DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DIT

The Experienced Researcher (ER), Dr Shiyamala Duraipandian, who is at the centre of this application, will, through this MSCA Fellowship, enhance her research and innovation potential through advanced training, international and inter-sectoral mobility. The ER will develop methods for detecting high risk HPV infection and dysplasia using Raman spectroscopy in cervical cells collected during routine Pap smear screening. Her skills in instrument and software development and patient testing will complement the expertise of the host laboratory. During the project measurable knowledge transfer towards the ER will be facilitated through DIT’s Postdoctoral Training Programme, RESC induction and specialist skills transfer, strengthened academic and industry network contacts, via existing networks and industry events, and preparation of a dedicated career development plan.

The Experienced Researcher (ER), Dr Amuthachelvi Daniel, who is at the centre of this application, will, through this MSCA Fellowship, enhance her research and innovation potential through advanced training and international and inter-sectoral mobility. RAMAN-Dx will develop methods for detecting pre-malignant oral lesions using Raman spectroscopy of minimally invasive exfoliated cell and saliva samples. The ER’s skills in instrument and software development and patient testing will complement the expertise of the host laboratory, Radiation and Environmental Science Centre (RESC) at Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), led by Prof. Fiona Lyng. The ER will receive both research and professional development and leadership training and will undertake a secondment at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd which will facilitate her career goal to become a world leading researcher in the field of biophotonics.

Spectro-Metrics focuses on the development and validation of advanced chemometric procedures for investigating drug intake and metabolism in cells using confocal Raman micro Spectroscopy (RS). The project will develop and optimize data mining procedures such as Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternate Least Squares (MCR-ALS), Supported Vector Machines (SVM) and Science Based Calibration (SBC) for the extraction of biologically relevant information from RS of cells. The applicability of the procedures will be thoroughly validated in vitro including studies on the effect of drug concentration, incubation time and drug distribution within cells. Research activities will include the use of simulated and real spectroscopic data obtained from in vitro studies for investigating the effect of inoculation with the commercial drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and actinomycin (ACT) in lung cancer cells, as a function of time and dose, as model systems. Upon completion, the project will produce validated methodologies and procedures for resolving Raman spectra which will lead to the elucidation of the modes of drug action and validation of Raman as a preclinical screening technique for drug design and discovery. The knowledge, grant writing skills and publication record acquired during the fellowship will place the Experienced Researcher (ER) in an invaluable position for achieving research independence, becoming a leading expert of chemometric treatment of RS data and eventually becoming a professor in one of the leading European universities in the field of clinical spectroscopy.

The overarching objective of the ReaLsMs is to develop and implement a perspective on the Smart City through critical humanities research and innovation in the context of the Digital Studies. The joint research fields of ReaLsMs will be the development of historical and philosophical underpinnings of the Data City and the implementation of the Smart City within local governance structures, including Dublin City Council and Plaine Commune (Paris North). Consisting of a network of three academic partners in the EU, Technological University of Dublin - School of Creative Arts, Computer Science and Architecture, (TU Dublin, IE), the Institut de Recherche et d’Innovation (IRI) at the Centre Pompidou (FR) and Durham University, the Centre for Humanities Innovation (DU, UK). The 2 non-academic partners located in the EU are Dublin City Council (DCC, IE) and Plaine Commune (FR). The Third Country academic partners is the Universidad de las Artes in Ecuador (UARTES, Ecuador). The purpose of developing this consortium as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange is to share knowledge across disciplines in order to develop a transdisciplinary model for “real smart city,” which is defined as a Smart City that is based on a critical humanities perspective, where citizens are the proper data brokers, engaging through public fora for debate and new technologies that enable citizen participation. Through an international and cross-sectoral network, the aim is to across sectors, allowing academic researchers to work with civic government and data collection while non-academic partners can benefit from the insights of academic partners to create new forms of education that illuminate the “black box” of Smart City technology. The expected outcome of research are a new transdisciplinary episteme of the Smart and Data City that is rooted in Digital Studies and subsequently informed methods for handling data collected through Smart City infrastructure.

A Transparent Training Model and toolkit enabling and empowering industry to achieve a greener built environment. To develop a more efficient and relevant training programme materials to integrate concepts of sustainability and renewables together it practical application and integration with technology ( BIM) based on real life industry needs and limitations.