Project description
Advancing human microbiome studies in North Africa
The analysis of the human microbiome is a rising research field of considerable importance in health and disease. However, while there are significant advances in human microbiome characterisation in Europe, very few studies have been carried out in North Africa. The EU-funded MICAfrica project will support the University of Sfax (USFAX) in Tunisia in developing skills in human microbiome analysis and becoming a leading force in the region. The project will connect USFAX to the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Aix-Marseille University in France, and the University of Florence in Italy; the collaboration will help the USFAX to increase its staff's technological capabilities, adopt standardised methods for collecting samples and analysing data and establish a consortium based on existing collaborations in Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
Objective
TheThe analysis of the human microbiome (genome of memberThe analysis of the human microbiome (genome of members of microbiota that is composed of billions of micro-organisms) is an emerging research area of considerable interest in human health and diseases. Disruption of the microbial community is a major risk factor for many diseases such as metabolic syndrome, immune disorders, cancer development, and is linked to limited response to treatment.
In the last decade, numerous initiatives and projects were launched to take advantage of new, high-throughput technologies to characterize the human microbiome and to explore its relationship with health/diseases. Also concrete actions were engaged to provide a tangible response to the need to standardize and harmonize study methods and protocols, as well as regulations.
Despite the increasing number of European and International initiatives on human microbiome, very few studies have been carried out in North Africa (NA). Therefore, there is an urgent need in NA for the development of skills in human microbiome analysis.
With the support of the EU partners (Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Jouy en Josas and Aix Marseille University () from France and Florence University (UNIFI) from Italy), USFAX, aims to be a leading force in the region by: (i) increasing its staff capacities using new technological approaches such as Shotgun metagenome sequencing for the analysis of the human microbiome (ii) adopting a standardized approaches for collecting samples and analyzing data (iii) setting up and coordinating a consortium on human microbiomeat NA level building to start with on existing collaborations with Morocco, Algeria and Egypt that we have named “the North African Human Microbiome Consortium” (NAHMC).
The MICAfrica objectives would be achieved through implementation of vertical coordination and support measures related to the definition of a scientific strategy for human and capital capacity building.
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 microbiomes
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.4.b. - Twinning of research institutions
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
CSA - Coordination and support action
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020
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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.
3029 Sfax
Tunisia
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.