Project description
Advancing artificial cells
To understand the complexity of cells and the dynamics of cellular processes, researchers have designed artificial cells that mimic biological functions such as metabolism and growth. Artificial cells represent a fascinating intersection of biology, chemistry and engineering, but given that natural cells exist in multicellular systems such as tissues, there is a need to shift research towards interdependent populations. Funded by the European Research Council, the PRO-ARTIS project aims to develop artificial cell populations that can interact with their counterparts using a new platform for dynamic protein exchange. Apart from fundamental insight into multicellular processes, this study has the potential to advance synthetic biology and biomedicine.
Objective
Artificial cells are soft matter, micron-sized compartments that display features which are normally associated with living cells only. These include aspects such as metabolism, growth and communication. Artificial cell research is motivated by the fact that the creation of synthetic compartments with lifelike features leads to a better understanding of the complexity of living cells and to the ability to design systems with interactive behavior. Research has until now been mostly focused on the development of individual artificial cells. However, in biology living cells don’t act fully independently; their behavior is much affected by the proximity of other cells. Cells therefore display interdependence for both single cell populations of bacteria and for more strongly integrated multicellular systems such as tissues.
With PRO-ARTIS I aim to explore a new direction in artificial cell research, by creating artificial cell populations with interdependent and autonomous function. To achieve this goal I will optimally benefit from our recently developed artificial cell platform that allows the dynamic uptake and release of proteins. This is a powerful method for the exchange of active components that can be employed in process regulation. This investigation is of great interest as it allows me to take the functional integration of different artificial cells to an advanced level. From a fundamental point of view, this will shed more light on how natural multicellular processes are governed. It furthermore provides exciting opportunities to develop concepts that can be translated to a next generation of dynamic soft matter systems. I furthermore aim to functionally integrate artificial and living cells. This ambitious objective addresses an underexplored area in synthetic biology with much potential in biomedicine. If the challenging task of integration succeeds, I have developed a technology that directs and modulates biological processes with unprecedented precision.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.