Objective Plants produce a vast diversity of specialized and bioactive compounds. For thousands of years, mankind has used extracts from plants containing bioactive compounds as part of traditional herbal medicines. More recently anticancer properties of some bioactive compounds have been discovered and are now leads for new pharmaceutical drugs to combat cancers. In DrugTissueCult we focus on two bioactive compounds Thapsigargin and Withaferin A with anticancer properties. Both are of a pharmaceutical and economical value, but are difficult to obtain from their native source and very expensive to make through chemical synthesis. Thapsigargin, is a sesquiterpenoid found in Thapsia garganica plants and Withaferin A, is a triterpenoid found in Withania somnifera plants. The aim of DrugTissueCult is to generate plant tissue culture lines that produce very high amounts of Thapsigargin or Withaferin A. The industrial partner Alkion Biopharma has a patented technology that will be used to create a large collection of plant tissue cultures, which will be selected for significant production of Thapsigargin and Withaferin A. The academic partner, University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences has an in-depth understanding of plant biochemistry, plants biosynthesis of specialized and bioactive compounds, and how to utilize this knowledge in biotechnological applications. Investigation of how Thapsigargin and Withaferin A are biosynthesized and identification of the genes behind, will lead to an overall understanding of terpenoid biosynthesis in plants. This will also facilitate the creation of tissue culture lines where selected genes are up-regulated to further enhance the production of Thapsigargin and Withaferin A. The complementary combination of the two partners provides the necessary knowledge and expertise to train two ESRs in a high impact research project using divergent training methods in industrial and academic settings. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN - Marie-Curie Action: "Initial Training Networks" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ITN - Networks for Initial Training (ITN) Coordinator KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET EU contribution € 586 111,14 Address NORREGADE 10 1165 Kobenhavn Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Tine Mathiesen Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ALKION BIOPHARMA SAS France EU contribution No data Address RUE PIERRE FONTAINE 4 91000 EVRY See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Franck Michoux (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data