“Blocking the aggregation promoting ATXN1Q82-MED15 protein-protein interaction". Spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant and lethal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive movement disorders. It belongs to the group of polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases. It is caused by trinucleotide (CAG) expansions in the coding region of ataxin-1 (ATXN1) gene resulting in polyQ chains in the relevant protein. The mutant protein misfolds into toxic oligomers and forms intranuclear aggregates that cause neurodegeneration in the cerebellum. We aim to identify the exact PPI site between ATXN1 and MED15 and block it with chemical compounds having a similar structure. These compounds may also suppress polyQ protein aggregation and reduce cytotoxicity. To minimize the experimental workload, we are going to use a combination of computational and experimental techniques. First, we aim to predict the ATXN1-MED15 PPI site using a protein-protein docking algorithm. This prediction will be validated in a quantitative cell-based PPI assay. Then, we are going to perform a virtual screening and select chemical compounds that have similar structure to the ATXN1-MED15 PPI site. These compounds will be tested whether they block ATXN1-MED15 PPI in cell-based assays. Finally, hit compounds will be tested whether they suppress MED15-mediated ATXN1Q82 protein aggregation in a novel stem cell model using automated high-content screening. We expect that compounds blocking ATXN1-MED15 PPI would also suppress polyQ protein aggregation in primary human cells. Such compounds would be candidates for the development of novel anti-aggregating drugs in polyQ diseases.
PrescIT project’s main objective is the implementation, evaluation and dissemination of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) platform for better, safer, standardized and cost-effective ePrescribing, initially at a national and future international level. The ultimate goals of the project are to speed up the process of medication prescription, and to increase productivity, through the use of indications and recommendations based on the history of active concomitant diseases, while at the same time, one of the main goals is to reduce errors, and consequently the safest administration of drugs via a systematic approach to check indications, contraindications and drug-drug interactions.
The project “Take-A-Breath” aims to design, research and development of an innovative system of personalized monitoring services for respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma) that takes into account cutting-edge clinical research and the emergence of new bio-indicators, with innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as gamification techniques. Specifically, it enables the guidance of patients to manage their own health, by providing user-friendly tools and applications to raise awareness to patients regarding the clinical implications of their status and to monitor their adherence to treatment and medication plan. In particular, the work focuses on clinical research of new biomarkers associated with respiratory diseases, by examining a wide range of behavioral, environmental, and psychosocial parameters. In addition, the project adopts and develops an ambitious and innovative approach to monitor the use of inhaled respiratory medicine, combined with training procedures, through a holistic approach to self-management, medical assistance and self-improvement. On this basis, a bio-surveillance network with capacity to adapt to any drug inhalation device will be developed using non-intrusive sensors.
PVClinical aims to develop an online platform to facilitate and automate the implementation of Pharmacovigilance procedures, with particular emphasis on exploring potential Adverse Drug Reaction signals and focusing on integrating such processes into the clinical environment. Nevertheless, the PVClinical platform is not limited to the clinical environment, as it can be exploited by Contract Research Organizations and the pharma industry studying drug safety issues, as well as regulatory authorities such as the Greek National Medicines Agency, or the European Medicines Agency.
The eHealth lab of INAB|CERTH is in a long-term active collaboration scheme with Papageorgiou General Hospital (PGH) in terms of getting value out of healthcare data produced during healthcare (a.k.a. “Real-World Data” – RWD). To this end, the vast PGH data warehouse containing data of more than 1.4M patients have been converted to OMOP-CDM format and is actively used in the context of international studies.
The eCAN project is an EU joint-action aiming to provide a framework of recommendations for the integration of telemedicine and remote monitoring in health care systems. The main objective is to reduce cancer care inequalities across the European Union and to improve effectiveness, efficiency and quality in the prevention and cancer care, particularly during cross-border emergencies and health crises, such as COVID-19.
PEDRO is a platform supporting the management of the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) occurring during the management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients by facilitating seamless communication between physicians and a specialized support team. To this end, PEDRO provides and ADR management digital platform connecting physicians and experts through peer-to-peer communication, enabling optimal ADR management decisions.
smartHEALTH offers digital transformation consulting services to private and public sector actors in the broader healthcare ecosystem. It focuses on the needs of: a) companies active in the fields of eHealth, medical and biomedical informatics, bioimaging, diagnostics and drug design, b) the pharmaceutical industry, c) healthcare organizations (hospitals, medical and diagnostic centers, primary care, social and elderly care, etc.), d) professional health care organizations, e) public health authorities, f) patient associations g) regulatory authorities, h) insurance companies and others.
The project's aim is to disseminate the knowledge generated by the Institute of Agrobiotechnology in Thessaloniki to the cross-border cooperation area through a series of innovative technology transfer events. The topic is that of Agricultural Genomics and the field of application that of dairy products and milk production with focus to the area of Rodopi. The Exhibition Research Institute will use its experience to develop new forms of events in order to bridge the gap between the research community, the agriculturalists and the younger generation of farmers as they will be represented by the Bulgarian National Association "Mountains' Milk." The recent advances in agrobiotechnology actually change the way that the food change and industry will walk in the future. It also influences the way that the consumers perceive food and the way of distributing and marketing the food into the market.
Careful collection of seeds of the local populations of giants and elephants will be done by traditional and diligent growers of the area. From the genetic material that will be collected, two experimental fields of selection and observation will be installed in the area. Experimental fields will be isolated from other crops to avoid accidental crossbreeding. The improvement works will eventually create two new populations (varieties), which will have the characteristics of the old local populations of the area, improved in terms of the appearance of their seeds and improved in terms of their productivity.
The aim of the research project is to restore the genetic purity and improve the local population of beans "giants" Prespa Florina and the local population of beans "elephants" Prespa Florina so that the new populations (varieties) of the resulting populations will have all the characteristics of the region, improved in the appearance of their seeds (color, shape, size) to be such that is sought after by the market and improved in their productivity in fruit.
Provision of cultivation services on the farm of KETHEA ITHACA
The purpose of the GrEaTest is to improve the local population of beans "Giants" Prespa and the local population of beans "Elephants" Prespa by using new cultivation techniques and also new - omic technologies so that the new populations (varieties) will have all the characteristics that will emerge of traditional indigenous peoples without foreign involvement and to be entered in the National and Community Catalog of Varieties to protect themselves from future risks of genetic mixing and loss.
The originality of BIOPROSPECT relies on promoting the use of a cross-border bioprospect assessment methodological framework and economic valuation model. The main aims of the project are to explore and document the bioprospects of forested protected areas and the ways of sustainable capitalization as a mean for their wise management and conservation. --to encourage cooperation partnerships and networking among economic development planners and PA managers, to develop a cross-border bioprospect assessment methodological framework and economic valuation model in order to achieve outcomes which benefit both economic development and conservation.
Local products contribute to the adoption of the 'identity' of an area, creating links between the products, the characteristics and the culture of the place of production, thus highlighting the local 'agri-food' heritage, which is particularly important for the geographical areas of the North Aegean and οf Cyprus. Recently consumers turn to local - traditional products, with unique and special quality characteristics. Increasing the demand for such products is an economic opportunity for areas able to properly differentiate their products by utilizing the endogenous potential of the place for their production and promotion. This interest, however, is often exploited as there are products that appear on the market as local-traditional without actually being. Scientific documentation of the authenticity of local products in relation to the characteristics and place of production, both for certified (PDO, PGI, EIA, OPAP) and for non-certified products, is an immediate priority of the cross-border area as it can be a key for growth. The aim of the AGRO-IDENTITY project is to enhance the competitiveness of agri-food companies by identifying the authenticity of local traditional products in the cross-border area and building mechanisms to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship for their commercial use in domestic and international markets. The innovative approach of the project is based on the combined use of: a) Genetic identity, b) Isotopic footprint and c) Microbial profile, which makes it possible to verify the authenticity in relation to the characteristics of products.
The biotechnology of microalgae has gained considerable importance in recent decades, as they represent a largely untapped reservoir of novel and valuable bioactive compounds. The biological and chemical diversity of the microalgae, has been the source of unique bioactive molecules with the potential for industrial development as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutritional supplements. The proposed project will combine both basic and applied research in the fields of –omics technologies, biochemistry, applied and enzyme biotechnology in order to exploit microalgae resources for the development: 1) Natural UV sunscreens, based on algae mycosporine-like aminoacids, 2) Algae-based nutraceuticals as functional foods and food supplements, 3) Algae-derived proteases with applications in cosmetic (skin repair enzymes) and food industry. The implementation of the project will offer to the involved academic and SMSs the opportunity to translate scientific research into well defined knowledge-based ‘green’ products and analytical tools. Apart from scientific objectives, the project will enhance the European’s capacity in the field of Blue Growth and Marine Biotechnology by exchanging interdisciplinary knowledge, developing and disseminating joint research activities, thus strengthening the intersectoral links between academia and industry for sustainable growth.
Plants are essential for many aspects of our daily lives as they provide food, medicines, and construction materials. Plants also affect us negatively through pollen and resulting allergies, poisonous species in gardens and pastures and as adulterants in herbal medicines, and as invasive aliens in marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Understanding and valorising botanical biodiversity requires accurate, modern and rapid assessment approaches. Plant diversity worldwide is under threat from destruction of natural habitats due to human population growth related consequences as well as climate change impacts on sensitive ecosystems. It is in our capacity to study, map and describe this diversity, and plant systematics and taxonomy has suffered from a loss of research and institutional funds as research has become more competitive and taxonomy was considered too descriptive to compete with emerging fundamental research. In taxonomy, a point has been reached where more and more taxonomists are working from retirement, and knowledge is lost when experts retire without transmitting their experience-gained knowledge to a younger generation. Natural History Museums and Botanic Gardens risk becoming barren repositories of past diversity and associated knowledge.
The project aims at enhancing the cultivation of mastic trees for mastic gum production, located in the southern part of the island of Chios, with new elements using innovative molecular methods.
Τhe present research proposal aims firstly to the traceability of Greek olive varieties, in order to certify the origin of the final products and, secondly, to the development and application of modern analytical techniques in order to ensure the quality of edible olives (using an alkaline solution or treatment with brine) and the documentation of the health claim for oils that meet the criteria of the EFSA, with aim the protection of consumers from false or misleading labels in olive products and olive oil.
Legumes4Proteins proposes, adopts and implements a holistic approach of the production of leguminous legumes in combination with their use in animal nutrition in order to replace soybeans. The project plan includes exploitation and evaluation of genetic material, collection of lupine populations from regions of Greece and their comparative evaluation with commercial varieties. This material will be used by the Genetic Material Bank of ELGO Demeter.
Aim of the project will be to evaluate the agronomic and quality characteristics in 143 foreign and Greek cultivars of peach, nectarine, cherry, apple and pear, that are established in an experimental orchard. Canning peach is a fruit of great economic importance for our country; however, production is based on 8 cultivars in which there are several mutations. Aim of this project will be to isolate mutations with improved characteristics, perform phenotypic and genotypic characterization and to create parental collections for obtaining budding sticks. The second participant company in the project is the canning association ‘DELKOF SA’, which represent a cluster of canning industries and will benefit from the availability of better quality fruit material to produce quality products and extend their operations.
