Technology on the move: Recent and forthcoming innovations for tracking migratory birds

Basic questions about the life histories of migratory birds have confounded scientists for generations, yet we are nearing an era of historic discovery as new tracking technologies make it possible to determine the timing and routes of an increasing number of bird migrations. Tracking small flying animals as they travel over continental-scale distances is a difficult logistical and engineering challenge. Although no tracking system works well with all species, improvements to traditional technologies, such as satellite tracking, along with innovations related to global positioning systems, cellular networks, solar geolocation, radar, and information technology are improving our understanding of when and where birds go during their annual cycles and informing numerous scientific disciplines, including evolutionary biology, population ecology, and global change. The recent developments described in this article will help us answer many long-standing questions about animal behavior and life histories

LNCaP prostate cancer imaging with biologically functionalized gold nanoparticles in 2D and 3D cell culture

One of the main objectives of this project is to realize and validate a versatile lab system composed of functionalized nanoparticles for diagnosis of different superficial and accessible cancers, e.g. prostate cancer. Gold nanorods have been synthesized and functionalized with antibodies targeting specific antigens on cancer cell lines.ADONIS; 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission, STREP NMP4-CT-2005-01688