Project description DEENESFRITPL Directed protein evolution in the blink of an eye Natural evolution took billions of years to generate the macromolecules we know today through cycles of mutation and selection. Mimicking this process in the lab has the potential to produce novel proteins or enzymes of interest for industrial and medical applications. To achieve this, the EU-funded EVOdrops project proposes to introduce a rapid method of genetic diversity generation alongside a microfluidics-based approach for screening and selecting enzyme variants of interest. The project brings together experts in the field of protein engineering and microfluidics who will train young researchers in biotechnology and biomedical applications. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Natural evolution is a powerful process that has given rise to the functionally diverse set of proteins present in all living systems. Repetitive rounds of mutation, selection and amplification have optimised nature’s catalysts, the enzymes, to perform an enormous range of different reactions. However, natural evolution has driven the optimisation of enzymes subjected to living functions of microorganisms, according to ill-defined and fluctuating external conditions and is not suitablefor industrial processes since it lacks of control of selection pressure. In EVOdrops, we will use directed evolution to overcome these limitations. It is a synthetic, man-made approach of evolution, aiming at improving living systems based on predefined needs, controlling the external selection pressure. While natural evolution took billions of years to optimisemacromolecules, directed evolution – to be efficient in an industrial process – requires both the generation of genetic diversity and ultra-high throughput screening capabilities to recover the variants of interest. We will develop and optimise these tools using the ground-breaking potential of droplet-based microfluidics for high-throughput experimentation and thefine control of gene library construction. EVOdrops, a European training network, will bring together the leading research scientists, laboratories and industries in Europe with outstanding expertise in protein engineering and microfluidics and 13 early stage researchers. We will offer an extensive multi- and interdisciplinary training to ensure that they can solve these urgent and unmet challenges in biotechnology and biomedicine. We will use a multidisciplinary approach combining soft matter, microfluidics and chemical biology to design solutions for the selection of new enzymes of industrial and therapeutic interest. In the future, our approaches can be generalised to challenges involving high-throughput miniaturised biochemical or cell-based assays. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Keywords droplet microfluidics directed evolution microsystems large libraries protein engineering Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers Topic(s) MSCA-ITN-2018 - Innovative Training Networks Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW Net EU contribution € 606 345,12 Address UNIVERSITY AVENUE G12 8QQ Glasgow United Kingdom See on map Region Scotland West Central Scotland Glasgow City Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 606 345,12 Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 527 543,58 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 527 543,58 VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETAS Lithuania Net EU contribution € 223 947,00 Address UNIVERSITETO G. 3 01513 Vilnius See on map Region Lietuva Sostinės regionas Vilniaus apskritis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 223 947,00 TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany Net EU contribution € 252 788,40 Address Arcisstrasse 21 80333 Muenchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 252 788,40 EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Switzerland Net EU contribution € 281 276,64 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 281 276,64 INSTYTUT CHEMII FIZYCZNEJ POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK Poland Net EU contribution € 227 478,60 Address KASPRZAKA 44/52 01224 Warszawa See on map Region Makroregion województwo mazowieckie Warszawski stołeczny Miasto Warszawa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 227 478,60 UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN Belgium Net EU contribution € 256 320,00 Address PLACE DE L UNIVERSITE 1 1348 Louvain La Neuve See on map Region Région wallonne Prov. Brabant Wallon Arr. Nivelles Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 256 320,00 UNIVERSITE PARIS CITE France Net EU contribution € 274 802,04 Address 85 BD SAINT GERMAIN 75006 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 274 802,04 THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 303 172,56 Address TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 303 172,56 BIOMILLENIA France Net EU contribution € 274 802,04 Address 102 AVENUE GASTON ROUSSEL BIOCITECH 93230 Romainville See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Seine-Saint-Denis Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 274 802,04 UAB THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC BALTICS Lithuania Net EU contribution € 223 947,00 Address V.Graiciuno 8 02241 Vilnius See on map Region Lietuva Sostinės regionas Vilniaus apskritis Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 223 947,00 Partners (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. SPHERE FLUIDICS LIMITED United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address THE MCCLINTOCK BUILDING, GRANTA PARK CB21 6GP Great Abington Cambridgeshire See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. BLACKTRACE HOLDINGS LIMITED United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address JARMAN WAY 27 SG8 5HW Royston See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region East of England Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. DROP-TECH LTD United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Canterbury Street, Canterbury Court 91 CB4 3QU Cambridge See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. MICROFLUIDIC CHIPSHOP GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address STOCKHOLMER STRASSE 20 07747 Jena See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Thüringen Thüringen Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. BASF SE Germany Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address CARL BOSCH STRASSE 38 67063 Ludwigshafen Am Rhein See on map Region Rheinland-Pfalz Rheinhessen-Pfalz Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG Hong Kong Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Pokfulam Road Pokfulam See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. ECOLE SUPERIEURE DE PHYSIQUE ET DECHIMIE INDUSTRIELLES DE LA VILLE DEPARIS France Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address RUE VAUQUELIN 10 75231 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 1350 02138 Cambridge See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data