Nanobiotechnology Laboratory

The Nanobiotechnology Laboratory features state-of-the-art equipped facilities designed to foster interdisciplinary studies. A special emphasis lies on characterisation of nanomaterials, micro-nanoplastics, nanomedicines, advanced materials and their interactions with biological systems, as well as on the detection, identification and characterisation of nanomaterials in food and consumer products.

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Training and capacity building priorities

Involvement of early career scientists in the project proposals is encouraged.

Hands-on training on detection and characterisation of micro(nano)plastics in media contributing to human exposure (such as food, drinking water). Topics will include sampling from drinking water and the subsequent use of established instrumental methods such as micro Fourier transform infrared, micro Raman and pyrolysis– gas chromatography mass spectroscopy for microplastic detection and characterisation. To complement the hands-on training in the analysis of microplastics, participants will get an overview of key advanced nanomaterials characterisation tools highlighting their potential application to the challenges of analysing nanoplastics. 

This training supports the objectives of the European Green Deal and the new European Circular Economy Plan to address the presence of microplastics in the environment, drinking water and food (COM(2020) 98 final).

Hands-on training on detection and characterisation of nanomaterials in a selection of  matrices (e.g. food) and their interactions with biological systems. Topics will include techniques for nanomaterial sizing, nanomaterials hydrophobicity determination, detection of nanomaterials in food and measurements of nanomaterials interactions in biological systems. The training will include the use of instrumentation such as asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled to multiple detectors, dark field microscopy, single particle and single cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. New approach methodologies mimicking the human intestinal barrier in vitro will be exposed to innovative nanomaterial and interactions will be measured by assessing trans-epithelial electrical resistance and confocal fluorescence microscopy. This topic will include an introduction to 3D cell models and bioprinting.

The participants will follow the EU Academy online course “Nanomaterials in EU Legislation” that will be summarised and discussed during the hands-on training session.

This training supports the European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) aiming at shifting to safer and sustainable chemicals and materials. Nanomaterials are Advanced Materials and considered a Key Enabling Technology to booster innovation, as highlighted in the Materials 2030 Manifesto, but they must be safe and sustainable themselves.

Hands-on training on the characterisation of nanomedicines (including liposomal products, Lipid Nanoparticles-mRNA) for the detection, diagnostics and treatment of diseases. The topics will include the measurement of key properties of nanomedicine products such as size, composition, encapsulation efficiency, toxicity and potency with a set of complementary techniques (dynamic light scattering, asymmetric flow field flow fractionation, liquid chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, immunoassays, surface plasmon resonance, or microarray technology). This topic will include an introduction to 3D cell models and bioprinting.

The participants will follow a general introduction to the regulatory environment for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines in the European Union.

This training contributes to the achievement of the EU4Health Programme’s general objectives against health threats (Regulation (EU) 2021/522).

Definition and conditions of access

Access to the research infrastructure is granted on the basis of User Stay Days.

A User Stay Day is a day of physical presence of a User at the concerned Research Infrastructure for Access related to the User Access Project. A User Stay Day counts as a registered entry to the JRC site where the Research Infrastructure is located

• Estimated total number of User Stay Days allocated to the call: 100
• Average number of User Stay Days per project: 25 (i.e. 5 users staying at the JRC Research Infrastructure during 5 days, maximum 3 users per user institution).

Access to JRC Research Infrastructures under the present Framework is free of charge.

The training will be held in Autumn 2024 and will last 5 days.

Travel and subsistence

The JRC may provide a financial or in-kind contribution to support Users to cover their costs of travel and subsistence (T&S) related to the User Stay Days, subject to the availability of funds, personnel and other resources to Users from User Institutions located in a country eligible for the Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence actions under the Horizon Europe programme.

Namely the countries are:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and all Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Tunisia, Ukraine, Faroe Islands) and the Outermost Regions (defined in Art. 349 TFEU).

A User Stay Day is a day of physical presence of a User at the concerned Research Infrastructure for Access related to the User Access Project. A User Stay Day counts as a registered entry to the JRC site where the Research Infrastructure is located.

• Estimated total number of short-term User Stay Days eligible for T&S allocated to the call: 100
• Estimated total number of long-term User Stay Days eligible for T&S allocated to the call: 0

A short-term stay corresponds to a stay of up to 20 User Stay Days.

A long-term stays corresponds to a stay exceeding 20 User Stay Days, up to a maximum of 200 User Stay Days.

For more information on the support offered to users please consult the Rules on the contribution to travel and subsistence expenses of external users.

The Lead User is invited to fill in the User travel and subsistence form and send it to JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECHec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECH[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call. For more information the Lead User may contact the JRC Research Infrastructure at %20JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECHec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECH[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Intellectual Property Rights

In no case the Access shall be treated as granting a licence, assignment or any other form of permission for the Users to use JRC's pre-existing intellectual property without a strict written consent of the JRC. For more information, see the Framework for open access.

Eligibility criteria

• For non-nuclear RIs, the Lead User Institutions and User Institutions (see definitions in the Framework) must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Horizon Europe programme. For nuclear RIs, the Lead User Institution and the User Institutions must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom research programme.
• The scope of the training and capacity building for nuclear RIs must be in line with the activities defined in Annex I of Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765.
• The User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.
• The proposal submission form is complete and complies with the instructions.

Selection criteria

The selection of projects will be made by the JRC with regard to selection criteria grouped in the following two categories:

• Quality of the consortium (30 points)
• Rationale (40 points)

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared by using the Proposal Submission Form and the Training Request Form.

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the Framework of Access to the Joint Research Centre Physical Research Infrastructures for the purposes of Training and Capacity Building for Enlargement and Integration Countries.
• Read the Procedure for the submission and evaluation of proposals for Training and Capacity Building.

Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECHec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-NANOBIOTECH[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to assess feasibility aspects in case you request a topic different from the list of Training and Capacity Building topics for the Nanobiotechnology laboratory.

The proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-TRAINING-CBec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-TRAINING-CB[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call (CET time).