2020 marks the end of the implementation period of the Horizon 2020 SupraChem Lab ERA Chair initiative. In just five years, the project has reached its main objective - the creation of a group of young researchers in the field of supramolecular chemistry with applications in nanomedicine in the Macromolecular Chemistry Institute Petru Poni, Iasi, Romania.
Financed by the European Union under the ERA Chair Initiative Horizon 2020 H2020-WIDESPREAD-2014-2 CONTRACT NO 667387, the project has successly concluded under the attentive guidance of Prof. Emeritus Dr. Marc JM Abadie University of Montpellier. During this period, 28 young researchers had been given the opportunity to receive a head start in applying the insights of supramolecular chemistry to biomedical applications such as gene therapy, mechanisms of transport through tissues, supramolecular non-viral vector, DNA transfection, hydrogels for drug delivery, tissue engineering, stimuli responsive polymers, anti-microbial agents and markers for diagnostics.
Over the past five years, SupraChem Lab accomplished: (i) Publications: 73 articles, one book and 3 book chapters; (ii) Conferences: 9 scientific meetings organised within the project and participation in 145 international meetings; (iii) Networking: 11 networking events organised within the project and 52 external events etc.
Looking to the future: SupraChem lab has made a solid start in its five years of existence, managing to find ways to self-sustain and grow. Several prestigious names from both scientific and policy making sectors have been linked to SupraChem Lab. In the long term, our research will help in gene therapy, drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial agents, and markers for diagnostics. Overall, the exploitation of results from this project, can lead to the creation of new products, patents, further research, policy impact etc.