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BILOBA Consortium

The BILOBA project consists of 9 participants from different European countries and with different objectives of participating. The consortium leaders decided to have the project as big as it is on purpose to make sure that the major stakeholders in Europe are well represented.
The partners are:

Geographyc distribution of Partners

Partners Presentation

Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering

The Molecular Photonics Laboratory (MPL) of the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering of the SAPIENZA University of Roma, directed by Francesco Michelotti, is operating in the field of organic nonlinear optics and integrated optics since more than fifteen years. The group has got several collaborations with European universities and , research institutes, including Fraunhofer Institut (D), Politecnico of Torino (I), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (CH), and others.
The group plans to take part in the BILOBA project by sharing its experimental expertise in the field of surface plasmon polariton and surface electromagnetic waves propagation on metal films and photonic crystals. The group also possesses the experimental expertise to characterise integrated photonic circuits, including specific know-how on microresonator based devices gained during the EU funded project NAIS (IST-2000-28018). Moreover the MPL has a wealth of experience in deposition, characterisation and application in photonics devices of organic (linear and nonlinear) polymers, which will be exploited during the BILOBA project.

Politecnico di Torino,Italy
Department of Applied Sciences and Technology

The Materials and Microsystems Laboratory χ-Lab of the Applied Sciences and Technology Dept-Politecnico of Torino possesses noticeable technological facilities and long standing experience on processes related to semiconductor and metallic thin films grown by PVD and CVD systems. The research activities concern with micro/nano-photonics related to photonic crystals of several dimensionalities, bio-oriented nano-optics and spectroscopies such as SNOM and Raman/SERS, MEMS structures exploited in the fabrication of microcantilever biosensors for genomics and proteomics analysis (where specific protocols for wet chemical and plasma assisted surface functionalisations devoted to specific proteins have been developed), silicon and polymeric-based microfluidics such as miniaturised lab-on-chip modules for extraction/purification/amplification of DNA. The equipment facilities that will be shared in the framework of the project is detailed on the WEB at http://www.polito.it/micronanotech. It is worthwhile highlighting that the present project proposal is well matching with the research subjects addressed by the proponent thanks to a number of successful project in the last five years. Among the most relevant, the national FIRB04 funding represented the basis of a widespread national laboratory distributed over a partnership network of excellence "Laboratory of Electrobiochemical Miniaturized Technologies for the Analysis and the Research" (LATEMAR) aimed at the application of micro and nanotechnologies to genomics, proteomics and biotechnologies in a more general sense (http://www.latemar.polito.it/). In addition to the LATEMAR project, it is worth to mention the following national/regional recent projects focused on pertinent subjects: (i) Piedmont Regional Project “PHOENICS” (PHotonic biOsensors for Early caNcer dIagnotiCS)”, Call Converging technologies 2007 (2009-2012), coordinator F. Giorgis, (ii) Piedmont Regional Project “SPLASERBA” (Smart PLAsmonic Surfaces for Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Biological Assays), (2008-2010), coordinator F. Giorgis, (iii) Joint Call for Proposal for Joint Piedmont- Russian Research Projects, “Nano-Optics and Spectroscopy of Nano-structures and single nano-particles for biological analysis” (2007-2009), proponents F.Giorgis and E. Descrovi.

 Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Germany

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. is an autonomous non-profit organization with a decentralised organisational structure, which currently maintains over 80 research units, including more than 50 Fraunhofer Institutes. The legally not-independent research institutes operate from different locations in Germany, working in close partnership with industry. A staff of approximately 12500, the majority of whom are qualified scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of about one billion Euro. Today FRAUNHOFER is the leading organization of institutes of applied research and development in Europe, carrying out research and development projects on a contractual basis by order of industry, the service sector and government.

Unit a - IOF - Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (Jena)

Research and development at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) focuses on optical systems technology in order to continually improve the control of light from generation via guiding and manipulation up to its application. The main areas of research cover the field of optical thinfilms in a spectral range from the far infrared down to the soft x-ray region, optical metrology, micro-optical technologies and systems, as well as precision engineering with focus on the development of precision optical systems. The work within the current project will be carried out by two groups: The Micro-Optical- Systems Department has experience for more than 18 years in micro-optics design and prototyping. It got worldwide recognition in this field due to the symbiosis of design, element fabrication and system integration. Simulation issues are tackled by means of different commercially available software, or if necessary, self-written tools or add-ons. Fabrication technologies which include electron-beam- and laserlithography, reactive ion etching, UV-replication etc. can be applied for master structure preparation as well as replication of micro optical elements. Previous work includes the application of this experience to surfaceplasmon resonance and fluorescence biosensors. The Department has participated in a number of European projects, e.g. FP4 Brite-Euram Strep Dondodem, FP5 IST Walori, FP6 Strep CellForce, FP7 ICT Strep Smarthies. The Optical Coatings Department is specialized on preparation and characterization of optical interference coatings. Its research group “coating on polymers” is worldwide accepted by numerous scientific papers, book articles and patents.

Unit b - IWS - Institut für Werkstoff-und Strahltechnik (Dresden)

The research and development work at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) is based on the substantial expertise in materials- and nanotechnologies combined with the resources for comprehensive materials analysis and characterisation. Work in the project will be conducted by the Micro-Processing Working Group that is concerned with laser micro material processing as well as with the development of biosystems technology. The main areas of research are laser micro applications; design, simulation, construction, realisation and characterisation of microreactors and microfluidics; analysis tools for the characterisation of analyte-ligand interactions using surface plasmon resonance; micro contact printing for surface functionalization and imprinting for the shaping of geometries in the nanometre range; 3D plotting technology for the manufacture of three-dimensional multi-component scaffolds. Previous experience and results, partially obtained in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IOF Jena, include the application of lab-on-a-chip SPR technology to DNA/DNA- and DNA/RNA-hybridisation, as well as antigen-antibody, aptamer-thrombin, and several protein and peptide interactions. Additionally, an “organoid-on-a-chip” (OOC) platform technology has been developed in order to create a self-contained sensor-controlled micro-tissue culture device in the shape of a standard microscope slide.

Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Department of Materials

Imperial College London is rated as sixth-best university worldwide, and has a reputation for first-rate research, excellence in teaching, and employing staff of the highest international quality. Imperial has a unique advantage as it is a university for science, medicine, engineering, and also business, driving innovation toward generating useable products while encouraging interdisciplinary work. The Faculty of Engineering, of which the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME) and the Department of Materials are part, has helped Imperial to achieve the honours of being second in Europe and seventh in the world in terms of faculty, as determined by the 2008 Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings for Engineering and IT Universities. The interdisciplinary field of biomaterials is carried out in close collaboration with the Faculties of Life Sciences and Medicine in the Imperial College and the cross-faculty IBME. The IBME at Imperial is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories with high-tech facilities and instrumentation and provides researchers with top level academic and business consultants. Imperial College has internationally-leading research programmes in the synthesis, processing, and modelling of a broad range of materials (metals, ceramics, semiconductors, glasses, ceramic-matrix composites, polymers and bio- and functional materials) directed to diverse applications such as nuclear, solid-oxide fuel cells, aerospace, biomedical, automotive, communications and electronics.

Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
Department of Oncology

The Dept of Oncological Sciences of the University of Torino, School of Medicine is located at the Institute for Cancer Research (IRCC) in Candiolo Italy. The Department encompasses experimental and clinical researchers and aims at making significant contribution to the fight against cancer by understanding the basics and by providing optimal diagnostic and therapeutic services. The Dept of Oncological Sciences- IRCC employ over 300 hundreds scientists and is a recognized and well qualified centre for training young researchers in the experimental medical science field. The core facilities equipments include: i) Genomic unit, equipped with automatic multiple DNA sequencers (3730xl Applied , 454 Roche DNA analyzers), PCR and real time machines and robotic handlers; ii) Microscopic unit equipped with 2 Leica confocal microscopes, living microscopy set for FRET, FIRT and FRAP analyses; iii) Facs sorter Unit; iv) Bioinformatics unit; v) a state of the art mouse facility , vi) clinical study unit. On clinical point of view, the Department is mainly involved in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, sarcomas and melanomas.

Labor Srl, Roma, Italy

LABOR is a private Contract Research Organisation (CRO) realising third party research and development, specifically in the energy and environment sector. In particular it realises research activities and coordination in the framework of multi-partner research projects. LABOR is leader in Italy for coordination and provision of research services in European funded projects specific for Small Medium Enterprises. In the 6th Framework Programme we carried out research services in 14 projects for about 70 SMEs. The qualified staff made of researchers, technicians and projects managers, and the relations established with Universities and Centre of Excellence at European level, allow us to provide complete technological innovation services, for the technology transfer and customisation of basic research to the industrial requirements. The company is certified ISO 9001 since August 2002 and operates in the Technological Park named Tecnopolo Tiburtino in Rome. Apart from third party research, LABOR develops own technological platforms, to be sold or licensed. The infrastructures include: a laboratory for electronics and automation, a test area for hydrogen technologies; a laboratory specialised in industrial chemistry. In the electronic sector, Labor is able to design and implement data acquisition, control and automation based on MCU, ADC, DAC, ASIC, PC board and owns a research structure for design, engineering and prototyping of electronic prototypes. Labor is capable to carry out designs of electrical schematics and multilayer printed circuit boards for low and high power applications, radiofrequency systems, remote data logging, and biomedical systems.

Biotray SAS, Lyon, France

BioTray is an innovative technological company in micro technology and biotechnology. Our mission is to develop and provide highly effective and easy to use research and diagnostic instruments in the field of molecular diagnostic. In the last five years, we have developed and launched five instruments in microfluidics and microarrays applications. Our expertises are in the design and the development of instruments; in particular we developed: the MS 10-100, a maskless photolithography instrument, that covers all steps of photolithography and wet etching workflow, and can be used to manufacture micropatterns and microfluidic chips, the FlowTest controllers, which is an open microfluidic controller allowing to pilot up to 8 fluid control device (micropumps, electrovalves) in microfluidic systems, the TrayMix which are hybridisation and wash stations, that use our patented microfluidic system that allow mixing via chaotic advection. Our solution and our know-how are detailed on our website www.biotray.fr. Our research and development efforts focus on development of lab-on-a-chip solutions including the instruments to process them.

Horiba Jobin Yvon SAS, Paris, France

Horiba Jobin Yvon (HJY) is a world leader in optical spectroscopy, diffractive optics and optical molecular and microanalysis. With more than 90 M€ turnover, HJY spends 15% of its turnover in R&D, and exports 75% of its production. In that context, BILOBA is considered as strategic project for HJY because it will concretise the opening of new business opportunities for a new generation of biosensor systems.

Allocated tasks: The main role of HJY in the BILOBA project is to make sure that the BSW biosensor and biochips are adapted to the requirements of the market. Also HJY will be in charge of comparing the sensitivity of BSW compared to existing SPR imaging instruments.

Available Facilities: One SPRi system will be allocated to the project. HJY has an R & D workshop for the development of optical instrumentation. The company has all the infrastructure and equipment necessary for test and application using optical machines. Each year the HORIBA Jobin Yvon R&D teams are granted more than 10 patents worldwide.

KDS Radeberg GmbH, Dresden, Germany

Funded in 1990, the company KDS Radeberger Präzisions-, Formen- und Werkzeugbau GmbH has developed, designed and manufactured precision tools and parts for two decades, based on detailed expertises in construction, molding and fabrication technologies. The main focus are injection molding tools for small to medium sized parts with superior precision and surface quality. KDS uses full three dimensional design, manufacturing, and measurement systems in order to supply injection molding, diecasting, and pressure casting tools to be used for producing plastic, elastomeric, and Aluminum components. Plastic specimens are produced by means of Krauss Maffei injection moulding machines. Since 2009 the company's quality management is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008. The company has detailed experience in mastering and moulding the unique SPR biochips that had been developed in cooperation with Fraunhofer IOF.