Final Activity Report Summary - CERMAV-TRAIN (Glycosciences training at CERMAV)
The objective of the project was to train Early Stage Researchers in the field of Glycosciences. Glycoscience is a term used to describe all the areas which relate to complex carbohydrates, their synthesis and biosynthesis, analysis, function and applications. Glycoscience, the study of complex carbohydrates, is now recognised as an important discipline which impacts on many different areas of current scientific, nutritional, and biomedical research. General interest and realisation of the importance of its role in many biological processes and its possible applications in medicine for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is at last apparent. However, recent advances in analytical procedures, carbohydrate chemistry, molecular biology, structural biology and transgenics have made the discipline more accessible and understandable for the wider scientific community.
Glycosylation is a major and the most complex post translational event and as such is dynamic in Nature. Its importance in signalling events of the immune system and developmental biology is only now becoming fully appreciated. It is one of the key identifiers of the cell, organ or individual and carbohydrates are increasingly used as biomarkers for diverse diagnostic purposes ranging from cancer diagnostics to detection of alcohol abuse (CDT test) to identification of viral and bacterial infections. A promise of glycoscience is that it may be applied to the control of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in development or disease and that it could lead to greater precision and specificity in drug targeting. The potential for Glycoscience in the area of medicine was also recently highlighted in an European Science Foundation policy briefing. This considered the potential impact of structural medicine with a focus on glycan and glycoscience and concluded 'To further develop diagnostic tools, preventive medicines (vaccines) and therapeutic drugs, a better understanding of the structural basis of glycosylated molecules is required.' Apart from the traditional applications of Glycosciences in the field of material sciences and food industry, new perspectives are foreseen in the area of "Green Chemistry and Sustainable Development".
Whilst important discoveries have been made in the individual disciplines of glycoscience, it is generally recognised that future successes will rely on large interdisciplinary consortia which have sufficient tools and resources to address the complex questions that lie ahead. For example, grom our current state of knowledge, it is apparent that a true understanding of the role of glycosylation in complex biological systems will rely on close collaboration between physical scientists skilled in glycoscience technologies and scientist working in cell biology and medicine. Among the many expected outcomes from such an understanding, the development of new carbohydrate based therapeutics will occur, targeting at diseases such as infectious diseases, bacterial, parasitic and viral infections, along with vaccines. Translating such knowledge into a viable economy requires, among other, an appropriate and innovative training program at the interface of many disciplines. Such a multidisciplinary training program was the main objective of the project.
During this period 26 Early Stage Trainees (ESR) were hosted by the research training site. 11 ESR were recruited for periods up to three years for a grand total of 216 months; they belong to six European countries, and four non-European countries. 14 ESR were offered 3 month periods of training; they belong to 8 different Europeans countries. The gender ratio is 18 females versus 8 males. 11 PhD theses were completed and defended; fifteen PhD theses are still to be completed. At the present time, 27 articles involving the ESRs have been published in peer reviewed international journals. About 20 more articles will be published. 2 patents were issued during this period. 8 of the ESRs, whom benefited from the training program, hold permanent positions in academia or in industry. The declared total budget of 1 122 905.62 EUR is within 98% in agreement with the original budget
Glycosylation is a major and the most complex post translational event and as such is dynamic in Nature. Its importance in signalling events of the immune system and developmental biology is only now becoming fully appreciated. It is one of the key identifiers of the cell, organ or individual and carbohydrates are increasingly used as biomarkers for diverse diagnostic purposes ranging from cancer diagnostics to detection of alcohol abuse (CDT test) to identification of viral and bacterial infections. A promise of glycoscience is that it may be applied to the control of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in development or disease and that it could lead to greater precision and specificity in drug targeting. The potential for Glycoscience in the area of medicine was also recently highlighted in an European Science Foundation policy briefing. This considered the potential impact of structural medicine with a focus on glycan and glycoscience and concluded 'To further develop diagnostic tools, preventive medicines (vaccines) and therapeutic drugs, a better understanding of the structural basis of glycosylated molecules is required.' Apart from the traditional applications of Glycosciences in the field of material sciences and food industry, new perspectives are foreseen in the area of "Green Chemistry and Sustainable Development".
Whilst important discoveries have been made in the individual disciplines of glycoscience, it is generally recognised that future successes will rely on large interdisciplinary consortia which have sufficient tools and resources to address the complex questions that lie ahead. For example, grom our current state of knowledge, it is apparent that a true understanding of the role of glycosylation in complex biological systems will rely on close collaboration between physical scientists skilled in glycoscience technologies and scientist working in cell biology and medicine. Among the many expected outcomes from such an understanding, the development of new carbohydrate based therapeutics will occur, targeting at diseases such as infectious diseases, bacterial, parasitic and viral infections, along with vaccines. Translating such knowledge into a viable economy requires, among other, an appropriate and innovative training program at the interface of many disciplines. Such a multidisciplinary training program was the main objective of the project.
During this period 26 Early Stage Trainees (ESR) were hosted by the research training site. 11 ESR were recruited for periods up to three years for a grand total of 216 months; they belong to six European countries, and four non-European countries. 14 ESR were offered 3 month periods of training; they belong to 8 different Europeans countries. The gender ratio is 18 females versus 8 males. 11 PhD theses were completed and defended; fifteen PhD theses are still to be completed. At the present time, 27 articles involving the ESRs have been published in peer reviewed international journals. About 20 more articles will be published. 2 patents were issued during this period. 8 of the ESRs, whom benefited from the training program, hold permanent positions in academia or in industry. The declared total budget of 1 122 905.62 EUR is within 98% in agreement with the original budget