This project involves the organization of the conference EUROPT(R)ODE XI, which is part of the Europt(r)ode Conference series, which encompasses all aspects related to the research, development and applications of optical chemical sensors and biosensors. Intellectual Merit The EUROPT(R)ODE XI Conference, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, April 1-4, 2012, will discuss the latest advances in this competitive and evolving field of optical sensors. The Conference is the premier worldwide forum for the presentation of innovations in optical sensing, showing both cutting-edge integration concepts and key emerging trends in a highly multi-disciplinary atmosphere. This biannual Conference presents an exceptional opportunity, of interest to both academic and industrial researchers, to discuss and exchange the latest developments in this extremely challenging field. There is no other Conference specifically devoted to optical (bio)sensing, thus making this meeting unique at the international level. Broader Impact The Europt(r)ode conference series has become a major scientific meeting on optical chemical sensors and biosensors attracting scientists and educators from across the globe. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the field, Europt(r)ode has always brought together a diverse audience including scientists and engineers in physics, chemistry and biology all over the world. Their engaging discussions have stimulated interdisciplinary and international collaborations and helped shape scientific and academic institutions from which several generations of PhD students have graduated. The Conference has also fostered increasing collaborations between academia and industry and stimulated countless new commercial spin-offs in the field. Companies participate regularly not only at the level of exhibitors but though invited and oral or poster presentations. The Conference in 2012 will have, as a main novelty, an exclusive Industrial Session by invitation, where the main industrial players in the field will highlight scientific innovations and technological transfer in the optical sensing field.
This project involves the organization of the conference EUROPT(R)ODE XI, held in Barcelona, Spain, April 1-4, 2012, which is part of the Europt(r)ode Conference series, which encompasses all aspects related to the research, development and applications of optical chemical sensors and biosensors. The Europt(r)ode conference series has become a major scientific meeting on optical chemical sensors and biosensors attracting scientists and educators from across the globe. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the field, Europt(r)ode has always brought together a diverse audience including scientists and engineers in physics, chemistry and biology all over the world interested in developing next-generation optical sensing devices for improved and early diagnosis We urgently need novel diagnostic tools that can enable a quick, accurate and cost-effective test avoiding the expensive, complex and time-consuming procedures of the classical analytical lab. With such novel devices our health, the degradation of the environment, the contamination of our food or drinks or any biological or chemical attack can be monitored, detected and identified in a simple way outside of the lab, rapidly within a few seconds or minutes, contributing to a better world. Optical biochemical and chemical sensors have positioned themselves as one of the best options to provide such novel diagnostics tools. Their unique characteristics of high sensitivity, compactness, reliability, easy wireless interconnectivity, possibility of remote sensing, and low cost, pointed them as the preferable solution. Major applications will be in clinical diagnostics, but the sensors will also be beneficial in other impactful fields, such as genomics, proteomics, pharmacology, health care, environmental monitoring, food analysis, agriculture, defense, and national security. The dream of having a device in the palm of our hand capable of delivering an instant diagnosis of diseases could become a reality very soon thanks to the latest advances in chemical sensors, nanobiosensors and lab-on-a-chips, which promise to address existing challenges. These sensors offer multiple advantages including miniaturization, exquisite sensitivities, clinically relevance, robustness, reliability, capability for multiplexing and mass production at low cost. The conference focused on state-of-the-art sensor devices as well as emerging technologies that promise to address all the challenges, opening the door to a global health access. New devices for early detection of genetic mutations, cancer biomarkers, bacteria, virus, harmful toxins, environmental pollutants, or explosives were described throughout the conference. New technological companies that have created around these sophisticated devices also presented their most advanced products, ready to be released soon on the market. The coming years will be crucial for making great advances in increasing their transfer into useful commercial products and their applications in solving real-life challenges.
