NANOMA:Proposal Mansfield

Overview

The proposal "Mansfield" has been proposed as a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The goal of these projects is to foster international collaboration. Mansfield was originally meant as an addition to the NSF PIRE Miroma project proposed by Northeastern University and Brigham&Women's Hospital, which did not get accepted though. It was part of the ideas developed in the NANOMA Collaboration.

The initial plan was:

• funding for US researchers to go to europe is acquired by NSF PIRE Miroma

--Noby 16:30, 24 August 2010 (UTC)striked out due to pending effort for US fund acquisition. Montreal is not part of the original proposal either.

• funding for european researchers to go to the US and Canada is funded by EU Marie Curie IRSES Mansfield

Funding Modalities

The Marie Curie IRSES grants cover travels by european researchers to international partners through a monthly lump sum. Travels from international researchers to Europe will not be funded.

Partners

• BWH - Brigham&Women's Hospital (Nobuhiko Hata)
• NEU - Northeastern University (Dinos Mavroidis)
• EPM - Polytechnique Montreal (Sylvain Martel)
• UORL - University Orleans (Antoine Ferreira)
• ETHZ - ETH Zurich (Bradley Nelson)
• UNOL - University Oldenburg (Sergej Fatikow)
• OFFIS - OFFIS e.V. Oldenburg

Original Proposal

The proposal deals with the following topics:

• Imaging of magnetic particles (UNOL, OFFIS, BWH, EPM)
• Recognition and tracking of magnetic particles (UNOL)
• Controller design for the magnetic propulsion of the particles (UORL, EPM)
• Navigation of the magnetic particles (BWH)
• Magnetic particle design and manufacturing (ETHZ, NEU)
• Magnetic particle magnetic actuation

The objective for these topics is to research the possibilities and foundations, and to validate the approaches in theory and experiments.

Original Project Structure

Work packages and tasks as mentioned in the proposal (ER=Experienced Researcher, ESR=Early Stage Researcher, taken from the originally supplied list of researchers which may be involved):

• WP 1: MRI based Imaging and Tracking of Magnetic Nanobots
  • Task 1.1: Research on the MRI possibilities for imaging of magnetic objects (ESR1, UniOl)
  • Task 1.2: Experiments on MRI imaging of magnetic objects (ESR3, OFFIS)
  • Task 1.3: Evaluation and categorization of the artifacts for automated analysis using image processing and computer vision techniques (ER4, BWH, ESR3, OFFIS)
  • Task 1.4: Evaluation of different nanobot designs for MRI imaging (ESR6, EPM)
  • Task 1.5: Evaluation of existing object tracking algorithms for real-time processing of MRI images containing magnetic objects (ESR1, UniOl)
• WP 2: Control Strategies for MRI-driven Magnetic Nanobots
  • Task 2.1: Evaluation of the MRI as actuating device from the controller standpoint (ESR14, UORL)
  • Task 2.2: Evaluation and testing of existing controller algorithms for use in the MRI (ESR7, EPM)
  • Task 2.3: Development of new controller concepts tailored to MRI actuation (ESR5, UORL)
  • Task 2.4: Validation of novel controller concepts (ESR14, UORL)
  • Task 2.5: Development of concepts for MRI based navigation (ESR8, BWH)
• WP 3: Design of Magnetic Nanobots with Actuation and Feedback
  • Task 3.1: Research of the theory of nanobot design for application in MRI (ER6, ETHZ)
  • Task 3.2: Analysis of existing nanobot designs for MRI applications (ESR10, NEU)
  • Task 3.3: Computational studies about optimal nanocapsules (ESR11, NEU)
  • Task 3.4: Manufacturing of nanobot prototypes (ER7, ETHZ)
• WP 4: Actuation and Propulsion of Nanobots in the MRI
  • Task 4.1: Survey on the different possibilities of nanobot actuation in the MRI (ER3, EPM, ER1, UniOl)
  • Task 4.2: Research of the theoretical foundations of the different propulsion methods (ER5, NEU, ER2, ETHZ)
  • Task 4.3: Analysis of the best suitable methods for use in medical applications(ESR9, BWH, ESR4, OFFIS)
  • Task 4.4: Experimental validation of possible methods (ESR2, UniOl)
• WP 5: Dissemination of Results
  • Task 5.1: 1st Year annual workshop, presenting the foundations of the research in all four theme blocks
  • Task 5.2: 2nd Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on propulsion technologies
  • Task 5.3: 3rd Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on imaging and control strategies
  • Task 5.4: 4th Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on nanobot design and manufacturing, and on the future possibilities
  • Task 5.5: Organization of open seminars at the partner organizations

Proposal to revise the specific aims

Background

• I, Noby Hata, of BWH, Boston, with the help of Christian Dahmen, took time to fully understand the scope of the project and history of progression of proposal.
• I found the project intriguing and a promising seed fund for everyone involved in the party to develop larger-scale joint program. However, I also found that the details have to be worked out to make a win-win story for all parties involved.
• I also understand that the Canda/US side has not prepared a fund particularly focused on this joint project;yet the leverage from their existing funds and resource is helpful to move the collaboration forward.

Scope of collaboration (revised and proposed by Hata)

• The over all aim of the project is to translate the nano-particle based drug delivery to the pre-clinical level.
• We will enhance, Material (by ETH), Vision (UMOL), Control (UROL), integrating these advanced technology to the next level.The detail of the task plan has to be worked out based on each partys' preliminary studies, strength, and interest (a Year 1 task).

Specific Aims (without specifics)

• Specific Aims #1: Material (ETH)
  • Magnetic particle design and manufacturing
• Specific Aims #2: Vision (UMOL)
  • Imaging of magnetic particles
  • Recognition and tracking of magnetic particles
• Navigation of the magnetic particles
  • Specific Aims #3: control (UROL)
• Magnetic particle magnetic actuation
  • Controller design for the magnetic propulsion of the particles

Tasks and timeline

First Year

• One post-doc each from UNOL, ETH, UORL selected, and get initial training at the home institution. The post-docs are expected to commit to the home institutions for the duration of the project (four years)
• Using this wiki, each party present their preliminary studies backed up by their publication.
• Hold All Hands Meeting as soon as possible.
• The scope of the All Hands Meeting is for PIs and selected post-docs to present their preliminary study, expertise, and their interest around this project, AND COME UP WITH MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE AND COLLECTIVELY INCLUSIVE SPECIFIC AIMS.
• This meeting ought be before/after the scientific meeting all PIs regularly attend since North American PI's trip will be paid out of their local funds. Noby's suggested list of candidate conference is IROS, ICRA, BioRob, RSNA, MICCAI, CARS, ISMRM. The place of meeting should be alternate between Europe and North America.

Second Year

• Control expert from UORL stays at Montreal for one year, to pursue their Aim #3.
• Vision expert from UMOL visits BWH for one year.
• Material expert from ETH visit NEU.
• All hands meeting (PI and students)

Third Year

• Three post-docs rotate their home institution, the second North American Institution ,to tranlsate the technology
• The over all aim of the third year is "integration"

Forth year

• All hands meeting
• Workshop
• Continuing effort for collaboration

Legality

• it is clear North American counterparts are reluctant to go into contractual agreement with bindings without associated incoming funds. They would like to treat this as personnel exchange at academic collaboration level.
• However, I, Noby Hata, can sign off the above-mentioned task plan as a memorandom of understanding level.