel information, (spatial, temporal, relative) so that reliable and complex conclusions can be reached faster.

This proposal aims to coordinate the development of functional in vivo imaging capabilities in order to address fundamental biological questions. This will be achieved by partnering high-resolution imaging with post-genomic molecular technology. We note that much of the technology and techniques to be developed under this integrated project will be directly applicable to high throughput screening and genomic and proteomic microanalysis. The techniques proposed will have applications in other model organisms such as xenopous, zebra fish, drosophila and mosquito, c-elegans, and plant biology.

The multidisciplinary activities proposed will stimulate and sustain high level basic research. Imaging of biological and physiological functions in vivo at all scales will allow optimal exploitation of genome information by providing powerful multi-parameter imaging tools for analyzing and phenotyping model systems. This would provide European Scientists with an advantage in solving biological problems and developing technologies that will not only become invaluable within the basic research fields, but also will lead to innovative instrumentation for non invasive diagnosis and treatment of human conditions. Such novel imaging approaches will enable researchers to use well characterized model organisms to determine the relationship between gene function and health or disease.

Partners of this consortium have already long standing links with companies that have a wide range of relevant expertise in the molecular imaging field. The participation of targeted companies in this consortium ensures translation of basic knowledge through to the application stage. This will lead to the creation of jobs for highly skilled and trained scientists contributing to sustain the EU as the leading knowledge-based economy.

Non-invasive phenotyping will drastically reduce the number of sacrificed animals necessary for accurately addressing biological problems and will

• increase the quality and comprehensiveness of data collected from each animal

• cut down the invasive procedures to the animals

• cut down the time of phenotyping positive animals,

• form the basis for human use in the future,

thus increasing the acceptance of science in our society.

Finally, tomographic techniques will be the most used diagnostic tools in the medicine of the future. The development of optical techniques must be considered of similar importance as was magnetic resonance technology at its time. In our consortium we integrate excellence in several areas of research actually present in diverse parts of Europe building up the necessary critical mass to achieve ambitious goals such as molecular imaging of physiological processes in vivo.

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Send mail to webmaster@molimg.gr with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Molecular Imaging Integrated Project
Last modified: 04/19/05