This is the main logo - Meditrans; A project dealing with targeted Nanomedicines.

MediTrans Consortium

Detailed Descriptions

1. Universiteit Utrecht

UU has developed into one of Europe's largest and most prominent institutes of research and education. UU offers the broadest spectrum of disciplines available in the Netherlands, innovative research and liaises with universities and research centres all over the World. Some key figures: 26,787 students, 176 academic programmes: 49 Bachelor’s programmes, 109 Master’s programmes, 8,224 members of staff and 705 professors.
The Department of Pharmaceutics (head: Prof. Dr W.E. Hennink), Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, aims at providing new strategies to solve delivery problems encountered by pharmacologically active compounds.  About 25 Ph.D. students and 5 postdocs are currently employed, the greater part externally funded (NWO, STW, industry, EU).  The core activity of our Department is the design of biodegradable (targeted) polymers and liposomes to improve the (bio)pharmaceutical characteristics of new and existing drug substances. The Department develops tailor-made transport vehicles for site-specific, time- and/or rate-controlled delivery of small molecular weight drugs, therapeutic proteins, genetic material, and antigens for therapy and prevention of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases.
Research is carried out on synthesis, preparation, and characterisation of modern delivery systems. Their pharmacokinetic and therapeutic profiles are studied in animal models. Additionally, research is carried out to evaluate promising advanced drug delivery systems in the clinic. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the research program, intensive collaborations exist with academic, industrial, and governmental groups. The Department of Pharmaceutics has an excellent infrastructure to perform research on advanced drug delivery and drug targeting systems. Equipment includes: NMR spectroscopy, SEC, MALLS, DSC, SEM, SPR, CSLM, Rheology, HPLC, FPLC, FT-IR, Fluorescence and UV spectroscopy, SLS, DLS, zeta-potential measurement, advanced freeze dryers. Further, we have fully equipped labs for polymer and organic chemistry, molecular biology and tissue culture. We also have access to facilities for in vivo studies.
UU aims to bring their extensive expertise in the design and biological evaluation of advanced drug delivery systems. UU expects to demonstrate the feasibility for drug delivery purposes of novel materials and approaches and to bring them closer to clinical applications.
Prof. Dr G. Storm (Drug Targeting), Prof. Dr W.E. Hennink (Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems), Dr R.M. Schiffelers (Drug targeting/siRNA delivery), Dr E. Mastrobattista (Protein Engineering), Dr C.F. van Nostrum (Molecular Imprinted Particles) will participate in MEDITRANS.

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2. Withdrawn from consortium: replaced by partner 31.

3. Commissariat À L'Energie Atomique

CEA was created in 1945 as a public research organisation.  It now has more than 15,000 researchers, engineers and other employees. The Technological Research Centre, located in Grenoble, specialises in micro and nanotechnologies for industrial applications.
The mission of CEA is to develop know-how, and to ensure the transfer of a wide variety of civil, defence and industrial technologies in the areas of nuclear energy, biotechnology, environmental protection, materials, microelectronics, optoelectronics and many others. CEA informs, advises and makes its expertise available to government authorities and industrial partners. Part of the CEA’s technology transfer occurs directly through its subsidiary company CEA-Industrie. CEA is also committed to fundamental research in fields as diverse as particle and nuclear physics, astrophysics, molecular and cellular biology, climatology, radiation-matter interaction, and condensed matter physics.
CEA’s scientists will be supported by their unique multidisciplinary environment. The Division of Technology for Biology and Health has 120 staff, including chemists, biologists, physicists, technologists, opticians, and experts in imaging. The goal of this Division is to innovate in the fields of Microsystems and Imaging on the basis of the micro and nanotechnologies developed at CEA. The fields targeted for applications are life science, pharmaceuticals, in vitro diagnostics, health and security. Another division of CEA (Division of Technologies for Energy and Nanomaterials) has expertise in the field of nanosciences and especially in the synthesis of nanoparticles, and in dispersion and surface modification of liquids, for a variety of different applications. This Division has developed a Pilot Unit for the production of large quantities of nanoparticles. This Unit will be used to synthesize acceptable quantities of fullerenes, with different molecular weights, for the project.
CEA hope to gain new knowledge in combining nanotechnology and molecular imaging for in vivo application in order to prepare technology transfer of new products to industrial partners. To enlarge their knowledge on in vivo imaging for drug delivery applications.  New knowledge on the functionalisation of fullerenes for biomedical applications. Enlarge our knowledge on fullerenes synthesis in order to prepare industrial transfers for different applications.
The following staff will particpate in MEDITRANS: F. Ténégal: PhD in nanomaterial sciences (nanoparticles, nanostructured materials), Projects leader in the field of nanomaterial sciences. Expertise in the synthesis of carbon-based nanoparticles (especially fullerenes) by laser pyrolysis. B. Guizard: Expert in process monitoring. Experience in the synthesis of carbon based nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. S. Giraud: PhD in chemistry. Experience in the field of nanoparticle dispersion, surface modification in liquids. G. Loupias: Technician. Experience in nanoparticle dispersion and characterisation.

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4. Withdrawn from consortium: replaced by partner 32

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5. Magforce Nanotechnologies AG

MAGFORCE is the leading company in the area of nanotechnology-based cancer therapy.  Its patented therapy allows the targeted destruction of tumours using magnetic nanoparticles.  MAGFORCE’s nanotechnology represents a revolutionary approach to the future successful treatment of solid tumours.
MAGFORCE produce and sell the so-called “MagForce nano-cancer-therapy”.  They perform research and development with iron-oxide nanoparticles, and further product development for new innovative cancer therapeutics and other diseases.  Products are medical devices and nanoparticle formulations for cancer treatment.
MAGFORCE will provide the expertise for nanoparticle-synthesis and surface modification, characterisation of nanoparticles (with respect to their pharmacology and toxicology), cellular uptake, application forms, and for the clinical evaluation of nanoparticles.
MEDITRANS will lead to the development of innovative particle systems with drugs, and to strategic partnerships being formed with other companies.

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6. Charite Universitatmedizin Berlin

CHARITE is Europe’s biggest medical faculty, which undertakes Healthcare and Medical Research.  CHARITE will provide experimental animal-models for investigation of new cancer therapies, and in-vitro investigations on primary cell-cultures, for the MEDITRANS project.  They will gain new knowledge about nanoparticles and nanoparticle-drug conjugates and improved cancer-therapies.

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7. Stichting Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie

FOM-AMOLF, the Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, is one of the five research institutes of the Dutch Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM).  This FOM institute has approximately 100 scientists, 50 technical engineers and 25 supporting staff.  Their current research focuses on three areas: femtosecond dynamics of matter, life science inspired physics, and nanophysics.  They have an annual budget of about 10 million euro, and they publish about 120 scientific papers, of which 15 are in Physical Review Letters, Nature or Science each year.  One of the main activities of the institute is the training of scientists and technical engineers for advanced research.  An important part of their mission is to transfer knowledge to industry, or society in general.  Indeed, several research groups carry out research projects with industrial partners and quite regularly develop ideas, materials, or technologies that lead to the development of commercial products.
The Macromolecular Ion Physics Research group of Prof. Dr R.M.A. Heeren will be directly involved in MEDITRANS.  Its research work focuses on the development and application of novel mass spectrometric methodologies and techniques for the investigation of the spatial and molecular structures of macromolecules in, or from, complex systems to provide a link between molecular structure and biological function.  Investigation into macromolecular structure starts at the molecular level where a wide scope of polymeric systems, ranging from peptides and proteins to industrial synthetic polymers, is studied with high performance mass spectrometric techniques.  In previous years, the group has been very active in imaging mass spectrometry research, focusing on instrumentation and methodology development to enhance chemical imaging capabilities and to study various biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
FOM hopes to gain new knowledge on nanoparticle analysis with imaging MS, and to gain access to innovative drug-delivery systems for validation of imaging MS.  Key infrastructure includes stigmatic imaging MS infrastructure for high-resolution rapid imaging of biomolecules on surfaces.  This infrastructure is currently the only infrastructure in Europe that offers the combined imaging techniques required for MEDITRANS. 
Prof. Dr R.M.A. Heeren manages a research group of ~12 people, who are active and experienced with high resolution biomolecular imaging mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry for structural analysis of biomolecules and drug delivery systems.  This expertise will be of direct value to MEDITRANS in the analysis of novel pharmaceutical delivery system.  Imaging MS will be employed to monitor the drug metabolites in cells and tissue directly.  Dr L.A. McDonnell, Post-doctoral fellow, has expertise in MS and MS imaging, drug delivery systems, relevant for all MS imaging of pharmaceuticals.  Ing. M.C. Duursma, Research Technician, has expertise in sample preparation.

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8. CSEM Centre Suisse D’Electronique Et De Microtechnique SA

The Nanotechnology and Life Sciences department at CSEM is active in the field of micro-and nanotechnology, MEMS, MOEMS and biomolecular detection. The microtechnology activity focuses on heterogeneous microsystems that encompass materials other than silicon. The nanotechnology activity works on both top-down as well as bottom-up methods for the fabrication of nanostructured surfaces. The life science activity studies the effect of surface topography on cells and biosensing instrumentation.
Facilities for micro- and nanotechnology include: a total clean area of 600m2, 200m2 of chemistry laboratories, and 100m2 for characterisation. These areas are fully equipped to provide Research and Development activities in micro- and nanotechnology such as mechanical components and systems, electrochemical microsystems, biomicrosystems, micrototal analysis systems (µTAS), tools for nanoscience and applied nanosystems, with an efficient and complete technological support. CSEM is also setting up a joint cell-lab studying cell-surface interactions together with the University of Neuchâtel.
CSEM’s objective is to fabricate a translocation test device in this project and to test various nanocarriers produced by the partners for their translocation across biologically relevant epithelia.
Dr Martha Liley is responsible for ‘nano-bio’ activities at CSEM. She studied physics at the University of Cambridge, UK, which she followed with a PhD in Optical Biosensors. As Wellcome Trust Travelling Fellow she investigated molecular recognition processes at surfaces in both Germany and Switzerland.  This was followed by five years at the Swiss Federal Institute of Research, Lausanne, using optical methods to study lipid membranes and membrane proteins.  Dr Arno Hoogerwerf obtained his M.S. Degree cum laude in Electrical Engineering from Delft University of Technology (NL) in 1985. He joined the group of Prof. K.D. Wise at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (USA) in 1986, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He then joined Ascom Microelectronics, Bevaix (CH), where he worked on the industrialisation of pressure sensors. He started at CSEM in 1994 where he has been head of the IT group for Microsystems, Mechanical Microsystems Section, and the MEMS Section.

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9. PCI Biotech AS

PCI and The Norwegian Radium Hospital, having invented Photochemical Internalisation (PCI) technology, are the acknowledged World leaders in this field.  They have all the necessary facilities, equipment and experience for performing PCI-mediated drug delivery, both in vitro and in vivo.  PCI’s major research goals are to develop PCI drug delivery technology towards clinical use, and to develop the proprietary chemical substances necessary for its use.
In the MEDITRANS project PCI expects to demonstrate that the PCI technology can give a potent and site-specific enhancement of the biological effect of drugs delivered by nanoparticles, and especially drugs targeted by various cell surface specific ligands.  This will hopefully lead to the development of new, very specific, therapeutic products that can be targeted both, by means of cell specific ligands, and by means of site-specific illumination (PCI).
Dr Anders Høgset, CEO and Research Director, and Bente Hovland, Research Technician, have long experience with in vitro and in vivo studies using PCI technology for delivery of a variety of different drugs using various drug carriers.  In addition to the personnel directly employed by PCI, they have close collaborations with scientists and clinicians at The Norwegian Radium Hospital, which is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Northern Europe.  Personnel employed at the hospital are involved in PCI’s research at all levels, from in vitro cell experiments, to the planning and execution of clinical studies. 

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10. Universiteit Gent

GHENT design and evaluate micro- and nanoparticles for drug delivery and diagnostics.  With regard to gene therapy, their focus is on the mobility, and the stability, of non-viral gene complexes in the extra- and intra-cellular matrix.  As an example, with regard to the genetic treatment of cystic fibrosis, they investigated how lipoplexes behave in the lung mucus of these patients.  They showed how the mucus may cause gene therapy failure in cystic fibrosis and they are currently investigating how to overcome this sputum barrier.  To better understand the cellular behaviour of non-viral gene DNA complexes, they are currently evaluating the potential of new techniques.  For more than five years now, the research group of Prof. De Smedt explores the extent to which advanced microscopy technologies (especially FCS, FRAP, single particle tracking) allow the biophysical properties of non-viral vector/DNA complexes to be studied in vitro and in vivo.  Besides the design and evaluation of DNA containing particles, our research group works on the development of exploding (micron sized) particles for pulsed delivery (of vaccines) after parenteral administration.  Also, they defined a new concept for 'encoding' microparticles, which was recently published in Nature Materials.  Prof. Stefaan De Smedt and Prof. Jo Demeester are the scientific founders of Memobead Technologies, a spin-off from GHENT focussed on the development of encoded microcarriers for drug screening and diagnostics.  GHENT will bring expertise in biophysical and intracellular behaviour of DNA-nanoparticles to MEDITRANS.  GHENT will gain the opportunity to explore new material on a (bio-)physical and cellular level.
The gene delivery research group comprises Prof. Dr S.C. De Smedt, Dr N.N. Sanders, Dr K. Braeckmans, Dr ir. B. Lucas; PhD-students: K. Remaut (pharmacist), L. Peeters (biotechnologist), R. Vandenbroucke (biotechnologist), I. Lentacker (pharmacist), K. Raemdonck (pharmacist), and F. Fayazpour (pharmacist).

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11. Uniwersytet Łódzki

A fundamental principle of education at UL is “training through research”.  The staff of the Department of Molecular Biophysics, Membrane Biophysics Group, actively participate in teaching activities of the faculty.  The main research interests of the Group members include: the multidrug resistance phenomenon of human cancer cells (the innate of acquired resistance towards a spectrum of chemically unrelated chemotherapeutics); phase III detoxication processes (active transport of drugs and/or their metabolites outside the cell); oxidative stress and mechanisms of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence; role of free radicals in ageing and apoptosis.  The technical expertise of members of the staff covers both cellular and molecular biology methods including: microscopy techniques (traditional and fluorescence); flow cytometry (including multicolor flow cytometry); standard cell culture techniques (including viability and functional tests); reporter gene technique; real time PCR; standard molecular biology techniques; electron spin resonance (ESR) and fluorescence techniques; the whole spectrum of traditional biochemical methods.
UL are experienced in research on multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. We routinely use several methods of assessment of this phenomenon. UL are developing a research platform to functionally characterise the input of several ABC transporters into the MDR.  Our collection of cancer cell lines consists of ca 30 human cancer cell lines characterised by their resistance to different chemotherapeutics and also by the level of expression of different MDR transporters.  UL bring the following resources to MEDITRANS: multicolour flow cytometer (BD LSR II), fluorimetric equipment for assessing the incorporation of analysed substances into cells, and an ESR spectrometer (Bruker ESP3003E) to assess the influence of carrier-cell interaction on the redox status of the cell.
UL expect to gain knowledge on how to efficiently overcome some barriers created by the cells themselves and to deliver drugs directly to their target site.  UL will design novel therapeutic solutions that could be used in chemotherapy of multidrug resistant tumours.
Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Bartosz, head of the group, head of the Department of Molecular Biophysics, physicist, and biochemist, has more than 30 years of research experience, mainly in the field of biochemistry and cellular biology. He is author of more than 250 scientific publications, and an eminent specialist in oxidative stress defence systems and membrane transport.  Dr Błażej Rychlik is a lecturer in the Department of Molecular Biophysics, and is a cellular biologist.  His main research interests cover the multidrug resistance phenomenon and methods for its assessment. He is author of about 20 scientific publications.  Dr Łukasz Pułaski is a lecturer in the Department of Molecular Biophysics, and is a molecular biologist.  His main research interests cover the transcriptional regulation and multidrug resistance phenomenon.  He is author of more than 20 scientific publications.

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12. Organon

ORGANON is an innovative pharmaceutical company with research in the fields of psychiatry, reproductive medicine, anaesthesia, immunology and cadiovascular diseases.  Their products are sold in more than 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an ORGANON subsidiary.
ORGANON’s Department of Pharmaceutics employs over 60 people, among whom 10 have PhD’s.  The department has the possession of an excellent infrastructure.  Clinical trial medication can be produced in one of Europe’s most advanced GMP facilities.
The purpose of this participation is to co-operate with organisations with a reputation in drug targeting, and to use MEDITRANS new nanocarriers in conjunction with ORGANON’s existing drug molecules or new chemical entities.  ORGANON has special interests in the field of immunology: especially rheumatoid arthritis.
Prof. Dr Herman Vromans, executive director, head Department of Pharmaceutics has 20 years experience in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology, and has a record in pharmaceutical product development (e.g. Puregon (recFSH) and NuvaRing). 

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13.  Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

TUE, established in 1956, encompasses 9 scientific departments. TUE provides 11 academic Bachelor’s programs, 16 regular Master’s programs, 9 special Master’s programs, 10 postgraduate design programs, 3 first-degree teacher-training programs in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as various other postgraduate courses and programs. The TUE supervises 9 research schools recognised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and two of the six top research schools and one of the four leading technological institutes. The TUE has approximately 220 professors, 7000 students, 200 postgraduate students, 450 PhD students, 20.000 graduate engineers and 1000 graduate design engineers. The TUE has awarded about 2000 PhD's. TUE provides engineering, postgraduate design and teacher training programs and post-academic courses. Education is based on the universities own research activities with a focus on design. Lectures and projects make use of modern information and communication means (all students are provided with a notebook when they enter the university).
TUE will contribute the following resources to the project: (i) a 6.3 Tesla horizontal-bore animal MR scanner; (ii) a 0.47 and a 1.41 Tesla MR spectrometer for in vitro studies of MRI contrast agents; (iii) state-of-the-art animal facilities; (iv) controlled animal models of human disease; (v) expertise, technology and infrastructure for the preparation and characterisation of nanoparticle based imaging and drug delivery devices.
We expect to gain further insights in the potential role of MRI in monitoring the in vivo targeted delivery of drugs to disease sites, in the role of molecular MRI in monitoring the efficacy of targeted drug therapy as well as in the role of nano-technological approaches to novel drug formulations and marker-specific biological imaging.
Prof. Klaas Nicolay, Biomedical NMR, has long-term experience with biomedical Magnetic Resonance as applied to animal models.  His expertise includes the development of nanoparticles for combined target-specific imaging and drug delivery.  Asst. Prof. Gustav Strijkers, Biomedical NMR, has long-term experience with Magnetic Resonance techniques.  His expertise includes the development of advanced MRI methods for improved detection of targeted contrast agents for in vivo marker imaging.  Larry de Graaf, electrical engineer, has long-term experience with the design of advanced devices for improved MR scanning and with the design of MR-compatible auxiliary equipment.  Jo Habets¸ bio-technician, has long-term experience with the development of advanced animal models for the animal friendly study of disease processes under strictly controlled conditions.

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14. Molecular Profiles Ltd

Molecular Profiles (MOLPROF) is a contract research organisation and is a spin out company from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham, UK.  MOLPROF provides advanced analytical research and consultancy services for the pharmaceutical and health care industry.  They have a technical team of doctorate-qualified personnel with expertise and knowledge in advanced surface analysis applied to a broad range of drug delivery and biomedical devices.  The technical personnel have backgrounds in disciplines of materials science, spectroscopy, surface science, pharmaceutical science and physical chemistry.  MOLPROF has a vast array of analytical equipment available to undertake chemical spectroscopy, chemical mapping, high-resolution imaging and thermal analysis. 
The equipment includes: ToF-SIMS  Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, XPS  X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, FTIR  Fourier Transform Infra-Red Microscopy, Micro ATR-FTIR  Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infra-rd Microscopy, CRM  Confocal Raman Microscopy, XRD   X-ray Diffraction, AFM  Atomic Force Microscopy, SThM  Scanning Thermal Microscopy, DSC  Differential Scanning Calorimetry, SPR  Surface Plasmon Resonance, CLSM  Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, SEM  Scanning Electron Microscopy, EDAX  Energy Dispersive Analysis by X-rays, ESEM  Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, IMC  Isothermal Microcalorimetry, and Micro CT  Micro X-ray computer tomography. 
MOLPROF brings a vast amount of experience in utilising a portfolio of the above techniques in the characterisation, interpretation and understanding of drug delivery systems such as nanoparticle carriers.  MOLPROF hopes to gain a number of tangible outcomes from participating in the MEDITRANS project.  These include the publication of work in peer-reviewed scientific journals, insight into current academic/industrial strategies to developing drug delivery devices for active pharmaceutical ingredients.  MOLPROF has given a number of talks at a number of recent conferences including the American Association Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting, Controlled Release Societies Annual Meeting and Exposition and the British Pharmaceutical Conference.
Dr Andrew Parker, Business Development Officer, has 6 years experience working in the physical chemistry laboratory and 2 years in business development/intellectual property.  Dr Shen Luk, Technical Director, has 16 years experience working in industrial analytical chemistry / materials science.  Dr Steve Ebbens, Senior Scientist, has 8 years working in analytical chemistry/pharmaceutical science.  Professor Clive Roberts, Technical Development Director and Chair of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, will act as a consultant to MOLPROF and will aid the scientific research, characterisation and interpretations where appropriate to ensure the overall objectives of the work are met.

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15. Universität des Saarlandes

Central research themes of the Department are biological barriers, which are imposed between the site of drug administration and drug action.  One part of the research is focusing on in-vitro models of these biological barriers, with the aim of developing advanced cell-culture models with the possibility to perform high throughput screening and research on the transport mechanisms.  The other part of the research deals with new technologies to improve the transport of drugs across biological barriers, which is particularly relevant in the context of macromolecular biopharmaceuticals such as peptides, proteins, antisense agents, and RNA and DNA based drugs.  The technologies applied are mainly based on nanotechnology, for instance nanoparticles, liposomes, nanostructured polymeres, which have an enormous potential to improve the delivery of drugs.
UDS’ main research activities are: cell cultures of human epithelial tissues, in particular intestinal, lung, skin and eye; tailor made advanced drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology; physico-chemical characterisation of advanced drug delivery systems; transport studies of drug molecules across biological barriers. - Evaluation of nanocarriers using biological test systems; alternatives to animal testing; in-vitro testing of drug absorption for GIT, lung, skin and eye delivery; manufacturing of advanced drug delivery systems; visualisation of interaction of drug delivery systems with biological barriers by confocal laser scanning and atomic force microscopy; characterisation of nanocarriers by size, zeta potential, surface properties; determination of interaction of nanocarriers with cells and tissues.
UDS will bring the following resources to the project: cell cultures of human epithelial tissues, in particular intestinal, lung, skin and eye; in-vitro testing of drug absorption for GIT, lung, skin and eye delivery; transport studies of drug molecules across biological barriers; evaluation of nanocarriers using biological test systems.
MEDITRANS will lead to a deeper understanding of the function of biological barriers and their interaction with nanosized drug carriers
Prof. C.-M. Lehr (head of department, pharmacist), Dr N. Daum (food chemist -cell culture expert, will perform transport studies), and Dr M. Schneider (physicist -nanoparticle preparation and physicochemical characterisation) will participate in MEDITRANS

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16. Philipps-Universität Marburg

Founded in 1527 MARBURG is the oldest Protestant university Worldwide. Presently circa 17,400 students are enrolled in 18 faculties comprising the full spectrum of academic education from the liberal arts, to life sciences and medicine. MARBURG is one of the largest employers in the region with 7,500 employees.
The main activities of MARBURG are that of a classical university, namely to provide academic education and to carry out research. The life sciences, chemistry, biology, physics and pharmacy have reached high rankings, with respect to their research activities at a national level. The faculty of Pharmacy, participating in this project, is the third largest school of pharmacy in Germany with 850 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students. The faculty of pharmacy has a strong research orientation.
The group is fully equipped to carry out research in the field of Drug Delivery and Biopharmacy. Instrumentation comprises polymer synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, SEC, MALLS, DSC, SEM, AFM, CSLM, cell culture lab S1, lab for handling radioactive isotopes, HPLC, ELISA, PAGE, FPLC, FT-IR, Fluorescence and UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering equipment, zeta-potential measurement, laser light diffraction, spray drying, microencapsulation and nanocomplex formation, freeze dryers, aseptic suite.
At present, the group comprises 2 post-doctoral fellows and 12 graduate students. Funding comes from the government, German research foundation (DFG) and industry. The unique feature of the group is its orientation at the interface between polymer science, drug delivery and biology. We have extensive expertise with non-viral vectors based on cationic polymers and their biological properties such as transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. Behaviour of such gene delivery systems with and without targeting moieties was studied in animals (biodistribution and pharmacokinetics). Our speciality is drug delivery to the lung, a research area that is actively pursued in collaboration with colleagues in Marburg and Giessen in the framework of the BMBF Program Nano4life. A “DFG Forschergruppe Nanohale” is under evaluation.
In MEDITRANS, MARBURG expect to increase their scientific knowledge, which can be translated into publications.  Also collaborations with other groups should have a synergistic effect on their research activities.
Professor Dr Thomas Kissel, department head, Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy, and Adjunct Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Utah.  Prof. Kissel has extensive expertise in drug delivery and Biopharmacy. His groups’s main topics of research include biodegradable polymers (synthesis and characterisation), biocompatibility testing, parenteral depot systems for proteins, RNA and DNA, cell culture models for drug transport, non-viral vectors for gene delivery and drug targeting using antibody-polymer-conjugates.

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17. Bayer Schering Pharma

Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany.
The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.

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Bayer Schering Pharma

Bayer Schering Pharma is a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. Its research and business activities are focused on the following areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology, Primary Care, Specialized Therapeutics and Women's Healthcare. With innovative products, Bayer Schering Pharma aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. Using new ideas, Bayer Schering Pharma aims to make a contribution to medical progress and strives to improve the quality of life.

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18.  Across Barriers GmbH

ACROSS is an innovative contract research company in the field of drug discovery and drug development. For more than 7 years, ACROSS has had a broad platform of in vitro methods for contract use by pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biotechnological, and chemical companies. The company’s strength lies in the field of pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and metabolism during the preclinical development process. Activities focus on investigating the permeation of substances across biological barriers, the possible toxic effects of substances, and the metabolism of drugs and drug candidates. ACROSS has barriers models for the Blood-Brain-Barriers (primary endothelial cells), the respiratory tract (primary cells and cell lines), the gastrointestinal tract (cell lines, excised tissue), the nasal and buccal epithelial tissues, and a broad variety of in vitro models for dermal administration. ACROSS also does physicochemical characterisation (solubility, pKa, logP, logD, protein binding) and stability testing (chemical and biological stability). Analytical methods are developed and validated, and bioanalytical measurements are done. In the past, ACROSS has been involved in various Research and Development projects concerning prevalidation and validation of in vitro models as alternatives for animal studies.

ACROSS expect to gain new knowledge about nanocarriers using in vitro methods, about physicochemical characterisation, imaging, and formulation.  New products and services (e.g. new in vitro systems (e.g. blood brain barrier, blood brain barrier malfunction in MS) for use in preclinical drug development and proof of nanocarriers. New assays for in vitro toxicological testing. Participation in MEDITRANS’ product development.
Dr Eleonore Haltner-Ukomadu is co-founder and managing director of ACROSS. Dr Udo Bock has been head of the Department of Cell and Tissue based Systems for 6 years.

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19. Philips Electronics Nederland B.V.

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (PHILIPS) is one of the World's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 30.3 billion in 2004. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle, and technology, and 161,500 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, colour television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions.
Philips Research, founded in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in 1914, as part of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. has expanded the scale and scope of its activities to become one of the World’s major private research organisations. With laboratories in five different countries (The Netherlands, England, Germany, China and the United States) and staffed by around 2,100 people, our common vision is to create technologies that will lead to products for improving people’s lives. Our activities have led to the award of some 100,000 patent and design rights, and the publishing of many thousands of technical and scientific papers. Scientists from a wide range of disciplines, from electrical engineering and physics to chemistry, mathematics, mechanics, information technology and software, work in close proximity, influencing and broadening each other’s views. PHILIPS has a very wide technology base and significant expertise in chemistry, nanotechnology, and microbiology. The department of Biomolecular Engineering at PHILIPS is contributing to MEDITRANS with the development and testing of MRI contrast agents, which are also suitable for ultrasound induced drug delivery.
PHILIPS has unique facilities for the synthesis of new types of targeted imaging and therapy agents as well as for their characterisation. Beginning of 2006, a designated facility for preclinical imaging, including synthesis laboratories, radiochemistry and molecular biology labs and preclinical scanners for all modalities will be available. That infrastructure will be unique within MEDITRANS and offers a state of the art technology.
We expect to establish a network in the area of drug delivery, molecular imaging and therapy. These complex issues need a rapid exchange of knowledge and know-how, to tackle efficiently certain medical applications. PHILIPS will evaluate during this project, if the diagnostic imaging market can be extended towards therapy applications, such as image guided drug delivery and therapy assessment.
Dr Holger Grüll is currently responsible for the research project on molecular agents for targeted imaging and therapy within PHILIPS. Dr Grüll studied chemistry and specialised in material science especially on polymer composites and on the surface chemistry of nanoparticles. Within his project, several activities on various types of imaging and therapeutic agents are currently ongoing.

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Withdrawn from consortium: replaced by partner 34

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21.  Bracco Imaging SpA

Bracco Imaging spa (BRACCO), part of Bracco Group, is a World leader in global solutions for the diagnostic imaging field.  The Bracco Group has created a cutting edge international research network with its three Research Centres, which are located in Geneva, Milan and Princeton.  Each centre is highly specialised in different areas and techniques.  This network represents perhaps the largest single research structure in the World wholly dedicated to researching contrast media and to the development of new products for magnetic resonance and sonography.
BRACCO plays a key role in the research, development and production of X-Ray, and MRI, contrast agents for “in-vivo” medical diagnoses.  BRACCO’s research centre located in Milan, part of the Bracco Group Research and Development section, specialises in the field of X-Ray and MRI contrast agents.  The Centre conducts studies for the chemical and pharmaceutical development of solid, injectable and lyophilised contrast agents for medical diagnosis.  The Centre is well equipped to carry out all the pre-clinical work.
BRACCO will be involved with the synthesis and characterisation of new Gd(III)-based imaging probes, with the preparation and characterisation of nanocarriers containing the imaging probes and therapeutics, and with the preparation and validation of animal models for in vivo testing.
BRACCO is committed to improving the accuracy of diagnosis, the efficiency of medical care and treatment, and to promoting patient follow-up studies.  The new technological platforms, developed in MEDITRANS will enable BRACCO to fulfil its aims.
Dr Alessandro Maiocchi, head of the Pharmaceutical Research Unit, co-ordinates the team for the research and design of innovative nanotechnological solutions for the delivery of X-Ray and MRI contrast agents.

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22. Withdrawn from consortium: replaced by partner 33

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23. Weizmann Institute of Science

The Weizmann Institute of Science (WEIZMANN) in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the World's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions.  Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to 2,500 scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff.  WEIZMANN’s research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.  Research is done in all areas of Life Science, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science.  WEIZMANN will bring their core MRI and Optical Imaging facilities, along with specific models for analysis of angiogenesis in vivo, (developed in Prof. Michal Neeman’s laboratory) to the project.  WEIZMANN hope to gain new products and collaborations that will assist them in the development of contrast agents with unique targeting and relaxivity properties.  This will expand their ability to study regulatory aspects of vascular remodelling.  Prof. Michal Neeman, Associate Professor, has 20 years experience in the application of NMR/MRI to biomedical research, and specific expertise in the MRI of angiogenesis.

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24. Università Degli Studi di Torino

UNITO’s Department of Chemistry IFM is very experienced in the field of synthesis, and physicochemical characterisation, of Contrast Agents.  Since 1986, research activities have addressed the development of paramagnetic Contrast Media for MRI (with projects in High Relaxivity, Blood Pool agents, Targeting and Responsive Probes). In 1998, the Department formed a laboratory dedicated to this at the BioIndustry Park of Canavese. This laboratory focuses on improving the identification of targets, and on the synthesis of vectors, in close collaboration with biologists. In 2001, the fruitful collaboration between chemists, biologists, and physicians led to the foundation of the Centre for Molecular Imaging at UNITO . The Centre was approved, and is supported by, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the University. The Centre co-ordinates several research activities: i) synthesis and MRI-assessment of high relaxivity Gd-based chelates (including multimeric derivatives), ii) synthesis and MRI-assessment of contrast media based on chemical exchange sauration transfer (CEST), iii) development of 13C-hyperpolarised molecules via the formation of para-hydrogenated substrates, iv) set up of cell labelling procedures (labelling of stem cells, leucocytes, tumour cells, etc.) by paramagnetic chelates, v) targeting receptors / transporters overexpressed / upregulated on pathological cells with paramagnetic lanthanide chelates (including particles), vi) targeting thrombi and plaques with suitably functionalised lanthanide chelates (including particles).
Prof. Silvio Aime is the head of the NMR Laboratory at UNITO’s Department of Chemistry and of the Centre for Molecular Imaging. He also co-ordinates the activities of LIMA (Laboratory for Advanced Integrated Activities) at the Bioindustry Park. More than 400 peer-reviewed publications and several patents demonstrate his research activity. The scientific staff of this unit comprises chemists (Prof. R. Gobetto, Prof. M. Botta, Prof. G.B. Giovenzana, Dr E. Terreno, Dr W. Dastrù, Dr S. Geninatti Crich, Dr A. Barge, Dr E. Gianolio, Dr L. Tei, Dr G. Digilio, Dr D. Delli Castelli, Dr C. Cabella), biologists (Prof. L. Silengo, Prof. G. Tarone, Prof. F Altruda, Dr J. Hamm) and physicians (Prof. G. Camussi, Dr L. Biancone, Dr B. Bussolati).

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25. Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas

CSIC is the only governmental organisation developing basic and applied research in Spain. It has an overall budget of 530 M€, and 10349 employees.  CSIC has research divisions in Biology and Biomedicine, Natural Resources, Physical science and technology, Material Science and Technology, Food Science and Technology, Chemical Science and Technology and Humanities and Social Sciences.  CSIC will provide expert personnel in NMR imaging and spectroscopy and updated NMR instrumentation, including Bruker AVANCE WB500 and Bruker Pharmascan 7T.
Dr Sebastián Cerdán is Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research “Alberto Sols” and Head of the Laboratory for Imaging and Spectroscopy by Magnetic Resonance (LISMAR) from CSIC since 1989. His scientific trajectory involves postdoctotal periods at the University of Pennsylvania USA (Fogarty International Fellow, 1981-3) and at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel Switzerland (Long term EMBO Fellow, 1986-8). Dr Cerdán is author of more than eighty research articles and one hundred and fifty communications to Meetings of his specialty. Among his most significant contributions are the physiological basis of paramagnetic MRI contrast agents, the development of several new generations of extracellular pH probes for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging and the implementation of new multinuclear NMR tools to investigate tumour metabolism. At present he is President elect of the European Society of Magnetic resonance in Medicine and Biology and Editor of Journals of Biomedical NMR as NMR in Biomedicine.

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26.  Guerbet SA

GUERBET is the only international pharmaceutical group fully dedicated to medical imaging products and services.  It is an independent group quoted on the Paris Stock Exchange with its head office in France.  In 2004, sales were 248 M€ (70% realised out of France).  About 160 people work in Research and Development.  GUERBET has 12 subsidiaries present in Europe and sites in the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China, Taïwan, Korea and Japan.  All French sites are ISO 9001 v. 2000-certified as well as the subsidiaries in Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy and Portugal.  GUERBET have four production sites: three in France and one in Brazil.
Available resources/equipment that will be brought to the project are as follows:

GUERBET expects to improve its understanding of the synergy between therapeutic and imaging molecules in the field of molecular targeting.  Furthermore, MEDITRANS will enable us to improve our knowledge in relevant animal models for cancer and degenerative and inflammatory diseases.  Physico-chemical characterisation of nanparticles is also crucial for the success of the project and a mutual improvement of knowledge will result from the networking of leading European academic and industrial teams.  GUERBET’s participation in MEDITRANS will lead to the development and marketing of new and improved contrast agents for medical imaging.
Dr Claire Corot, head of GUERBET Research, Dr Isabelle Raynal, chemist, specialist in nanoparticles, Dr Caroline Robic, physico-chemist, Dr Eric Lancelot, head of the Biology Dept., Dr Philippe Robert, head of the Experimental Imaging Dept, Dr Philippe Prigent, head of the Inflammation lab., and Dr Sebastien Ballet will participate.

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27. University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is an independent university under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. With over 37,000 students and more than 7,000 employees, the University of Copenhagen is the largest institution of research and education in Denmark. The purpose of the University – to quote the University Statute – is to ’conduct research and provide further education to the highest academic level’ and it is the only university in Denmark that trains pharmacist/pharmaceutical scientists. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PHARMA) at the University of Copenhagen has three departments that provide the framework for research and teaching: Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology and Rational Pharmacotherapy.
The Research group Biomacromolecular Drug Delivery is a part of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry. The Biomacromolecular Drug Delivery group (headed by Prof. Sven Frokjaer) designs and develops innovative, efficient and safe delivery systems for biomacromolecules such as oligonucleotides, proteins and peptides. The research focuses on obtaining an understanding of the formulation parameters crucial for optimal delivery to the target site with special attention to the stability of the drug formulation. Currently (2007), 10 Ph.D. students and 3 post. docs are employed in the group, funded by industry, The Danish Council for Technology and Innovation, The Danish Councils for Independent Research, EU and The Alfred Benzon Foundation. Apart from collaborating with Danish pharmaceutical companies the group holds strong collaborations with several national and international academic research groups.
The research of the group in the field of drug formulation of biomacromolecules spans a wide area, from preparation techniques and physico-chemical characterisation of the drug molecule and the carrier to studies of the fate of the formulations in vitro and in vivo. The University of Copenhagen brings the experience and the equipment necessary for pharmaceutical formulation, and for ensuring the stability and the in vitro efficacy of  biomacromolecular drugs (e.g. in-house knowledge and techniques for preparation of advanced drug delivery system and their characterisation, a well-established cell culturing laboratory and equipment for qualitative and quantitative measuring cellular effects, i.e. expression and silencing of certain proteins). Equipment available in the group includes DLS, zetapotential measurements, laser diffraction, DSC, FTIR, URT, AFM, rheology, TIRF, SEM, CD, CLSM, flow cytometry, PCR, HPLC, MALDI-TOF, CE, Fluorolog, plate readers for detection of fluorescence, luminescence and polarization, an advanced spray dryer and  freeze dryer  The University of Copenhagen also brings experience in training scholar, master  and ph.d. students as well as post docs in projects on the formulation of biomacromolecules. Prof. Dr. Sven Frokjaer (advanced drug delivery), Dr. Hanne Moerck Nielsen (advanced drug delivery), Dr. DongMei Cun (polymer-based delivery systems) and Dr. Camilla Foged (siRNA delivery) will participate in MEDITRANS (wp. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9).

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28. Forschungslaboratorien der Philips GmbH, Germany

Research in the area of medical imaging mainly takes place in the German Philips Research Laboratories (PHILIPSD). It is concentrated in two locations, Hamburg and Aachen, where a large diversity of topics in the field of medical imaging, such as X-ray imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, and digital imaging technology, are investigated. PHILIPSD has a strong focus on high quality research. The Tomographic Imaging Systems department at PHILIPSD is contributing new technologies for MRI contrast agent quantification and fluorine-MR imaging techniques.
Philips is a World-leading group in MR soft- and hardware research with over 25 years of experience.In the project new MR pulse sequence and quantification tools will be developed to support image guided local drug delivery. Especially dedicated hardware and software for F-19 fluorine based MRI will be performed. The developed techniques can be tested on two clinical MR scanners (1.5T and 3T) in the research lab and afterwards transferred to the partners.
Dr Jochen Keupp is a principal scientist in PHILIPSD. He has 10 years of experience in MRI and is leading two research projects on interventional and quantitative MRI. In these projects MR software and hardware are developed for molecular imaging. Dr Keupp has published book chapters, 50 peer reviewed papers, over 100 conference abstracts and 25 international patents in the area of MRI. Dr Keupp is reviewer of scientific Journals and international conferences.

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29.Withdrawn from consortium: no replacement partner

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30. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE EDUCACION A DISTANCIA

The Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) is the mail Spanish university providing high level education for students throughout the complete Spanish territory. UNED is organized in two levels: the headquarters, located in Madrid, and the associate centres, spread nationwide. Founded in 1972, UNED has grown at present to about 1,200 faculty members, teaching in the Headquarters with the help of about 1,200 technical assistants. The Fully Open Teaching System, exclusive at UNED, is made possible with the help of about 5,000 tutors based in the 60 Associate Centres through the country and some other Collaborative Centres located in foreign countries.  Additionally, these unique teaching programs are available on line and through the Internet at www.uned.es
UNED, however, is not only a university dedicated to undergraduate students. Its academic staff implement very active research programs, where graduate students are able to develop Ph.D. programs in the various fields of knowledge. Some of the well-established UNED research groups decided in 2001 to join their efforts and create the University Research Institute (Instituto Universitario de Investigación UNED). The structure of the Institute is open to all the members of UNED and the other public and private research institutions wishing to contribute to this important UNED initiative.
Professor Paloma Ballesteros García’s research group offers expertise in organic synthesis. The laboratory has the necessary equipment to carry out organic synthesis.  MEDITRANS will give UNED the opportunity to contact with research groups specialized in drug delivery systems (DDS).
Paloma Ballesteros García, Professor of Organic Chemistry, has since 1992, been engaged in developing new probes, which are able to detect pH changes by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging.  She has also contributed to developing new families of heterocyclic paramagnetic contrast agents.  UNED will work in collaboration with CSIC.

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31. Infuturia Group AG

INFUTURIA is a Swiss-based SME that manufactures and markets patented liposomes.  Mr Seymour Kurtz, the company Director, has recently set up a Department within the company that specialises in the management of scientific projects.
Dr William Dawson has a great deal of experience in writing, preparing and negotiating EC research contracts and has played an active role in other EC projects, both as a scientist and as a project manager.  He has been involved in many EC project meetings and seminars.  This experience, and his involvement in MEDITRANS from Day 1, leaves him well qualified to lead INFUTURIA in its role as project manager.
INFUTURIA’s role will be to run the project efficiently and effectively and to ensure that the project’s objectives, milestones and deliverables are met.  INFUTURIA will also manage the dissemination work in MEDITRANS.  Amongst other responsibilities, INFUTURIA will be responsible for having the project web sites created and for preparing the IP's promotional material.

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32. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen is the second oldest university in the Netherlands. The University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as one of the leading research universities in Europe. It has a large international network and an excellent reputation for academic teaching with a modern, student-oriented approach. We offer degree programmes at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels in virtually every field, many of them completely taught in English. Located in the north of the Netherlands, Groningen is an ideal, safe student city with a flourishing student life and many social and cultural activities. International students have rated the University of Groningen as the most welcoming university in the Netherlands.

The main resources that RUG brings to the project are its experienced scientists who are available to discuss plans and progress with.  It also brings its dedicated research approaches. A smart drug delivery system, which has been developed by A. Koçer and by researchers at BiOMaDe, and expertise for its further development.

By participating in MEDITRANS RUG expects to gain from new research collaborations with excellent partners and from new insights into the triggered delivery of drugs, and into the development of smart a drug delivery vehicle for chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Dr. A. Koçer (PI for the project) is member of the Membrane Enzymology Group of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute. This group is well experienced in, and well-equipped for, studying membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes in prokaryotes and microbial eukaryotes. In addition, there are strong collaborations internally within GBB in view of other disciplines (molecular genetics, biophysical chemistry, etc.) and externally with major institutes focussing on (bio)organic chemistry and advanced materials. 

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33. Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht

UMC UTRECHT is, with ~10,000 employees, one of the largest public healthcare institutions in the Netherlands. It offers a unique combination of patient care, biomedical and healthcare research, and the education and training of doctors, medical researchers and other healthcare workers. Dutch UMC’s have great records in terms of quantity and quality of their international scientific publications. One-third of all publications from the Netherlands come from the eight UMC’s, and these are cited 40% more often than the combined average from the USA, Europe and Japan. Among the Dutch UMC’s, UMC UTRECHT is second in terms of quantity and first in terms of citation score (1,6).

The department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine has a well-equipped radionuclide laboratory, (class B and C). Within this laboratory class D pharmaceutical rooms, with laminar airflow safety cabinets (class A), are available for the production of liposomes and microspheres under GMP conditions. To detect the particles in vitro and in vivo scintigraphic and magnetic resonance imaging will be performed on the produced systems. For radioactive agents detection equipment like dose calibrators, gamma camera’s, scintillation counters and quantitative SPECT systems with transmission scanning devices and dedicated image reconstruction software are available. The imaging facility has state of the art equipment like a 7 tesla MRI (July 2007), and an open 1 tesla MRI apparatus specially developed for MR interventions with, for example, a catheter. A focused ultrasound apparatus is also available.

Prof. Dr. P.R. Luijten is head of (pre)clinical research in the Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear medicine division. He specialises in the high field 7 tesla clinical MRI scanner and in commercialisation of imaging products. His research is focused on functional and molecular imaging science. Formerly he worked on physical chemistry at Philips Medical Systems. He will collaborate to deploy the optimum imaging characteristics for the embolising device, nanocarriers and/or imaging agents. Dr. J.F.W. Nijsen studied both biology and medical biology and is group leader of the pre-clinical Holmium research Group. The research group focuses on particle based imaging and therapy of malignancies. Developing imaging agents for visualisation of drug release, biodistribution, dosimetry and drug clearance using clinical nuclear, MR and CT imaging modalities is an important part of the research. A close collaboration exists with the medical specialists (oncologist, interventional radiologist etc.) in our hospital. The research that is performed fits into a bench-to-bedside approach of translational research.Prof. Dr. W.P.Th.M. Maliis head of clinical reseach at the department of Radiology. He specialises in brain imaging, breast cancer, intervention radiology and focused ultrasound. He and his team can perform complex catheterisations for diagnosing small vessels in the patient body. Dr. M.A.A.J. van den Bosch (Radiologist) specialises in intervention radiology and focused ultrasound. He is currently a KWF clinical fellow (awarded 2006). He spent 2007 in Stanford Cancer Center training in Interventional Oncology, a novel subspecialty in which imaging-guided minimal invasive therapies are used to treat cancer patients. In 2008 he has worked in The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI-AVL) and the Amsterdam Medical Center (AMC) to further develop his Interventional Oncology skills.

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34. Merck-Serono S.A.

Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately incorporated affiliates.

Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux®, cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif®, interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f®, follitropin alpha), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen® and Serostim®, somatropin), (Kuvan®, sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage®, metformin), (Concor®, bisoprolol), (Euthyrox®, levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets.

With an annual R&D expenditure of around €1bn, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Dr Beatrice Greco has 12 years experience in CNS pathology research, with expertise in in vivo and cellular approaches.

Dr Michel Dreano, Director of Strategic Innovation and Research & Portfolio Management has 15 years experience in Collaboration Management, e.g. coordination of research and development programs and contracted projects involving industrial/academic partners from basic research to clinic. MSSA will participate in work packages 3 and 8.

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This image shows the EU flag and FP6 programme logo.
An Integrated Project funded by the European Commission under the "nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices" (NMP) thematic priority of the Sixth Framework Programme. Contract Number: NMP4-CT-2006-026668