The THERACAT Network was fully established after the gender-balanced recruitment of 13 Early Stage Researchers (54% women – 46% men) and the formation of management structures and boards. A THERACAT webpage was launched that has been continuously updated all along the project (
https://theracat.eu/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)) and a Twitter account was also launched (@theracatEU). Network Meetings have been conducted once a year and attended by ESRs and supervisors, with some extra meetings such the Midterm check Meeting with the Project Officer and a meeting for the ESRs to address COVID-19 pandemic related issues and promote collaboration.
At the training level, five Training Events have been organized, including lectures from supervisors as well as from external invited experts: (1) How to plan and start a PhD (M12); (2) Chemical synthesis and catalysis (M18); (3) Drug delivery and microscopy (M24); (4) Going in vivo, chemistry and cancer biology (M30); (5) Getting ready for the next career step (M36). All ESRs prepared their Personal Career Development Plans which have been updated yearly, finishing with a Personal Employment Plan. Moreover, assessment of ESRs has been performed every 6 months by the corresponding Assessment Commissions formed by supervisors from the Network having different profiles (academia/industry). Few secondments were also implemented but, unfortunately, they had to be finished earlier than planned due to COVID-19 outbreak. Alternative virtual activities were offered to the ESRs.
At the scientific level, the initial work performed allowed to obtain key tools necessary that are now available or almost complete, including: microscopy methods (IBEC-TUE), pro-dyes and pro-drugs (TUE, EDI), catalysts (BAS, GRO, TEVA), catalytic nanoparticles (TAU, TUE) and in vitro (BGX) and in vivo (TAG, TAU) methods. In the last period the combination of such elements started to give relevant results for the consortium. The imaging techniques developed have been applied to the study of the synthesized nanoparticles providing information about their behavior in vitro and in cells. Moreover, the catalysts screening led to the first hits and the selected catalysts are under implementation on the nanoparticles developed in the different nodes. A key discovery made at EDI has led to a patent in which an ESR is co-inventor.
At the dissemination level, ESRs have been actively involved presenting these results in international conferences, seminars and workshops, publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles, and participating in the THERACAT Final Conference. Moreover, results of the Network and its scientific approach have been also communicated to the general public through a video made by the ESRs, general press articles and participation of the ESRs in outreach activities of their institutions.
