Project description
Harnessing extremophiles for innovative healthcare
Extremophiles are microorganisms that thrive in harsh environments such as hot springs and the deep ocean, where most life cannot survive. Traditional biological systems often fail under such conditions, particularly in places where medicines degrade quickly. Harnessing extremophiles for medicines or food offers great potential, but also poses challenges. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EEBio project will explore these organisms’ unique adaptations to develop novel healthcare technologies. It will study their survival mechanisms and genetically modify them for applications such as therapies or sensors, designing accessible technologies for broad use.
Objective
Extremophiles are extraordinary microbes that thrive in some of the harshest conditions on Earth – they can be found in the Yellowstone hot springs, at the deepest points in our oceans, underneath the ice caps in Antarctica and even in normal soil in our cities. These remarkable creatures have unique physiological features that allow them to survive and function where most other life forms cannot. My research aims to uncover these special adaptations and utilise them to develop new healthcare technologies. Traditional biological systems (involving normal cells) struggle to operate in harsh environments which include remote areas of our planet, least developed/developing countries and outer space. For example, medicines degrade faster in the high-radiation and low-gravity conditions of space. So, if they can be made by the extremophiles that can survive the harsh conditions in space, we can take extremophiles instead! However, programming extremophiles to make medicines or food can be challenging - I want to overcome some of these through this fellowship. I plan on studying these organisms in detail to understand their unique survival mechanisms. Then, I will choose combinations to focus on, and genetically modify the extremophiles for specific applications (e.g. therapeutic or sensing). Lastly, I will design this technology such that it can be used easily by everyone – particularly those without a science/research background. I have expertise in developing similar technologies from my PhD in Astropharmacy (University of Nottingham) and more recently through my postdoctoral work (Imperial College London). During my PhD, I developed and tested new technologies, including an experiment that will be sent to space next year. Skills from both these experiences will be crucial in achieving this project's multidisciplinary goals and unlocking new possibilities for healthcare in extreme environments and equitable healthcare for those in low resource environments.
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
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.