BrainMap

Ileana Cornelia Farcasanu

Dr.

Associate Professor - UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | PhD supervisor

Web of Science ResearcherID: A-1558-2008

Curriculum Vitae (11/06/2021)

Expertise & keywords

Ionophore embedded membranes for ion sensing in biological fluids Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală - PD-2021
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0319 2022 - 2024

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://infim.ro/en/project/bionmem-ionophore-embedded-membranes-for-ion-sensing-in-biological-fluids/

Abstract:

The goal of this project is the development of bioinspired membranes for the incorporation of ionophores able to specifically detect relevant ions. These membranes will be immobilized at electrodes surface for the development of bio-analytical devices for real-time monitoring of biomarker electrolytes in biological media by electrochemical methods. The detection of sodium, potassium and chloride ions in sweat is focused, yet the possibility to extend the working principle to their detection in other relevant biological media or to detection of some other electrolytes is envisioned. Sodium, potassium and chloride are proposed due to their frequent involvement in a large range of biochemical process. Immobilization in bio-inspired membranes form bilipidic, liposomes or hydrogel layers ensures the functional conformation/structure of the ionophore and, on the other hand the increased biocompatibility of the device at epidermal level.

The flexibility of these sensors will be achieved by using electrospun polymeric fibers that ensure the nanostructuring of the electrode surface and a significant increase of its electroactive area, but also of its sensitivity. Studies to determine the influence of sweat interferences on the sensor response and biocompatibility in epidermal cell cultures will be performed. Nonetheless, the adaptability of this type of membranes will be demonstrated by applications of the device for detection of ions in serum and cellular culture media.

Impedimetric biosensor based on vertical graphene, integrated with a microfluidic system for monitoring the plasma levels of anti-tumoral agents. Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect de transfer la operatorul economic
PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2021-0444 2022 - 2024

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: DDS DIAGNOSTIC S.R.L.

Project partners: DDS DIAGNOSTIC S.R.L. (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://ddsdiagnostic.com/neoplacip/

Abstract:

The treatment of patients diagnosed with different types of malignant tumors with antineoplastic drugs is difficult, due to the considerable variability of the pharmacokinetic parameters of these drugs, but also due to a plethora of adverse and secondary effects. The project proposes development of a sensor for simultaneous detection from human plasma of three antitumoral compunds commonly used in cancer therapy in Romania: etoposide, cisplatin and bleomycin. They are often used in combination therapy, in an attempt to minimize side effects and maximize the therapeutic effect. The NEOPLACIP project proposes the development of a microfluidic system, based on detection by electrochemical impedance, for the prognosis and personalization of antitumor therapy by determining the concentration of the antineoplastic agents in the biological fluids of patients undergoing treatment. The microfluidic system will be presented with integrated electrochemical sensors whose working electrodes are functionalized with vertical graphene and will specifically bind the therapeutic compunds through a set of immunoglobulins. This type of sensor is able to provide information on the concentration of antineoplastics in the human plasma, through a fast and sensitive analysis, in real-time. The information obtained will lead to the personalization of the administration method, with benefits first and foremost for the patient, and subsequently economic benefits through low consumption of reagents, low costs, cheap and easy-to-handle equipment and instruments and implicitly, very low risk of contamination. So far, in Romania, no microfluidic platforms have been developed presented with electrochemical sensors based on graphene for the detection of biomolecules, hence the market potential for the sensor. In addition, the project will stimulate Research-Development-Innovation investments by the beneficiary company and will strengthen its position on the market.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance fingerprinting of yeast cells overexpressing metal-binding peptides. Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală - PD-2021
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0024 2022 - 2024

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/mebpepepr/

Abstract:

In this project, we aim to develop an efficient and reliable method used to monitor intracellular proteins by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. For this purpose, we will create a cellular model expressing Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) tagged with an array of metal-binding oligopeptides (MeBPep) designed to trap EPR-responsive metal ions, such as Mn(II) or Cu(II). This model will be used to develop EPR spectroscopy as a toolbox for comparative profiling.

Tools for modeling processes at the interface between water, soil, plants and air in order to promote the sustainable management of groundwater dependent ecosystems and their integrating river basins Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0721 2018 - 2021

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU PEDOLOGIE, AGROCHIMIE SI PROTECTIA MEDIULUI - ICPA BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU PEDOLOGIE, AGROCHIMIE SI PROTECTIA MEDIULUI - ICPA BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA OVIDIUS (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE STATISTICA MATEMATICA SI MATEMATICA APLICATA AL ACADEMIEI ROMANE''GHEORGHE MIHOC - CAIUS IACOB' (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "VALAHIA" TARGOVISTE (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://inter-aspa.ro/index.html

Abstract:

Seven institutional partners from four Romanian development regions joined in a consortium focused on the following priorities: “The sustainable administration of water resources, river basins and wetlands, and “the development of scientific knowledge in the field of air, water and soil, including their interfaces”. The goal of INTER-ASPA project is to create an innovation environment able to support over multiple strategic cycles the disciplinary, inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary research of processes at the interface between air, soil, plants and air. The general objectives of the project are: 1) To manage the integration of research directions, infrastructure and human resources within the cluster of institutions to generate basic and applied knowledge about interface processes, 2) To produce a toolbox for environmental services supporting the integrated management of water, soil and biological diversity resources in Romania, 3) To open and manage communication channels with the end-users of the project’s products and to develop web accessible information systems. The correlated program of institutional development has a modular structure, covering aspects from strategic level to the tactical level of infrastructure and human resource formation, and to the operational level of four research projects. One project is mono-disciplinary in hydrogeology, one is inter-disciplinary, and two are trans-disciplinary, oriented towards societal and economic issues. We will produce 29 environmental services in level 2-4 of readiness, 2 software programs, all transferred to end-users. Sixteen end-users have provided support letter for the project.

Green synthetic chemistry of bioactive peptides against cancer or multi-drug resistance Call name: P 3 - SP 3.1 - Proiecte de mobilități, România-China (bilaterale)
PN-III-P3-3.1-PM-RO-CN-2018-0059 2018 - 2019

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.greenchembiopep.ro

Abstract:

Due to their structural variability, numerous peptides possess remarkable biologic activities which make them promising alternatives to conventional drugs. Although directional synthesis was made possible by the solid-phase procedure, the cost-effective large-scale synthesis of peptides still represents a challenge. In this project we aim to implement a procedure for the green production of peptides at the surface of yeast cells to be further utilized for their potential bioactivity assay using chemo-genomic screenings. The project’s implementation will be ensured through the collective efforts done by the Chinese group (Department of Chemistry of Northwestern Polytechnical University of Xi’an) and the Romanian group (Research Center for Applied Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest). The collaboration was initiated based on the complementarity between the infrastructure and research expertise of the two groups in the fields of peptide synthesis, biotechnology, and chemo-genomic screening of bioactive compounds.

Tools for the Integrated Management of Mining Areas and River basins Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-2171 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); PROSPECTIUNI S.A. (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.timmar.biogeochemistry.ro

Abstract:

This is an interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary project aiming at producing innovative environmental services and ecotechnologies useful for the management of socio-ecological systems contaminated as a result of mining activities. The sustainable increasing in the competitiveness of an economy supposes the preservation of an optimal level of quality and quantity of natural capital. A major unresolved problem is the quantification and management of the positive and negative environmental externalities related to industrial activities on a regular, business as usual, base. Solving this problem is a must in order to allow the integrated environmental management (i.e. correlations between the environmental management plans of multiple stakeholders) in large scale units of the natural capital like river basins. An estimated environmental services market for risk assessment and mitigation/restoration of mining areas is about 1 billion Euros for Romania, and at least one order of magnitude larger in Europe. In this context, our goal in this project is to produce innovative environmental services and ecotechnologies for the quantification and management of the environmental externalities due to a major category of contaminated areas – tailing dams. The innovative environmental services produced in the project are: S1 Cost-effective evaluation of metals’ stocks and their mineralogical forms in tailing dams, S2 Prediction of distribution of pollution hot-spots in the floodplain groundwater in contaminated river basins, S3 Prediction of the distribution of pollution hot-spots relevant for human and species health in the floodplain soil in contaminated river basins, S4 Optimization of the monitoring systems downstream mining areas, S5 Assistance for the integration of organizational environmental management plans based on negative and positive externalities between multiple stakeholders in contaminated river basins. The innovative technology is: Remediation eco-technology based on a combination of native plant species, bacterial inoculum and fungal inoculum and subsurface methods in function of geochemical, geomophological and ecological setting.

We included letters of interest in the results of the project from the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment, the “Romanian Waters” National Administration, the mayor of a city located in a contaminated area, two important private mining companies with large current or potential environmental responsibilities, and one large private company involved in the remediation of tailing dams. A full stakeholders analysis at Romania scale will done within the project, supporting also the marketing of TIMMAR products.

The methodology involves working on a population of four tailing dams, their downstream rivers system, and floodplains of large contaminated rivers distributed in Romania such as to cover the geochemical and mineralogical diversity of tailing dams.

The project is implemented by three partners, of which one university participating with four research centers from three different faculties, and a large company participating with three different departments. The partners have strong experience in project area validated by participation to FP7 projects, publications with large impact, and, for the economic partner, by its business dimension and list of customers. Co-financing is 17% and salaries are only 45% of the project budget.

TIMMAR project will give opportunity to the University of Bucharest to operationalize its policy about spin-offs by creating a consulting company Biogeochemistry.Ro and by making it a successful organization in strategic alliance with the major economic player SC Prospectiuni S.A. This alliance will jointly provide environmental services related to the management of contaminated socio-ecological systems, using the patents developed from the results of the project. The share of intellectual assets and potential benefits are specified as part of the proj

Identification of new modulators of calcium-regulated processes using genomic and chemogenomic screens in yeast Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0291 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD (RO); APEL LASER S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.calchemgen.ro/

Abstract:

Calcium ions are used by virtually all eukaryotic cells to signal information about the environment and the physiological state of the cell, or to regulate various cellular processes such as initiation of gene expression, alterations in cell shape, membrane fusion, or programmed cell death. Excessive or unregulated levels of calcium induce a variety of drastic defects, such as uncontrolled cell proliferation, aberrant cell morphology, or cell death, leading to disruption of normal metabolism and initiation of various diseases. The versatility of calcium-mediated regulation of key physiological processes requires extensive research to identify the interplay between calcium signaling, mechanisms of diseases and discovery of new drugs.

The aim of this project is to utilize Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to unravel new insights into the calcium-regulated cell mechanisms and to investigate the applicability of in house newly-synthesized chemicals as novel therapeutic and imaging agents, selected through interactions with the calcium-dependent pathway components. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a unicellular eukaryotic organism extensively used for the study of conserved processes and for getting information that can be further extrapolated to complex organisms like humans. The current proposal was initiated by highly-promising preliminary results obtained in the laboratories of the coordinating group. These results are based on novel and spectacular cell modifications which mimic aberrations in fundamental processes such as cell shape, cell polarity, and cell proliferation, representing the center of a complex network of research which will be established by the project.

The project will imply systemic investigations such as genomic profilings paralleled by chemo-genomic screens designed to identify new interactions between small molecules and calcium-related biologic processes. The proposed work will provide an unprecedented coverage on structure-function information, facilitating the analysis of synergistic and antagonistic interactions between molecular components of calcium-related metabolism. The project is multidisciplinary, involving a plethora of aspects related to cell and molecular biology, genetics, chemical synthesis and analysis, high-throughput screening, bioinformatics and imaging.

This project will be carried out by a consortium of four partner groups with relevant research and innovation expertise: University of Bucharest (as coordinating organization, CO), Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy (Partner P1), National Institute of Research and Development for Microtechnology (Partner P2), and a small enterprise, Apel Laser (Partner P3). The consortium was established based on the state-of-the-art infrastructure already existent in the implementing institutions and on the strong complementarities between the research and market expertise of the partner groups.

Multiplexed platform for HPV genotyping – MultiplexGen Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1434 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD (RO); GENETIC LAB S.R.L. (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.imt.ro/multiplexgen/index.php

Abstract:

MultiplexGen project addresses a current problem in medical diagnosis, detection in an accurate and specific way of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and sets out to explore specific solutions from micro- nanotechnology to overcome the limitations of the conventional tests, which are not quantitative and exclude multiplexing. The aim of the project is to develop a high sensitivity multiplexed platform which consists of different functional levels, and as a consequence is generic named “multilevel system”. It is based on hybrid organic-inorganic / bio-nonbiological assemblies able to enhance diagnostic capabilities by exploiting the bridge between bio-systems and micro-nanotechnologies, thus overcoming many of the limitations of the existing methods for Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and genotyping.

This proposal has evolve as a result of numerous discussions initiated by researchers from the clinical laboratory - SME – GeneticLab with their colleagues from Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology - IMT (LN-IMT) about various specific issues they encountered in their activity related to HPV genotyping by capillary electrophoresis kit, which are identified as primary technical and scientific barriers that will be lifted by carrying out the present project. The long time collaboration encouraged them to believe that IMT will find a technological answer to the problem posed by the classical diagnosis method, and furthermore, Centre of Applied and Organic Chemistry - UB (CAOC) will provide a theoretical understanding of the processes and phenomena taking place in HPV genotyping.

The issues supposed to be solved related to the mentioned thematic area, which represents the secondary objectives of the project, are encompassing the fundamental and technological knowledge and are parts of our functional model demonstration, as following: (i) to obtain a microarray based technology for accurate HPV genotyping; (ii) to improve the up to now reported results in terms of sensitivity / selectivity by connecting the biochip to a microfluidic system; (iii) to indicate the optimum design for biochip to allow parallel detection and in this way confirmation of results; (iv) to propose a heterogeneous technology for integration and 3D packaging and correpondingly a functional hybrid assembly of all these modules for a further disposable system developing.

Therefore, an extensive investigation and optimization of the benefits that our knowledge in genetics, microfluidic technology, microarray technology, surface biofunctionalization, as well as opto-electrical read-out signal analyses are able to bring a valuable tool to a medical diagnostic laboratory, a chip class of devices, with important specific HPV detection / genotyping application. For example, combining the fields of microfluidics and DNA microarrays, the advantages of both directions can be exploited simultaneously, mediated by valuable new knowledge about biointeractions and biohybrid assembling.

Besides the envisaged final outcome of this project, the functional model of hybrid multilevel system for HPV genotyping, the modules and even more, each specific technology improvement are of high value by themselves each of them being independently used thenceforth. State-of-the-art scientific results in all of the disciplines involved will be the direct project outcomes, which will be proven by the publications on microfluidics, on-chip sample preparation, and on clinical comparison of HPV detection technologies in international journals and at international conferences.

Micro Immunosensors Platform for Metabolic Syndrome Investigation Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-0649 2012 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE- DEZVOLTARE PENTRU MICROTEHNOLOGIE - IMT BUCURESTI INCD (RO); DDS DIAGNOSTIC S.R.L. (RO); UNIV.DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE - CAROL DAVILA (RO); TELEMEDICA S.R.L. (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://imunoplat.imt.ro

Abstract:

IMUNOPLAT project proposes to develop and fabricate a multiparametric miniaturized immunosensors platform for early investigation of the metabolic syndrome. A novel technology using label-free immunosensors array, integrated with temperature and pH sensors into micro fluidic channels and connected to electronic modules providing electrical measurements is going to be developed for replacing the standard “ELISA”, chemiluminescence, particle-enhanced immunonephelometry or lateral flow immunoassay techniques in order to speed up the metabolic syndrome investigation, to record and follow the patients with risk, to early diagnosis and to decrease the operational costs. Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been defined by four criteria for diagnosis: disglycaemia, arterial hypertension, dislipidemia and abdominal obesity and is a risk factor for three of the first 10 causes of death in the world at this moment (diabetes, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease), according to 2011 WHO Report. The prevalence, the severity and the fact that most patients with MS are asymptomatic for a long period of time, requires an earlier screening. In this project a panel with 5 biomarkers will be developed for metabolic syndrome investigation: High-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), A-FABP(Adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein), oxLDL (oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein), leptin and adiponectin. All these biomarkers are related to MS but they have not been used together and validated in a phase III clinial study as such. The results of the screening panel, the quantitative determination of the target proteins and their combination with other clinical and biochemical data will be correlated for diagnosis, standardisation and validation. An electronic platform with software Labview-based interface will be developed for data acquisition and measurement, automation and Graphical User Interface for MS patients monitoring, to be used in clinical laboratory and medical research.

Engineering Yeast and Plants for Heavy Metal Applications: from Bioremediation to Bioextraction Call name: EEA Research Programme under EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014
EEA-JRP-RO-NO-2013-1-0047 2013 -

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOCHIMIE (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

Trace elements (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) have been in the prime light of basic and applied research due to their dualistic action upon living organisms, being necessary in minute amounts for the normal metabolism but getting toxic when present in concentrations higher than the physiological levels. As such, the heavy metal pollution represents a threat to water supplies, agriculture soils, human and animal health, whereas the deficiency is considered equally deleterious for any form of life, or for important human activities, such as agriculture.

In this project we aim to use molecular and bioinformatics approaches to engineer yeast and plants designed to hyperaccumulate heavy metals without interfering with the normal metabolism. In addition we aim to establish the applicability of such organisms to various heavy metal-related biotechnologies, such as soil and water bioremediation, bioextraction, metal restriction to plant organs, metal-enriched food supplements, improved imaging techniques, etc.

The project will imply systemic investigations of an array of metal ions against a series of recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides designed for each metal and expressed differentially in yeast and plants. The proposed work is interdisciplinary, combining in silico screening, molecular biology, bioinorganic chemistry, genetics and bioinformatics, aiming to provide an unprecedented coverage of the metal-protein/peptide interaction by facilitating the analysis of synergistic and antagonistic relationship between cell components and metal-related metabolism.

This project will be carried out by a consortium of three partner groups with relevant research and innovation expertise: University of Bucharest (Romania, Project Promoter, PP), University of Science and Technology from Trondheim (Norway, Partner One, P1), and Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy (Romania, Partner Two, P2).The consortium was established based on the state-of-the-art infrastructure already existing in the implementing institutions and on the strong complementarities between the research expertise of the partner groups. The project’s output is expected to have impact on the thematic area Environmental protection and management.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects