Project description
Novel anti-parasitic drugs
There is a great unmet medical need for therapeutics against parasite infections such as Chagas disease and leishmaniasis which are caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania species, respectively. These eukaryotic parasites fall under the order of Kinetoplastida and possess a DNA-containing granule known as kinetoplast. Scientists of the EU-funded FEN INHIBITORS project will identify inhibitors of Kinetoplastida flap endonucleases, whose activity is crucial for the survival of all organisms tested so far. The project will undertake a multidisciplinary structure-based approach for the design of inhibitors and perform potency and toxicity studies of candidate molecules.
Objective
We are searching for Kinetoplastida flap endonuclease (FEN) inhibitors as a base for potential therapeutics for parasite infections, for which there is significant unmet clinical need. Kinetoplastida are flagellated protists responsible for 3 neglected human diseases. We will target the FEN enzymes from Trypanasoma cruzi and Leishmania species, the organisms causing Chagas disease and leishmaniaisis respectively. FEN activity is crucial for the survival of all organisms tested so far from mouse to bacteria, including Trypanosoma. We will identify specific inhibitors of Kinetoplastida FENs as the basis for future development of urgently needed new therapeutics. This multidisciplinary structure-based inhibitor design project will involve in vitro and in silico screening, protein crystallization, rounds of inhibitor design and finally in vivo potency and toxicity experiments.
The project will be overseen by Prof Sayers who has 30 years of experience with nucleases and who has founded two spin-out companies. His group is complemented through collaboration with a parasitologist Dr Helen Price (20 years research experience), who has been actively involved in developing antiparasitic agents. The experienced researcher, who has a strong protein biochemistry and crystallography background, is returning to academic research after almost 4 years outside science. Ultimately, the experienced researcher is aspiring to an academic career in translational medicine rooted in state-of-the-art basic research but with the skills and experience to synergise with the pharmaceutical sector.
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
S10 2TN SHEFFIELD
United Kingdom
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.