0-TESTO COMPLETO.pdf - Fondazione Santa Lucia

ERANET – Calcium homeostasis dysfunction and mitochondrial damage in Alzheimer’s and…
Synaptopathies and neurodegeneration are a large topic, on which it would
indeed have been possible to construct a very large Consortium with repetitive
know-how.
The aim of the present proposal has instead been to integrate the specific
technological and conceptual knowledge, and research tools available of a
group of Laboratories. It was felt that this would have increased the probability
of generating substantial progress. Thus, the work foreseen will use first
rate expertise in the generation and use of transgenic mice, in imaging technology,
in the cellular and subcellular biochemistry of signaling functions,
and in the area of mitochondrial bioenergetics. The Consortium will be coordinated
in a way that will promote as much as possible the continuous
exchange of information and materials, also in the form of frequent short
reciprocal visits by members of the Units involved, to perform targeted work
and/or discuss results. Emphasis will also be placed on educational aspects,
i.e., on short stays of junior members in other Units to acquire technological
knowledge and develop personal ties. It is predicted that at least once a year a
communal outing will be organized in which senior, but especially junior
members of the Consortium will formally present the recent results of the collaborative
work. As mentioned elsewhere in this application, a webpage will
be organized that will inform colleagues at large on the progress of research
by the Consortium.
ADDED VALUE OF THE PROPOSED COLLABORATION
We will combine outstanding groups from Italy, Great Britain, Spain and
Sweden in a single network. The current research aims and methodological
competences of the participating partners are sufficiently closely related for
there to be worthwhile and productive interactions, and still sufficiently different
for the Era-Net Neuron network to stimulate novel, strong and creative
synergies. Transfer of technologies between our partners and the direct project
collaborations will undoubtedly fertilize the participating groups and
strengthen the European research community in neurodegeneration as a
whole. In conjunction with meetings of the partners we will hold open lectures
where we will transfer unpublished knowledge to outside the Network
in the participating centers, and thereby give added value to research in the
European countries. Furthermore, when space is available, we will open
training workshops to young scientists not connected to partner groups. We
will have a webpage that posts the latest scientific news and puts European
research into neurodegeneration at the global center stage.
Together with the top-class research papers that our collaborative network
shall generate, we are convinced that the aforementioned measures will
positively improve the visibility and competitiveness of European molecular
research into neurodegeneration. Thereby it will stimulate further international
collaboration, both with other European partners and from other continents,
and aid in the recruitment of young promising scientists. Naturally
access to top applicants for, e.g., post-doc positions, will be an important positive
added value for members of the network, which also will benefit their
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