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  • EU funds H2020-MSCA-ITN CONSENSE

    EU funds H2020-MSCA-ITN CONSENSE

    The EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN) CONSENSE was funded under the H2020 MSCA call 2020.

    The CONSENSE project is developing a new sensor technology suitable for measuring biomolecules important for monitoring disease status and treatment efficacy. A generic technology that enables continuous measurement of a wide range of biomolecular parameters could revolutionize patient monitoring and enable truly personalized therapy with better outcomes.

    CONSENSE brings together internationally leading pioneers in biomolecular switch engineering with research groups that have an excellent track record in biosensor development using advanced optical approaches, including two high-tech companies that have spun out from these groups. The consortium is completed by a strong network of partner industries and organisations, including four large medical technology companies, clinical experts, and six SMEs providing specific technological expertise and training. The consortium will provide exceptional training to 15 ESRs, allowing them to develop professionally and perform world-class research that will fundamentally advance the field of continuous biomolecular monitoring for healthcare.

    The consortium is already looking forward with great anticipation to the imminent start of the project and is excited to be contributing to an important research effort in biomolecular switch engineering together with a strong network of partner industries and organisations.

  • CONSENSE: Official start of the project

    CONSENSE: Official start of the project

    The Innovative Training Network CONSENSE has officially started!

    Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, CONSENSE will train and educate 15 early stage researchers (ESR`s). In parallel to professional development, CONSENSE provides them with a unique opportunity to conduct research that will fundamentally advance the field of continuous biomolecular monitoring for healthcare.

    While the project officially started on 1 March 2021, all partners have been busy for months already preparing for the recruitment process. What this space for updates on free and filled positions!

  • CONSENSE meets for the first time in the Netherlands!

    CONSENSE meets for the first time in the Netherlands!

    The first meeting of CONSENSE has taken place in a hybrid form to allow everyone to join despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Being the first meeting of the consortium, Professor Prins gave a short introduction regarding the principles behind an International Training Network (ITN) and the aims of CONSENSE.

    The program continued with three lectures about the challenges in different areas relevant for our projects in continuous biosensing. The first one was given by Professor De Jonge regarding clinical patient monitoring. The main take-away of this lecture was to underline two areas where continuous biosensing is crucial: in the intensive care unit (ICU) to provide a prompt intervention and in diseases requiring a personalized treatment, for example those occurring with a dysregulated response to infection. For the second lecture, Professor Merkx focused on nanoswitches, highlighting the state-of-the-art and reminding the most important requirements for a continuous biosensor. Lastly, a lecture regarding optical detection technologies, that is the readout method chosen for the CONSENSE project, was held by Professor Lammertyn.

    CONSENSE ESRs in Netherlands

    After, each of the ESRs introduced themselves and their respective projects, typically including the previous work done by the research group and the main concept to develop during their PhD. Each presentation was followed by questions and suggestions coming from all the people involved: other ESRs, PIs or members of the partner organizations. The opportunity to have feedback from people belonging to different backgrounds and experiences is a part of what makes ITNs so special because it allows the researchers involved to grow, develop scientific criticism and find ways of collaborating.

    The scientific program was then concluded with a tour of the laboratory facilities at TU/e, which was particularly interesting to foresee collaboration opportunities and possible secondments.

    The social activities during the CONSENSE introduction days was the first opportunity for the ESRs to get to know each other. The PhD students working at the host institution typically organize some activities to have fun together and we have to say that the ESRs from Tu/e really did a great job! Among the several activities, we visited the Philips Museum with the special guide of a passionate former employee and we had a day trip to Den Bosch. There, we walked around the city, hometown of the painter Bosch until we reached a cafeteria, where we participated in a workshop and had the chance to decorate the typical dessert of the city disguised in the funniest way.

    Many thanks to Anna, Helen, Livio and Sebastian (ESRs at TU/e) for organizing this fantastic introductory meeting. We are looking forward to the next conference in early 2022!

    Authors: Claudia Scarpellini and Emily Tsang

  • CONSENSE Introduction Days

    On 24-25 November 2021, the CONSENSE ITN has its first in-person meeting since the start of the project. Hosted by the CONSENSE coordinator TU Eindhoven, this will be an opportunity for the early-stage researchers to have a broad introduction into the CONSENSE project and to get to know their fellow researchers across the different partnering universities and companies involved.

    During the two-day event, ESRs and supervisors will be following a number of lectures on biosensing technology, and the different ESRs will present their research projects to the rest of the network. In addition, visits will be planned to the biosensor labs at TU Eindhoven.

  • Open Positions for Innovative Training Network CONSENSE!

    Open Positions for Innovative Training Network CONSENSE!

    Are you interested in joining the CONSENSE team as a early stage researcher (ESR)?

    Two beneficiaries have open positions at the moment. Find out more about the individual open positions and how to apply. We are looking forward to receiving your application!

    Open Positions

    Find out more about the open positions and how to apply!

    See Open Positions
  • CONSENSE meets in Israel

    CONSENSE meets in Israel

    After five months since the last meeting, the CONSENSE network met up again at The Weizmann Institute of Science (WI) in Israel. Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions the conference took place in a hybrid form so all members of CONSENSE could participate.

    The program commenced with a lecture from Professor Fleishman regarding reliable computational optimization of enzymes and binders. Professor Johnsson then presented the use of semi-synthetic protein sensors and lastly, Professor Gothelf shared his expertise in assays for the quantification of small molecules.

    As all members of CONSENSE come from a wide variety of backgrounds, these lectures open up great opportunities for expanding our knowledge in relevant methods and technologies as well open up chances for collaboration and discussions with other members of the network.

    CONSENSE ESRs in Israel

    As with the first meeting, ESRs then presented an update on their research projects. This was followed by questions, discussions and helpful suggestions from the other members of the network.  One major aim of CONSENSE is to train early-stage students and mold them into a new generation of professional researchers, specializing in the field of biosensing.

    To fulfil this aim, a number of workshops took place during this meeting in Israel, not only to develop scientific skills but also transferrable skills. Firstly, Professor Merkx discussed how to effectively publish research papers into journals; a valuable talk specially aimed at the ESRs who may not have yet published work of their own. Next, Miss Strehler and Miss Ciscato (accelCH) carried out a workshop on science communication and how to successfully target a particular audience. Lastly, Marc Scherer (ESR at WI) organized a workshop which provided an introduction on AlphaFold2, PROSS and FuncLib webservers for use in protein optimization. Although not all students are working with protein optimization, it was an eye-opening workshop and gave insight into the type of work Marc carries out on a daily basis. To complete the scientific program of this conference, the ESRs were given a tour of the laboratory facilities at WI.

    For the next few days during the social program, ESRs explored Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. We enjoyed seeing the difference in culture, architecture and landscapes, and enjoyed the hot weather before returning to Europe. This conference was a fantastic scientific and cultural experience!

    Thank you, Marc, for organizing this unforgettable trip. Until next time!

    Authors: Emily Tsang and Claudia Scarpellini

  • 1st CONSENSE Week

    1st CONSENSE Week

    The first CONSENSE Week is taking place from 25-30 April 2022 in Rehovot, Israel. The event is hosted by CONSENSE beneficiary WI. Organised in a hybrid format, the ESRs will receive training on various scientific and transferable skills, as well as provide a presentation to the network about the progress of their individual research projects.

  • Follow the CONSENSE ESRs on social media

    Follow the CONSENSE ESRs on social media

    We have set up social media channels specifically for the CONSENSE project to make it easier for interested audiences to follow the CONSENSE Early Stage Researchers. To find out what we are up to follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn to receive updates.

  • CONSENSE presents its work worldwide

    CONSENSE presents its work worldwide

    A few weeks ago, Helen Tan, one of the ESRs at the TU/e, presented her research results at the 7th Biosensing Technology Conference in Sitges, Spain. She reported on her recent advances in the methodology of biofunctionalized substrate characterization using techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), DNA Point Accumulation in Nanoscale Topography (DNA-PAINT), and Biosensing by Particle Motion (BPM).

    “Overall, I would say it was a fruitful trip — I learned a lot, gained a few connections, and at the same time, was able to convey what BPM is about and how I should approach my research question. :)”

    The goal of CONSENSE is to train a new generation of professionals in the field of biosensor technologies. For early-stage researchers, the opportunity of networking and receiving feedback is an essential part of the scientific process. Helen was able to learn a bit more regarding the general biosensing techniques that are being used at the moment. However, she also admits that there are not many technologies for continuous biosensing — the gap that the CONSENSE project addresses quite well.

    Helen is grateful for the opportunity to talk to quite a few people regarding her work — most attendees were really interested in the DNA-PAINT approach, a super-resolution localization microscopy (SMLM) technique, so she received some questions about the working principle.

    We wish Helen the best of luck in her work and hope to hear more about her results in the future!

    Author: Andris Jeminejs

  • Introducing ESR7​

    Introducing ESR7​

    Hi there! I’m Emily ESR 7 in the CONSENSE consortium.

    I’m here to introduce a little bit about myself so I’ll dive right into my academic background. In 2020, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Southampton. Here, I became interested in the topic of synthetic biology, so I decided to continue my education in this area. In 2021, I graduated with a Master of Research in Systems and Synthetic Biology from Imperial College London. Whilst learning about many different aspects of synthetic biology and its potential uses, I became fascinated by the topic of DNA origami, a technique which allows the delicate folding of DNA. I decided to explore a little more in this field by taking an 8-month long research project which involved using DNA origami nanostructures together with time-resolved cryo-EM. Currently I am pursuing a PhD, still within the field of

    DNA origami, now under the supervision of Professor Kurt Gothelf at Aarhus University within the CONSENSE ITN. My PhD project involves the design and fabrication of DNA nanostructures using DNA origami to create a continuous biosensor to detect small biomolecules which are relevant for illness and disease.

    There are many reasons why I decided not only to pursue a PhD in the field of DNA origami but also specifically within the CONSENSE network. Firstly, I am fascinated by the technique and its potential uses in the future. I hope to be able to use my time to become an expert in the field and advance it further into industrial applications. Secondly, I was interested in the idea of joining an ITN because of all the other opportunities it would provide me during my time as a PhD student. I look forward to the secondments in both an academic and industrial setting as it will allow me to experience another new work environment, further my knowledge in different fields and opens doors for collaboration. Along with the secondments taking place abroad, as well as the biannual CONSENSE conferences, this ITN will allow me to further my international experience and develop other personal traits.

    I am privileged to be a part of the CONSENSE ITN and look forward to seeing myself develop scientifically, professionally, and personally in the next few years. I hope this gives you a little idea about myself!

    Until next time!

    Author: Emily Tsang