Objective
We propose to undertake an ambitious 5-year multidisciplinary programme that seeks to pioneer and establish a fundamentally new paradigm in protolife research that is based on novel conceptual and experimental advances in the design and construction of rudimentary forms of synthetic cell-like micro-ensembles (protocells). Our approach is positioned at the interface between materials chemistry, soft matter science and synthetic biology, and will address the following aspects of protocell design and construction: (i) functional complexity in protocell phenotypes, (ii) protocell self-structuring and metamorphosis, (iii) multi-compartmentalization and protocell endosymbiosis, and (iv) collective behavior in protocell communities. We will initiate unprecedented increases in the complexity of individual protocells by developing new types of structural architectures with advanced functions including photosynthetic protocells and motile proteinosomes, and develop innovative strategies for the chemical secretion of spatially extended extra-protocellular hydrogel matrices and induction of protocell metamorphosis. We will develop a modular micro-engineering approach to protocell multi-compartmentalization with the aim of generating coordinated enzyme- and gene-activated endosymbiotic interactions, and pioneer the experimental study of collective behaviour in communities of synthetic protocells. Our overall aim is to pioneer a modern approach to synthetic cellularity that advances the chemical and physical basis of protocell structure and function, and spearheads the development of future technologies based on autonomously functioning chemical micro-compartments with applications in bioinspired micro-storage and delivery, micro-reactor technologies, cytomimetic engineering, and the development of integrated constructs for diverse procedures in synthetic biology.
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.
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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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) ERC-2016-ADG
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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.
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
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.