NUCLEOSOME4D · Nucleosome Structure & Function across Biological Scales and Biological Function
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2009-11-01 → 2013-10-31
- EU contribution
- €4,609,511
- Participants
- 17
- Scheme
- MC-ITN
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Results in brief
Nucleosome Structure & Function across Biological Scales and Biological Function
The Nucleosome4D Marie Curie Initial Training Network ran from November 1st 2009 to 31st October 2013, and trained young researchers in nucleosome biology. Nucleosomes are the cell’s answer to a packaging problem. These histone-DNA assemblies allow every cell to package it’s meters of DNA into a nucleus only a few microns wide. We aimed to train our researchers in how nucleosome structure and function change across space and time – in four dimensions. During the four-year lifetime, we employed over 30 “early-stage” researchers, from 15 nationalities, and enrolled each one in a PhD programme. Each trainee worked on a focused and well-defined research project, with close supervision from a direct supervisor, and regular meetings with another Network scientist acting as mentor. We followed our comprehensive training plan for both the scientific and complementary skill development, by utilizing the best available local knowledge and equipment, together with Network-wide training events. Our Visiting Researchers attended meetings and held training sessions, giving invaluable advice on emerging research trends. Our Associated Partners also contributed to training sessions at meetings, and advised trainees on industrial perspectives and opportunities. As a group, our trainees have attended yearly Network meetings to develop their research projects, two Network-organized Summer Schools, and Network courses on Planning, Communication, Writing Skills, Career Development, and Management. Individually, the trainees also attended many other conferences, workshops, and courses that were relevant for their unique projects – totaling an additional 152 training events. The results of the research projects were presented at many scientific meetings, and have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Our interdisciplinary and collaborative approach proved invaluable to the success of these projects, and we foresee that all researchers will adopt this approach throughout their careers. With this approach, we aimed to ensure the multidisciplinary and intersectorial training of a new cohort of young European researchers. We believe that our young researchers are now in a good position to be well equipped for a modern career in the life sciences.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Chromatin packages a few meters of DNA into a nucleus measuring a few microns. This tight folding occurs by assembling DNA with histones into so-called nucleosomes, thus ensuring the mechanical stability of our genome. On the flipside, this makes nucleosomes a formidable obstacle to the machines that read, copy or repair its DNA message. One of the fundamental questions in biology is to understand how nucleosome structure is established, maintained and manipulated. Our Marie Curie Initial Training Network will carry out multidisciplinary, collaborative research projects focused on deciphering nucleosome structure and function in space and time (Nucleosome4D). Our main objective is to provide our young researchers with world-class research & training in nucleosome biology. We will use cutting-edge, interdisciplinary methods and collaborative projects to determine how nucleosomes are remodeled during transcription, when genes are silenced, as cell divide, as stem cells differentiate, during organismal development and in human disease. We utilize state-of-the-art approaches in structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, live-cell imaging, biochemistry, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. We will implement a comprehensive training plan for scientific and career development using the best local approaches to research & training, by promoting exchanges, using the advise of our industrial partners and three Visiting Scientists, by sharing reagents and expertise, as well as through a structured set of scientific workshops and complementary skills training courses. Together, our effort will ensure the multidisciplinary and intersectorial training of a new cohort of young European researchers. This will allow our trainees to take the opportunities and meet the challenges of a successful career in the life science sector through excellent training, effective communication, great teamwork and proven project management skills.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · PlaneggCoordinatorGermany
- CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE · Illkirch GraffenstadenFrance
- Cambridge Cell Networks Ltd · CambridgeCity levelUnited Kingdom
- EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY · HeidelbergGermany
- FUNDACION SECTOR PUBLICO ESTATAL CENTRO NACIONAL INVESTIGACIONES ONCOLOGICAS CARLOS III · MadridSpain
- HMGBIOTECH SRL · MilanoItaly
- INSTITUT CURIE · ParisFrance
- JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN · Frankfurt Am MainGermany
- KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNDenmark
- MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
- MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL · LONDONUnited Kingdom
- MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT INNSBRUCK · InnsbruckAustria
- Novartis Forschungsstiftung · BASELCity levelSwitzerland
- SZEGEDI TUDOMANYEGYETEM · SzegedHungary
- THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM · JerusalemIsrael
- UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN · BergenNorway
- UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE · DundeeUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union