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MINOS selection of topics
PROVISIONAL WORK PROGRAMME 2007
COOPERATION
THEME 1 - HEALTH

Improving the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the innovative capacity of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research (translation of basic discoveries into clinical applications including scientific validation of experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention including promotion of child health, healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and medical technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient health care systems.

Topics for first call, deadline 19 April 2007:
HEALTH-2007-1.3-4: Alternative testing strategies for the assessment of the toxicological profile of nanoparticles used in medical diagnostics. (in coordination with NMP-2007-1.3-2 and NMP-2007-4.0-4 in Theme 4). The aim of this topic is the development of alternative testing strategies in order to assess potential toxic effects of nanoparticles used in in vivo diagnostics. Research should focus on mechanistically-based in vitro models relevant to health risk assessment. Funding scheme: Collaborative projects (Small or medium-scale focused research projects).

Topics for second call, deadline 18 September 2007:
Gene therapy
HEALTH-2007-1.4-4: Development of emerging gene therapy tools and technologies for clinical application. This project should aim to exploit emerging gene therapy tools and technologies, such as use of genome editing and repair (RNAi, site specific recombination, etc.) to correct genetic defects, or new gene transfer techniques (novel virus vectors, targeted nanoparticles, bacterial DNA-based vector, bactofection, etc.), which overcome the limitations of existing tools and for which preclinical proof of concept has already been established. The project should address biological activity, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of the gene therapy vector, establish biomarkers and assays for the evaluation of clinical trials, and take a translational approach towards early clinical research for therapeutic intervention. It should mobilise industrial and academic partners and address ethical and regulatory issues. Funding scheme: Collaborative project (Largescale integrating project).

Topics for first call, deadline 19 April 2007:
HEALTH-2007-2.2.1-1: Stroke and mechanisms underlying ischemic brain damage.
Research should focus on the pathophysiological mechanisms and the neurological consequences of ischemic stroke. The project should also investigate innovative therapeutic strategies (e.g. novel  neuroprotectants, nanotechnology, gene or cell therapy) to prevent the development and propagation of ischemic brain damage and/or to repair such brain damage to improve neurological outcome. Funding scheme: Collaborative project (Large-scale integrating project).
HEALTH-2007-2.2.1-2: Coding in neuronal assemblies. Research should focus on mechanisms of coding at the level of neuronal assemblies or microcircuits, aimed at understanding the interface between neuronal activity and behavioural performance. The project should develop interaction between experimentation and modelling, and therefore include a strong neuroinformatics dimension. Funding scheme: Collaborative projects (Small or medium-scale focused research projects).

Topics for first call, deadline 19 April 2007:
HEALTH-2007-2.4.1-7: Improving targeted drug delivery to cancer cells for cancer
therapeutics other than gene therapy (in coordination with NMP-2007-4.0-4 in Theme 4). Multidisciplinary consortia should focus on innovative solutions to overcome the current problems with drug delivery to cancer cells using for example innovative nanotechnology-, peptide- or antibody- based targeting strategies. Funding scheme: Collaborative projects (Small or medium-scale focused research projects).