BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, BNN (AT)


BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (BioNanoNet) is a scientific network that specializes in the Key Enabling Technologies nanotechnology and biotechnology located in Austria, with the emphasis on (1) nanotoxicology, (2) sensortechnologies, as well as (3) health, (nano-)safety and (nano-)medicine, and additionally supports projects in coordination, management, dissemination and communication. BioNanoNet is a European key player in the field of nanosafety, specialised in developing nano-safety-by-design strategies together with researchers and industry, and coordinator of international nano-safety and nano-innovation activities (e.g. Industrial Innovation Liaisons, Closer-To-The-Market, etc.). BioNanoNet has the clear aim of driving innovative interdisciplinary research by supporting the cooperation by bringing together scientific experts and industry to gain critical mass for thematic areas, to initiate, set up and manage national as well as international research projects and to add value by providing nano-safety strategies tailored to the needs of organisations. Therefore, BioNanoNet continuously interacts with national and international stakeholders, as well as policy makers and regulatory and legislative authorities (e.g., in the context of NANoREG, EURO-NanoTox, standardisation committees, etc.).

 

Key people

Andreas Falk, MSc. (male): CEO of BNN; coordination of BNN since 2008; graduated in biomedical sciences (1999) and business administration (2011); work package-leader in NANOFORCE-project (Central Europe Program) as well as coordinator of NanoProdEx-project (national project); Austrian lighthouse in NANOfutures; OECD-DCP; member of NanoSafetyCluster; member of executive board of European Technology platform Nanomedicine (ETPN) and vice-chair of ETPN-working group toxicology& characterisation; member of international advisory board of NANOSOLUTIONS project (FP7). Coordinator of EURO-NanoTox. Member of Management Committee in COST Actions TD1204 “Modelling Nanomaterial Toxicity (MODENA)”, and CM1403 “The European Upconversion Network”; member of the “High Level Group of EU Member States and FP7/HORIZON 2020 Associated States on Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies” of the European Commission.

Susanne Resch studied pharmaceutical sciences at the Karl Franzens University of Graz. During her studies, she focused on pharmaceutical technologies, including novel drug delivery systems like various nanoparticles/nanocarriers. As a junior researcher, she has written her master thesis about the intestinal uptake of nanoparticulate systems. Since 1st September 2015, she is part of the BioNanoNet team and deals with scientific operational tasks at several EU projects (H2020 Pilot Line/FP7 projects) addressing the key topic nanosafety aspects and strategies.

Christa Schimpel received her Bachelor degree in Molecular Biology from Karl Franzens University of Graz before completing her Master in Molecular Microbiology. During her PhD thesis she was investigating nanosafety aspects and interactions/nanotoxicity of nanostructured materials using diverse cell culture models. Additionally, in 2011 she gained expertise regarding nanosafety risk assessment in the course of a research project within the Austrian NANO Initiative of the FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) called ISOTEC (Integrated Organic Sensor and Optoelectronics Technologies) with the aim of new innovative materials in the sensor industry. In April 2015 she joined BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH and is working as nanosafey expert on the nanosafety strategies for diverse EU projects.

Involvement in Research and Innovation projects
  • 03/2005 – 02/2012 (finished): “Nano-Health – Nano-structured Materials for Drug Targeting, Release and Imaging”, Nano Initiative Austria (FFG), Activities: administrative coordination; dissemination and communication
  • 05/2011 – 01/2014 (finished): „NANOFORCE Nanotechnology for Chemical Enterprises – How to link scientific knowledge to the business in the Central Europe”, CE, Grant agreement: 3CE394P1; Activities: Work package leader WP4; Project leader PP7, Communication manager PP7
  • 10/2012 – 09/2013 (finished): “NanoProdEx – Nano-Produkte – Identifikation und Exposition”, NANO-EHS (FFG), Grant agreement: 835354; Activities: project coordinator, project manager.
  • 11/2012 – 10/2016: “SPIDIMAN – Single-Port Insulin Infusion for Improved Diabetes Management”, EU-FP7-HEALTH 2012.2.4.3-1; Grant agreement 305343; Activities: project manager.
  • 03/2013 – 08/2016: “NANoREG – A common European approach to the regulatory testing of nanomaterials”, EU-FP7-NMP-2012-LARGE-6; Grant agreement 310584; Activities: Task leader, national coordinator, project partner.
  • 07/2013 – 06/2016: “NanoDiode – Developing Innovative Outreach and Dialogue on responsible nanotechnologies in EU civil society”, EU-FP7-NMP-2013-CSA-7; Project Number / Grant agreement 608891; Activities: Task leader, project partner.
  • 11/2014-10/2018: “The European Upconversion Network: From the Design of Photon-Upconverting Nanomaterials to Biomedical Applications”, EU-COST-Action; Grant agreement CM1403; Activities: working group nanotoxicology; dissemination activities.
  • 12/2014-11/2016: “SeeingNano – Developing and Enabling Nanotechnology Awareness-Building through the Creation and Exchange of enhanced Communication and Visualisation Tools and Guidance for ‘Seeing at the Nanoscale’”, EU-H2020-NMP-2014-CSA-31; Grant agreement: 646141; Activities: third party project partner, international expert working group.
  • 01/2015 – 12/2018: “INSPIRED – Industrial Scale Production of Innovative nanomaterials for printed devices”, EU-H2020-NMP-PILOTS-2014-05; Grant agreement: 646155; Activities: nano-safety assessment, task leader, project partner.
  • 02/2015 – 01/2019: “R2R-Biofluidics – Large Scale Micro- and Nanofabrication Technologies for Bioanalytical Devices Based on R2R Imprinting”, EU-H2020-NMP-PILOTS-2014-04; Grant agreement: 646260; Activities: nano-safety assessment, task leader, project partner.
  • 03/2015 – 08/2018: “Hi-Response – Innovative High Resolution Electro-Static printing of Multifunctional Materials”, EU-H2020-NMP-PILOTS-2014-04; Grant agreement: 646296; Activities: nano-safety assessment, task leader, project partner.
  • 06/2015 – 12/2016: “MIOMI – Der Mikrokosmos auf und um uns: Mikroorganismen auf Oberflächen in der Medizin und Industrie”; FFG-Talents regional; Grant agreement: 848601; Activities: educational workshops nanotechnology in school.
  • 01/2016 – 12/2019: “NanoGenTools – Developing and implementation of a new generation of nanosafety assessment tools“; H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015; Grant agreement: 691095; Activities: secondments.
Publications and/or research/innovation products
    Peer reviewed publications:
  • Schimpel C., Rinner B., Absenger-Novak M., Meindl C., Fröhlich E., Falk A., Zimmer A., Roblegg E., 2015, “A novel In Vitro Model for Studying Nanoparticle Interactions with the Small Intestine”, ENTL 6 (1), DOI 10.1515/entl-2015-0001.
  • Falk A., Hartl S., Sinner, F., 2013. Regulation and safety implementation of nanotechnology for chemical enterprises in the Central Europe Space. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 429, pp.1–7. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/429/1/012068.
  • Roblegg E., Falk A., Froehlich E., Zimmer A., Sinner F., 2011, European Center for Nanotoxicology EURO-NanoTox – An Austrian Activity, Academy of Science Malaysia Journal, 5 (1).
  • Book chapter:
  • Falk A., Hartl S., Safety issues of Silica Nanomaterials in the frame of industrial use, book chapter in: Polymer Nanoclay Composites, Laske St., 1st Edition 2015 (ELSEVIER, 9780323299626), 194 pages.
  • Malka I., Jurewicz M., Swiderska-Sroda A., Sobczyk J., Lojkowski W., Hartl S., Falk A., Guidelines for Safe Operation with Nanomaterials, book chapter in: The Nano-Micro Interface: Bridging Micro and Nano Worlds, Fecht H.-J., Werner M., Van de Voorde M., 2 Volume Set, 2nd Edition 2014 (http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-3527336338.html ), p635-665