ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR STRUCTURE-BASED DRUG TARGET CHARACTERIZATION: STRENGTHENING THE RESEARCH CAPACITY OF SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

Objective

SEE-DRUG’s Major Aim is to strengthen and broaden the scientific reach and socio-economic impact of the University of Patras (UPAT) through the creation of a Regional Centre of Excellence for Structural Biology that emphasizes the characterization and development of bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential.
SEE-DRUG takes advantage of UPAT’s pivotal strength and growth potential of Structural Biology and combines it with high-quality, multidisciplinary scientific expertise in Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biology & Bioinformatics. The SEE-DRUG project will enable: (a) the Protein Production group to efficiently produce and characterize protein drug-targets for structural analysis and drug development efforts, (b) the Structural Biology group to perform high-resolution structure determination, through time- and cost-effective NMR-based, cutting-edge techniques, and (c) the Pharmacology group to characterize lead therapeutic molecules in a comprehensive array of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo systems.
The long-term benefits of SEE-DRUG implementation will manifest on 3 levels: (a) the pooling of scientific expertise & the upgrading of infrastructure within UPAT, (b) the optimal integration of UPAT’s Structural Biology in ERA through the establishment of long-lasting partnerships, (c) the creation of a solid scientific platform that will become a pole for therapeutic biomolecule-oriented Structural Biology in Greece and in SouthEastern EU, and (d) the exchange of expertise (via twinning actions with 8 EU partnering organizations) and the building of networks with other scientists and technology end-users at a regional or local level, including the bio-pharmaceutical industry. Last, but not least, such a state-of-the-art Centre will create a number of positions for highly skilled scientists and thus enhance scientific and economic growth both at a local and at a regional level, which will hopefully be sustained for years to come.

Fields of science

• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › pharmacology and pharmacy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• natural sciences › biological sciences › molecular biology › structural biology

Programme(s)

• FP7-REGPOT - Specific Programme "Capacities": Research potential of Convergence Regions

Topic(s)

• REGPOT-2011-1 - Any research topic covered by the EU FP7

Call for proposal

FP7-REGPOT-2011-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CSA-SA - Support actions

Coordinator

PANEPISTIMIO PATRON

Address

University Campus Rio Patras
265 04 Rio Patras
Greece

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 3 199 527

Administrative Contact

Georgios A. Spyroulias (Prof.)