BIOCONTROL · Bio-interfaces: From molecular understanding to application
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-10-01 → 2010-09-30
- EU contribution
- €2,842,101
- Participants
- 16
- Scheme
- RTN
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - BIOCONTROL (Bio-interfaces: From molecular understanding to application)
BIOCONTROL aimed at controlling biological functions at, respectively on, bio-interfaces. It was based on the recent recognition of the importance of structure and properties of bio-interfaces, e.g. biological membranes, for a multitude of life processes. We could contribute new knowledge on the understanding of molecules which could become new agents to fight bacterial infections or cancer. We shed light on the structure function relation of membrane proteins (e.g. channel proteins) and on the mechanisms of fibril formation during the evolution of Alzheimer. To reach these achievements we improved our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms by creating a deeper understanding of processes and interactions at bio-interfaces in terms of biology, biochemistry, biophysics and structure. Real progress in the field was achieved by breaking traditional academic borders because the BIOCONTROL researchers were trained in cross-disciplinary and collaborative work. We have educated a new category of 'life science' experts who can work across disciplines. This was achieved by an unprecedented interdisciplinary training programme comprising (bio)physicists, biologists, (bio)chemists, surface chemists and computational biologists.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
BIOCONTROL aims at controlling biological functions at, respectively on, bio-interfaces. It is based on the recent recognition of the importance of structure and properties of bio-interfaces, e.g. biological membranes, for a multitude of life processes. We now know that the evolution of atherosclerosis, cancer, immunity and viral infections, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer, Prion diseases, etc.) and aging depend on perturbations of such interfaces. However, we need to improve our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms in order to design efficient drugs and to meet the challenges in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This requires a deeper understanding of processes and interactions at bio-interfaces in terms of biology, biochemistry, biophysics and structure.The two major scientific objectives of BIOCONTROL are to:1) Provide fundamental knowledge of the forces and molecular mechanisms that regulate the interactions and biological processes taking place in and around biological membranes.2) Construct bio-mimetic surfaces and self-assembled structures that enable external control of biological and biotechnological processes, such as, cell adhesion and cell cycle regulation.Real progress in the field can only be achieved by breaking traditional academic borders. This requires the education of new researchers that are trained in cross-disciplinary and collaborative work. Therefore the major educational objective of BIOCONTROL is: Training of a new category of 'life science' experts who can work across disciplines. This will be achieved by an unprecedented interdisciplinary training programme comprising (bio) physicists, biologists, (bio)chemists, surface chemists and computational biologists.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- GKSS - FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GEESTHACHT GMBH · GEESTHACHTCoordinatorGermany
- AUSTRIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES · WIENAustria
- BEN GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV · BEER-SHEVAIsrael
- BIRKBECK COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON · LONDONUnited Kingdom
- KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA H??GSKOLAN · STOCKHOLMCity levelSweden
- LUNDS UNIVERSITET · LUNDSweden
- MALMOE HOEGSKOLA (MALMOE UNIVERSITY) · MALM??Country levelSweden
- NIELS BOHR INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN · COPENHAGENCity levelDenmark
- PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT · VILLIGENSwitzerland
- RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS UNIVERSIT??T BONN · BONNGermany
- STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET · StockholmSweden
- TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY · TEL AVIVIsrael
- UNIVERSIT?? LIBRE DE BRUXELLES · BRUSSELSBelgium
- UNIVERSIT?? LOUIS PASTEUR · STRASBOURGCity levelFrance
- UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS · AARHUS CDenmark
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK · ODENSE MCity levelDenmark
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union