BIORIMA | BIORIMA COVID Task Force

BIORIMA COVID Task Force

In the current COVID-19 climate, the project is identifying science and technology solutions across BIORIMA which could be rapidly developed and deployed to reduce exposure and hazards posed by COVID-19. We are now identifying partners outside BIORIMA (including other EU-funded projects) to further promote these initiatives. Overall, we aim to bring the BIORIMA risk management framework for safe NBMs to bear on the present and future pandemics.

BIORIMA has recently formed a COVID-19 Task Force (TF) with representatives from all the technical WPs in BIORIMA. The mission statement of the TF is to identify science & technology solutions across BIORIMA which could be rapidly developed and deployed to reduce exposure and hazard posed by COVID-19 and identify partners outside BIORIMA (including other EU-funded projects) to further promote these initiatives.Overall, the aim is to bring the BIORIMA risk management framework for safe NBMs to bear on the present and future pandemics.

Members of the Task Force at present are: Anna Costa (WP2) (vice chair), Bernd Nowak (WP3), Bengt Fadeel (WP4) (chair of TF), Danail Hristozov (WP5), Rudolf Reuther (WP6), Terry Wilkins (WP4-5) (S&T officer of TF).

Image: Potential nanotechnology-enabled solution. From: Wilson Jones G, et al. Nanomedicine (2020).

This schematic figure shows SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and its host receptor, ACE2. We and others have postulated that synthetic nanoparticles decorated with recombinant human ACE2 could potentially act as decoys, intercepting the virus and thereby preventing the entry of the virus into susceptible host cells.

BIORIMA’s Final Public Event – Results, Reflections and Aspirations

A large audience of wide-ranging stakeholders logged on to take part in BIORIMA’s final public event, held on January 19th, 2022. Organised with polished efficiency by Lisa Bregoli and Stefania Melandri, Warrant Hub, the event comprised three distinct and engaging sessions: 1. Presentation of BIORIMA Final Results 2. Nanosafety projects response to real-world needs 3. NSC-community-activity “Brainstorming of future collaboration for nanobiomaterials risk assessment”

BIORIMA FINAL MEETING

The BIORIMA Project held its final meeting from 17th – 18th January, a large, well-attended gathering of project members from all partner organisations, the External Advisory Board, and Marcello Cacace, the Project Officer from the EC.

News from the BIORIMA Project

A safe and sustainable society and environment are the two pillars on which our future stands, and both have to be continuously supported and protected by transparent, long-sighted and science-based regulation that is shared by all actors involved. BIORIMA is contributing to these ongoing new regulatory needs by developing novel methodologies that help us to obtain the knowledge and tools to manage possible risks associated with emerging new materials, such as nano-biomaterials (NBM), when used in medical applications.

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