TRIGGER Call 2024

• PI: Iván López Paz

The goal of this project is to improve the accuracy of radiotherapy by developing a new generation of diamond dosimeters. Current detectors rely on metallic contacts, which can introduce errors in radiation measurements and require medical physicists to apply correction factors. These corrections complicate treatment planning and increase its overall uncertainty.

The Carbon Dosimeters (CarDos) project aims to design and produce the first metal-free diamond dosimeters using a scalable technology. This innovation will reduce the need for correction factors and enable more precise and reliable radiation dose measurements, ultimately enhancing safety and treatment quality for patients.

• PI: Jordi Llobet Sixto

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with electrostatic and embedded quantum dots (QDs) open a new frontier in nanoelectronics and photonics. By harnessing strong light–matter interactions, these structures enable charge transport to be actively modulated by optical fields, paving the way for novel device functionalities. This simultaneous confinement of electrons and photons will allow control over polaritonic states, offering unprecedented opportunities for integrated photonic circuits, quantum information technologies, and energy‑efficient signal processing. The development of Si‑compatible platforms ensures integration with existing CMOS infrastructure, positioning these devices as a promising bridge between conventional electronics and next‑generation quantum optoelectronics.

• PI: José Yeste Lozano

Claudins are key proteins that form the barriers between cells, controlling how ions and small molecules pas through tissues. When these channels malfunction, they can cause serious diseases such as inherited kidney disorders. Recent discoveries show that claudin channels are not just passive pores—they actively open and close like gates. However, studying this process at the single-molecule level has been difficult. The PARMOLE project is developing an innovative chip-based technology to record the activity of individual claudin channels. This breakthrough will allow researchers to better understand how these channels work, how they regulate the movement of substances, and how their dysfunction leads to disease. Ultimately, this knowledge could guide new treatments for patients with claudin-related disorders.