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SuperSun – a new high-density source for ultracold neutrons Credit: Laurent Thion ILL Paving the way for other nations
A neutron Laue diffraction pattern from a crystal of HIV-1 protease in complex with a clinical inhibitor collected using the LADI instrument at ILL. Credit: Matthew Blakeley, ILL; Andrey Kovalevsky, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA
It also has an above-average number of PhD students, and the rate of higher education qualifi cations and the number of new doctoral graduates exceed the EU average. This active scientifi c community will now be able to submit innovative research projects to ILL, in fi elds ranging from nuclear physics, to pharmaceutical research, to cutting edge materials, integrating the advanced analysis capabilities at ILL with their plans for experiments.
The partnership will also open the doors to Slovenia advancing its scientifi c capabilities further. Historically, Slovenia’s use of large-scale scientifi c infrastructure such as the ILL has been limited. Becoming a scientifi c member of ILL has unlocked new opportunities for scientists, including early-career researchers, and has enabled them to access more European research programmes, develop new sources of funding and qualify for grants, and take part in collaborations tackling global scientifi c challenges.
For example, currently experiments are being undertaken at the ILL that look into components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This will include neutron crystallography experiments that characterise the spike proteins responsible for penetrating human cells - neutron diffraction is an excellent complementary technique to X-ray scattering, providing key details of the hydrogen atoms within molecules that dictate so much of the behaviour of biological compounds.
Neutrons are particularly good for studying the life sciences as they are non-destructive and can be used in experiments at room-temperature close to physiological conditions. Other pioneering projects include the study of complexes between HIV-1 protease - the enzyme responsible for maturation of virus particles into infectious HIV virions - and drug molecules, to reduce drug resistance, and identify the binding characteristics of cancer- related proteins.
As well as establishing new routes for Slovenia to get involved with vital research, such as fi nding treatments to stop the coronavirus, ILL will also benefi t signifi cantly from Slovenia’s active and diverse scientifi c community. The partnership with ILL is being facilitated in Slovenia by the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC), based in Ljubljana. This institution carries out and funds scientifi c research, both basic and applied, in fi elds including organic and physical chemistry, materials science, life sciences, biotechnology and engineering – many of which are core areas of focus for experiments at ILL. The NIC is therefore a perfect partner for enabling the most talented and promising researchers from Slovenia gain access to ILL and provide their expertise on the exciting collaborations underway.
ILL is dedicated to opening the doors for smaller countries such as Slovenia to join this international partnership, and forging ties that will lead to better science across Europe, future-proofi ng the region against impending challenges such as climate change or future pandemics. While these challenges provide their own economic trials, it is crucial that nations manage to maintain scientifi c funding and participation in international collaborations that seek to prepare us to tackle these threats.
Driving discussions about how more scientifi c communities can use ILL’s facilities will lay the foundations for advancing the country’s level of science and innovation. Through FILL2030, a Horizon-funded programme at ILL, the institution has allocated over half a million Euros to ensuring that researchers from these countries can make their initial steps into the facility, by covering the costs of visiting researchers and the beam time for their experiments. This has recently included Romania, Portugal, and Norway, and both enrich the scientifi c possibilities for their research, as well as building testimonies for the value of a long-term partnership. As with many scientifi c collaborations, including Slovenia’s membership, large-scale, international cooperation often originates from the experiences and conversations of a small number of researchers.
Scientifi c and economic challenges, such as the current pandemic, often lead to new and innovative approaches to conducting research, whether that means new ways to carry out experiments remotely or triggering joint efforts between previously distinct fi elds of research. Further, these events often increase awareness among the public and policymakers for the importance of maintaining scientifi c funding and infrastructure to help prepare the research community to tackle these challenges.
Flexibility and patience, however, are essential when proposing and progressing these conversations. As in the case of Slovenia, an extremely promising and mutually benefi cial relationship, the process is often gradual and must secure the commitment of many parties. Yet, once over the line, the opportunity for ground-breaking science to emerge from the new partnership is enormous and will mark a new era for scientifi c capabilities in Slovenia, making European science stronger overall.
ILL - Exterior of ILL: Credit: Cedrine Tresca
Reactor Credit: B. Lehn, ILL
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