INT2ACT Doctoral Network Secures EU Funding Under MSCA Programme
We are delighted to announce that NIBRT is a partner in the INT2ACT (Innovative Nucleic Acids Technologies for Analysis, Detection and Treatment) Doctoral network which has been awarded funding under the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program by the European Union. The doctoral network, coordinated by Carlo Vascotto (University of Udine), will fund 15 PhD positions from January 2026, with NIBRT’s involvement led by Principal Investigator, Prof. Niall Barron. The network aims to train the next generation of experts advancing nucleic acid (NA) technologies for clinical applications.
Why nucleic acids?
In recent years, nucleic acids (NAs) have become essential tools in modern medicine, enabling progress in cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease diagnostics, and rare disease treatment. New genetic technologies like CRISPR, which can cut and change DNA, and RNA sequencing, which reads our genetic messages, are helping scientists find better ways to treat diseases like cancer and rare disorders. But many of these tools are still hard to use in real-world healthcare. For example, it’s not always easy to spot very small amounts of genetic material, current methods can be slow or limited, and delivering these treatments safely inside the body remains a big challenge.
How will INT2ACT train future leaders?
15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will be recruited and enrolled in a structured, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training programme combining academic research with industry experience.
Each DC will benefit from:
- Hands-on research in NA technologies
- Exposure to clinical and therapeutic applications
- Skills training in innovation, communication, and ethics
- Career development support across sectors
The programme is designed to equip graduates for diverse careers in academia, biotech, healthcare, and beyond.
Where to learn more?
PhD position announcements will be published soon on the INT2ACT website (www.int2act.eu ). Stay tuned via the University of Udine and MSCA Doctoral Networks channels.
