Frontier research

The project on The Role of Accelerators in Medicine and Treatment qualifies as frontier research because it lies at the intersection of cutting-edge physics, advanced technology, and healthcare. Here’s why it’s on the frontier of modern scientific exploration:
1. Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Approach: The integration of particle accelerators, originally designed for fundamental physics experiments, into medical treatments represents a revolutionary application of technology. This involves combining expertise from fields as diverse as particle physics, medical oncology, bioengineering, and genetics to create novel therapeutic approaches. Such cross-disciplinary research is still in its nascent stages, making it a frontier field where new knowledge is being created on multiple fronts simultaneously.

2. Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer Treatment: Proton therapy and heavy-ion radiation are already showing promise in clinical applications, but the technology is still far from fully realized and widely accessible. By advancing accelerator-based radiation therapies, researchers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in precision medicine. These therapies are not only more effective for certain cancers, but they also minimize collateral damage to healthy tissue, which is a critical improvement over conventional treatments like X-ray radiotherapy. The potential for this to be a more refined, adaptable, and universally effective treatment is still a largely unexplored frontier.

3. Advancement of Personalized Medicine: The use of accelerators in genetic therapies and targeted drug delivery is pushing the frontier of personalized medicine. By tailoring treatments at the genetic level—whether through gene editing (e.g., CRISPR) or gene therapy—this research holds the potential to revolutionize how we treat diseases, especially those that were once deemed untreatable, like certain genetic disorders and cancers. The concept of using precise particle beams to deliver genetic material into cells is a novel approach, and its application in medicine is still in the early stages, making it a pioneering area of exploration.

4. Technological Advancements in Accelerator Design: The development of compact, affordable accelerators for clinical use is a groundbreaking pursuit. Traditionally, accelerators have been large, expensive machines confined to specialized centers. However, the push for smaller, cost-effective accelerators that can be used in everyday hospitals and clinics is challenging conventional thinking and has the potential to democratize access to cutting-edge treatments. This is not only a technological breakthrough but also a disruptive innovation in healthcare infrastructure, making high-tech treatments available to a broader population.

5. Improving Diagnostic Tools with Particle Beams: The use of accelerator-based imaging techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), is advancing.

Frontier research

DESY has constantly driven technology solutions and science. Together with partners all over the world, researchers at DESY have developed an innovative concept called TESLA technology. This accelerator concept is to serve not only as the basis of a future super-accelerator for particle physics but also as the most powerful X-ray source in the world – the European XFEL X-ray laser in Hamburg. In addition, the experts at DESY are working on concepts for the future – laser-plasma acceleration is one example, where the teams at DESY achieved recent breakthroughs (see https://www.desy.de/news/news_search/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=3773&two_columns=0 and https://www.desy.de/news/news_search/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=3761&two_columns=0). In addition. DESY is currently planning the world’s leading 4D X-ray microscope that will surpass everything that has gone before in terms of brilliance and performance. PETRA IV is an ultra-modern, fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source that will be created by converting the existing PETRA III facility. Electrons travel at almost the speed of light in the 2.3 kilometre long accelerator ring. PETRA IV will enable frontier research.

ANGRYWATERS seeks to achieve a breakthrough in modelling these complex processes by deriving novel scaling laws that will be developed in the framework of the Lie group of point scaling transformations. Scaling requirements will be applied to the combined fluid-structure interaction at various scales, developing sophisticated building specimens; here, we employ 3D-printing and appropriately engineered materials to match the scaling requirements. We conduct a comprehensive experimental campaign, using medium- and large-scale facilities, subjecting the specimens to extreme flow conditions in the form of dam-break waves. We consider sub-assemblages, single and multiple buildings, enhancing the understanding of energy losses and debris production upon collapse, elaborating reduced scale accuracies. High-fidelity numerical modelling will complement our experiments, deepening our process understanding; a depth-averaged model with novel debris advection model crucially enhances predictive capabilities.

Frontier research

AngryWaters will conduct experimental research on residential building collapse at various scales: there is going to be a medium scale with a facility in Braunschweig that allows reduced scale building collapse at approximately 1:10 length scale, and more excitingly, a large scale with a facility in Hannover that will allow testing up to real scale building components such as walls or columns. The extreme flow will be modelled by using a dam-break facility that delivers flows with a flow depth of about 1.5 m, moving at a speed of approximately 6 m/s.

These experiments will provide extremely visible and impressive pictures and scenes for media, provided that the right equipment is available to film and photograph; moreover, there might be extreme events during the residency, i.e., a tsunami, or dam-break, or dike breach around the globe which would become an extra objective for the AngryWaters team to study the effects of such natural hazard onto the built environment.

Research topics:

– Misinformation analysis and characterization, fact-checking support

– Machine learning based detection and prediction methods

– Interpretation and explanation of machine learning models

– Neural language models (inc. LLMs)

– Interpretability and transparency of AI

– Predictive modeling

– Anomaly detection

– Societal and ethical impacts of intelligent technologies

– Human-centric and trustworthy AI

– AI regulation and digital governance

Frontier research
Currently implementing in total 13 international research projects: seven in Horizon Europe scheme, two in Digital Europe, one in EMIF, two in Interreg and one in Visegrad Fund (see more here: https://kinit.sk/research/projects/). We are proud that we can collaborate with renowned research institutions across the world. In these research projects we have 109 partners from 27 countries.
The scientific results are regularly published on top-tier venues as: ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, ACM Computing Surveys, AAAI, or RecSys (see more here: https://kinit.sk/research/publications/).

– BAMBBI: Bio-inspired AntiMicrobial Bone BIoceramics. Deciphering contact-based biocidal mechanisms.
This project is part of the “Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (BBT)” group, led by Dr. Prof. Maria-Pau Ginebra. It aims to tackle the challenge of bacterial bone infections in orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgery by developing synthetic bone grafts featuring contact-based antimicrobial properties, adding antimicrobial activity to their capacity to support bone regeneration. In addition to being a major breakthrough in the field of bone regeneration, the project is focused on developing new methods of fine-tuning the nanostructure of calcium phosphates which will have an impact in very diverse fields such as catalysis, water purification and protein separation.

– SENSATE: Low dimensional semiconductors for optically tuneable solar harvesters.
This project is part of the “Micro and Nanotechnologies – Photovoltaic laboratory” at CCEM, led by Dr. Edgardo Saucedo and Prof. Joaquim Puigdollers. It proposes ground-breaking ideas and concepts for the development of novel materials with exotic optic and electric properties, that can be the solution for a semi-transparent or transparent and universal solar energy harvester. The use of these materials will improve the overall conversion efficiency of solar cells, achieving high efficiencies. If successful, SENSATE will have an unprecedented impact on our perception of solar cell energy, promoting applications that are currently considered marginal in photovoltaic and electronic devices.

Frontier Research
Our center encompasses a wide range of research areas in applied materials sciences. From biomedicine and tissue engineering to nanotechnology for the creation of new materials, our research is always pushing the limits of scientific knowledge, developing new knowledge beyond the state-of-the-art. Our center is part of more than 10 EU-funded projects, including ERCs and we count with exceptional and worldly recognized scientists in the fields of physics, engineering and biomedicine.

– Materials for ELECTRONICS: The digital era demands materials capable of processing and storing data with greater speed, energy efficiency, and sustainability. ICMAB has been at the cutting edge of electronic materials research since its inception, with expertise in: Quantum phenomena for advanced sensors, Complex magnetism, Energy-efficient ultrafast computing, Organic materials for photodetection, and Curved materials for flexible and adaptable electronics. Our work integrates molecular and oxide materials to pave the way for next-generation electronics.

– Materials for HEALTH: Materials are playing an increasingly pivotal role in healthcare, from diagnosis and infection prevention to disease treatment. ICMAB’s rapidly growing health research activities are internationally recognized, with significant contributions to: Interface engineering for infection prevention, or Development of soft materials for combating cancer and other diseases, including rare ones. ICMAB leads national and international projects and hosts top-tier infrastructures like NANBIOSIS ICTS, providing services in-house and externally, particularly through the CIBER-BBN network.

For over three decades, ICMAB has maintained its passion for advancing materials science, generating groundbreaking knowledge, and transferring it to society and industry. Located on the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) campus, ICMAB benefits from proximity to other research and technological centers, as well as state-of-the-art facilities such as the ALBA Synchrotron and UAB Research Park. With a vibrant community of over 250 members, ICMAB is an attractive hub for young researchers worldwide.
ICMAB offers comprehensive scientific services, including a 10,000-class cleanroom (Nanoquim Platform) open to academic and industrial partners and access to advanced equipment and facilities for cutting-edge research. Our researchers are also very active in innovation & technology transfer, education, communication & outreach.

Frontier Research
ICMAB’s current mission is clear: Leading the material transition for tomorrow’s world. The science conducted at ICMAB can be considered frontier research due to several key factors:
– Pioneering Materials Research: ICMAB focuses on developing advanced materials, such as functional materials for electronics, energy storage, and biomedical applications. These areas push the boundaries of what is technologically possible, often addressing fundamental challenges in science and engineering.
– Interdisciplinary Approach: The institute integrates physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology to explore complex scientific questions. This multidisciplinary collaboration fosters innovative solutions that transcend traditional boundaries.
– Breakthrough Discoveries: Research at ICMAB has led to significant advances in fields like organic electronics and photovoltaics, high temperature superconductors, and nanostructured photonic and soft materials. These breakthroughs are critical for developing new technologies that address global challenges, such as sustainable energy and healthcare.
– Cutting-edge Techniques: The institute employs state-of-the-art experimental and computational tools to investigate material properties at the atomic and molecular levels. This includes using advanced synthesis methods, high resolution microscopy, and quantum simulations. The R&D activities are strongly backed up by specialised technical staff available in the scientific equipment platforms.
– International Recognition and Collaboration: ICMAB collaborates with leading institutions worldwide and contributes to prestigious research initiatives, including large infrastructures and advisory panels. This global engagement reflects its standing as a hub for cutting-edge materials science.
– Focus on Grand Challenges: The institute addresses some of the most pressing issues of our time, including energy transition, environmental sustainability, and human health. Their efforts to develop next-generation batteries, photovoltaics, and bio-inspired materials exemplify frontier science.
Through its innovative projects, groundbreaking methodologies, and dedication to tackling complex scientific and societal challenges, ICMAB embodies the essence of frontier research.

Advancing these fundamental questions is currently the focus of a multidisciplinary effort at the frontiers of astroparticle physics and cosmology, that is setting the scene for future scientific breakthroughs. Among these major puzzles, the problem of dark matter exhibits the most diverse set of observational manifestations, ranging from the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale distribution of galaxies to galactic dynamics. Hence, this area of astroparticle physics is the subject of extensive theoretical scrutiny.

The ultimate scientific goal of the UNDARK consortium is to explore the dark universe and, in particular, discover what is dark matter made of. For this, we plan to use the state-of-the-art telescopes and facilities installed in the Canary Islands Observatories with the assistance of world-class institutions on the fields of astroparticle physics and cosmology. We have planned a vibrant scientific and artistic exchange program, several scientific meetings and schools, as well as there will be scientific staff and a scientific illustrator hired under the project.

The research lines focus on applied mathematics and astrophysics, with special interest in the development of numerical methods for partial differential equations, numerical relativity and gravitational waves. Isabel Cordero-Carrión is currently a member of the Virgo Collaboration as part of the Valencia Virgo group. In this role, she holds several management positions: Isabel serves as one of the two co-ombudspersons, is the current Virgo outreach coordinator, and is a member of the Core Program committee. Additionally, she is involved with the Einstein Telescope project and the Einstein Telescope Preparation Phase project.

Apart from her teaching, research, and management responsibilities at the university, Isabel Cordero-Carrión is highly engaged in outreach and communication. She is a member of the team behind the Oscilador Armónico podcast, a regular participant in the Coffee Break: Señal y Ruido podcast, and occasionally contributes to the A Ciencia Cierta podcast.

Innovative Catalysis
Catalysis is the Institute’s largest and most significant research area, making a significant contribution to sustainable chemistry. Its primary goal is to advance processes and products that enhance resource utilization efficiency and minimize waste generation. This field encompasses a broad range of chemical catalysis investigations, including homogeneous, heterogeneous, supramolecular and enantioselective catalysis. It also involves the development of novel ligands and catalytic processes, as well as the design and simulation of catalytic reactors.

Renewable Energies
At ICIQ, several research groups are actively engaged in various endeavours with a common goal of contributing to the development of new energy solutions that offer viable alternatives to fossil fuels. These efforts include hydrogen generation from water through sustainable processes, the advancement of more efficient photovoltaic devices, and the conversion of CO2 into liquid fuels and feedstocks for the chemical industry.

Molecular medicine
In the molecular medicine research area at ICIQ, several research groups are striving to drive innovation and advancements in healthcare. They aim to develop advanced sensor technologies that can revolutionize medical diagnostics and monitoring, identify new therapeutic compounds targeting specific diseases, and study the interactions between chemicals and biological systems to enhance healthcare solutions.

Imo-imomec’s energy research is part of: (i) EnergyVille, which is an association of the Flemish research centres KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt in the field of sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems, and (ii) Solliance, which works with and for the industry, both to fulfil short-term needs of industry, and to convey promising lines of mid- and long-term (thin film) PV research. This project will take place in the PV technology & Energy systems group at imo-imomec , which consists of 3 technology development teams: (i) Thin-film PV, (ii) Wafer-based PV, and (iii) Energy system management.

Solar energy is the most widely available energy resource on Earth, and photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is currently cheaper than any power source ever before. In 1839, Edmond Becquerel discovered the operating principle of a PV solar cell, and in 1883, Charles Fritts developed the very first working cell. It was not until 1954 that the first practical silicon solar cell was demonstrated at Bell Labs, and in the last decades the PV industry has undergone remarkable growth due to both efficiency increases and cost reductions. Today, PV solar energy is the new king of global power markets, as is stated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) based on PV expansion being at its fastest pace in two decades. An even faster pace is projected in the coming years, with the very low cost of PV solar energy driving the global demand for renewables. The PV technology & Energy systems group at imo-imomec has been at the forefront of PV research, development and valorization since 1984, and is therefore the ideal host to study the history, rise and future of solar energy for the energy transition.