Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ACCELERATOR (ERA Chair for Accelerated Synthetic Chemistry Technologies at Palacký University Olomouc)
Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-04-30
Context and Overall Objectives
The ERA Chair project was initiated in February 2023 with the primary objective of enhancing the research capabilities and international competitiveness of the Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL) by establishing a world-class research team in the field of high-throughput experimentation (HTE) and miniaturized reaction technologies. The project's context is grounded in the need to address significant scientific and industrial challenges through innovative chemical research and development.
Background and Motivation
In the rapidly evolving landscape of chemical research, there is a growing demand for efficient, high-throughput methodologies that can accelerate the discovery and optimization of new chemical matter. Traditional approaches often involve labor-intensive processes that are not scalable, thereby limiting their effectiveness in meeting the demands of modern industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The ERA Chair project aims to bridge this gap by developing cutting-edge HTE platforms and leveraging miniaturized reaction technologies to facilitate faster, more efficient chemical experimentation.
Problems and Needs Addressed
The project targets several critical issues in contemporary chemical research:
1. Inefficiency in Traditional Chemical Experimentation: Current methods are often slow and resource-intensive, hindering the rapid development of new compounds.
2. Lack of Integration Between Academic Research and Industry Needs: There is a pressing need for stronger collaboration between academic researchers and industrial partners to ensure that scientific advancements are quickly translated into practical applications.
3. Insufficient Training and Career Development for Young Scientists: Providing comprehensive training and career development opportunities for junior researchers is essential to cultivate the next generation of scientific leaders.
Overall Objectives
1. Establish a High-Throughput Experimentation Center: Develop and equip state-of-the-art laboratories at UPOL to support high-throughput chemical experimentation, thereby increasing the efficiency and scalability of research processes.
2. Foster Interdisciplinary and Industrial Collaborations: Build strong partnerships with local, national, and international research institutions and industries to promote knowledge exchange and collaborative research projects.
3. Advance Career Development for Junior Scientists: Implement robust training programs and mentorship opportunities to enhance the professional development of young researchers, preparing them for successful careers in academia and industry.
4. Enhance Scientific Output and Impact: Achieve high publication rates in leading international journals and present research findings at major scientific conferences to establish UPOL as a leader in chemical research.
Expected Impact
The ERA Chair project is poised to make significant contributions across several domains:
- Scientific Impact: By pioneering advanced HTE technologies, the project will streamline the chemical discovery process, leading to faster development of new compounds and materials.
- Economic Impact: Enhanced collaboration with industry partners will drive innovation, potentially leading to new products and technologies that can stimulate economic growth.
- Societal Impact: Training the next generation of scientists and fostering a culture of innovation will have long-lasting benefits, contributing to the overall advancement of science and technology.
By addressing these challenges and objectives, the ERA Chair project will play a crucial role in transforming UPOL into a hub of excellence in chemical research, ultimately contributing to solving some of the most pressing scientific and industrial problems of our time.
The ERA Chair project was initiated in February 2023 with the primary objective of enhancing the research capabilities and international competitiveness of the Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL) by establishing a world-class research team in the field of high-throughput experimentation (HTE) and miniaturized reaction technologies. The project's context is grounded in the need to address significant scientific and industrial challenges through innovative chemical research and development.
Background and Motivation
In the rapidly evolving landscape of chemical research, there is a growing demand for efficient, high-throughput methodologies that can accelerate the discovery and optimization of new chemical matter. Traditional approaches often involve labor-intensive processes that are not scalable, thereby limiting their effectiveness in meeting the demands of modern industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The ERA Chair project aims to bridge this gap by developing cutting-edge HTE platforms and leveraging miniaturized reaction technologies to facilitate faster, more efficient chemical experimentation.
Problems and Needs Addressed
The project targets several critical issues in contemporary chemical research:
1. Inefficiency in Traditional Chemical Experimentation: Current methods are often slow and resource-intensive, hindering the rapid development of new compounds.
2. Lack of Integration Between Academic Research and Industry Needs: There is a pressing need for stronger collaboration between academic researchers and industrial partners to ensure that scientific advancements are quickly translated into practical applications.
3. Insufficient Training and Career Development for Young Scientists: Providing comprehensive training and career development opportunities for junior researchers is essential to cultivate the next generation of scientific leaders.
Overall Objectives
1. Establish a High-Throughput Experimentation Center: Develop and equip state-of-the-art laboratories at UPOL to support high-throughput chemical experimentation, thereby increasing the efficiency and scalability of research processes.
2. Foster Interdisciplinary and Industrial Collaborations: Build strong partnerships with local, national, and international research institutions and industries to promote knowledge exchange and collaborative research projects.
3. Advance Career Development for Junior Scientists: Implement robust training programs and mentorship opportunities to enhance the professional development of young researchers, preparing them for successful careers in academia and industry.
4. Enhance Scientific Output and Impact: Achieve high publication rates in leading international journals and present research findings at major scientific conferences to establish UPOL as a leader in chemical research.
Expected Impact
The ERA Chair project is poised to make significant contributions across several domains:
- Scientific Impact: By pioneering advanced HTE technologies, the project will streamline the chemical discovery process, leading to faster development of new compounds and materials.
- Economic Impact: Enhanced collaboration with industry partners will drive innovation, potentially leading to new products and technologies that can stimulate economic growth.
- Societal Impact: Training the next generation of scientists and fostering a culture of innovation will have long-lasting benefits, contributing to the overall advancement of science and technology.
By addressing these challenges and objectives, the ERA Chair project will play a crucial role in transforming UPOL into a hub of excellence in chemical research, ultimately contributing to solving some of the most pressing scientific and industrial problems of our time.
The ERA Chair project ACCELERATOR has shown significant progress since its start in February 2023. Despite initial challenges, the project has achieved substantial milestones in the first reporting period (RP1). The project led to the establishment of the Innovative Chemistry group at the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacký University, successful collaborations and several notable scientific contributions.
The Innovative Chemistry group was established under the leadership of Professor Alexander Dömling, who relocated from the Netherlands to Olomouc. The group now includes one senior researcher, five postdocs, seven PhD students, and two undergraduate students. Of these, the senior researcher, three postdocs and two PhD students are supported by the ACCELERATOR project. Three of four planned laboratories are already fully operational. Despite delays in reconstruction of the laboratories and the recruitment process, significant progress has been made in developing high-throughput chemistry platforms. Collaborative projects with CATRIN-IMTM have already yielded active compounds.
Active collaborations have been initiated with various local and international research groups, including the three research divisions of CATRIN, namely CATRIN-IMTM, CATRIN-CRH, and CATRIN-RCPTM. A notable collaboration with Farmak aims to enhance the sustainability of chemical processes for antiviral APIs, potentially leading to new intellectual property and patents. Discussions with other industry leaders like Bayer and SCIEX are underway to explore further collaborative opportunities.
The group has produced 14 research articles, with 10 published in Q1 journals, showcasing the high-impact nature of their research. Of them, 6 publications (4 published in Q1 journals) were supported by ACCELERATOR and acknowledge the support in the paper. This includes pioneering work in covalent inhibitor design and high-throughput chemical synthesis. The group members have actively participated in international conferences and workshops, enhancing the visibility of their research and fostering professional networks. All publications resulting from the ACCELERATOR project are published in open access journals, adhering to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
Regular mentoring sessions and training in essential skills such as presentation techniques and job application strategies are provided to all group members under supervision of Professor Dömling. PhD students and postdocs have secured internships and international research stays, such as a six-month internship at Bayer in Berlin, to gain practical experience and expand their professional networks.
The ERA Chair project continues its journey to success. Upcoming years will focus on fully operationalizing the high-throughput chemistry platforms, expanding industrial collaborations, and maintaining high standards of scientific output and researcher development. Continuous monitoring and adaptive management will ensure the project remains on track to achieve its long-term objectives. In conclusion, the ACCELERATOR project has demonstrated substantial progress and has set a solid foundation for future achievements in synthetic chemistry research, industrial collaborations, the development of a highly skilled research team, and bringing excellence to CATRIN and Palacký University through accelerating the institutional changes.
The Innovative Chemistry group was established under the leadership of Professor Alexander Dömling, who relocated from the Netherlands to Olomouc. The group now includes one senior researcher, five postdocs, seven PhD students, and two undergraduate students. Of these, the senior researcher, three postdocs and two PhD students are supported by the ACCELERATOR project. Three of four planned laboratories are already fully operational. Despite delays in reconstruction of the laboratories and the recruitment process, significant progress has been made in developing high-throughput chemistry platforms. Collaborative projects with CATRIN-IMTM have already yielded active compounds.
Active collaborations have been initiated with various local and international research groups, including the three research divisions of CATRIN, namely CATRIN-IMTM, CATRIN-CRH, and CATRIN-RCPTM. A notable collaboration with Farmak aims to enhance the sustainability of chemical processes for antiviral APIs, potentially leading to new intellectual property and patents. Discussions with other industry leaders like Bayer and SCIEX are underway to explore further collaborative opportunities.
The group has produced 14 research articles, with 10 published in Q1 journals, showcasing the high-impact nature of their research. Of them, 6 publications (4 published in Q1 journals) were supported by ACCELERATOR and acknowledge the support in the paper. This includes pioneering work in covalent inhibitor design and high-throughput chemical synthesis. The group members have actively participated in international conferences and workshops, enhancing the visibility of their research and fostering professional networks. All publications resulting from the ACCELERATOR project are published in open access journals, adhering to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
Regular mentoring sessions and training in essential skills such as presentation techniques and job application strategies are provided to all group members under supervision of Professor Dömling. PhD students and postdocs have secured internships and international research stays, such as a six-month internship at Bayer in Berlin, to gain practical experience and expand their professional networks.
The ERA Chair project continues its journey to success. Upcoming years will focus on fully operationalizing the high-throughput chemistry platforms, expanding industrial collaborations, and maintaining high standards of scientific output and researcher development. Continuous monitoring and adaptive management will ensure the project remains on track to achieve its long-term objectives. In conclusion, the ACCELERATOR project has demonstrated substantial progress and has set a solid foundation for future achievements in synthetic chemistry research, industrial collaborations, the development of a highly skilled research team, and bringing excellence to CATRIN and Palacký University through accelerating the institutional changes.