Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.000.000 EUR

SPACESKIN aims to innovate a radically new technology for skin regeneration that will defy gravity. Microgravity creates innovative pathways for tissue engineering and tissue regeneration and provides new insights into the molecular and cellular processes. The goal of this project is to develop a uniquely designed miniaturized and remotely-controlled BioLab for tissue engineering. The BioLab, supported by real-time measurement and reporting systems, will be launched into outer space onboard uncrewed space shuttles. Tissue constructs, recovered upon landing, will be analyzed for their vitro characteristics and animal grafting outcomes as compared to ground controls. This, for the first time, we will form a skin substitute entirely remotely. The project consists of adapting a skin tissue model developed by CUTISS and already evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial into a LETI's Lab-on-Chip which will be incorporated into a SpacePharma’s state-of-the-art BioLab. The skin tissue studies will be supported by the world’s experts in face transplants, associated with CEA and the European Pompidou Hospital in France. Thales Alenia Space from Italy will integrate the BioLab into the space vehicle, and the flight launch operator will be designated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which strongly supports the SPACE-SKIN project. Combining cutting-edge skin regeneration techniques with the most advanced space research technologies is expected to lead to (1) ground-breaking changes in the clinic, (2) new outlooks for understanding the impact of skin homeostasis and skin and tissue generation, (3) novel space research technologies, and (4) placement of the EU at the forefront of research.

Žadatel: SpacePharma R&D Israel Ltd.

Požadovaný rozpočet: 1.513.400 EUR

To achieve establishing Europe as a world-class science and technology area driving global economic growth and innovation, it is necessary to introduce changes in existing practices of research-active institutions and change their performance assessment schemes and incentive mechanisms. This requires taking into account a broad variety of impacts generated by research, which is an imperative especially for academic institutions, where academic publications and citations have been used as a key assessment tool to attribute value to the research outcomes. This approach can be partially explained by the data availability, due to which academic publications have been used as a principal criterion for academic promotion, recruitment, or allocation of research funding. But the academic impact of publications is often limited to a few researchers active in similar research field and usually does not reflect the contribution of research to social and economic progress. To stimulate innovation and social development through research, a much broader approach is needed, and the non-academic impact of research should be fully reflected in existing practices so as to provide incentives for generating it. The REFOIN project aims to deepen the understanding of non-academic impact of research and factors generating it. The study will be undertaken from the multidisciplinary perspective focusing on identifying factors leading to commercialization of academic research findings and to their social impact.

Žadatel: Ekonomická univerzita v Bratislavě

Požadovaný rozpočet: 791.200 EUR

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) is a class of zoonoses growing in prevalence as land-use and climate get increasingly disrupted. Of particular concern are mixed co-infections with these diseases, hidden infections and their impact on at risk groups, especially in the countries in low GDP, where such TBD can disproportionately increase health-care burden. In the frame of this project we plan to test individuals are involved in the forestry industry (infection through tick bites), farmers (infection with encephalitis through damaged skin) and those using natural areas for recreation and foraging in different countries. We also plan to evaluate the risk of TBD transmission via milk products. The study will involve testing humans, ticks and and milk products using a variety of microscopy and molecular methods. We will introduce safety protocols to the occupational hazard groups and improve testing approaches suitable for the use in low-income countries.We will develop novel biomarkersbased detection methods for TBD. We will screen for biologically active compounds and test the most promising candidates as alternatives to conventional antibiotic treatment.

Žadatel: Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.739.252 EUR

The Contested Meanings of Movement (ConMove) project addresses the need for a complex understanding of public attitudes towards migration, especially in East-Central and Southeastern Europe, and delivers expertise to stakeholders, thus contributing to more sensible migration policies that can benefit European society as a whole. At the diverse scale of discourses of migration ConMove aims to provide and disseminate comprehensive knowledge on what migration means in the symbolic “East,” where is higher intolerance, and to generate new insights into the origins of migration skepticism beyond the simplistic views of “Eastern” nationalism vs. “Western” cosmopolitism. While employing an interdisciplinary approach, ConMove explains diverging narrative frameworks and public understandings of migration, which cannot be reduced to cognitive (in)difference and political manipulation. For this, ConMove brings a unique combination of academic and well-selected partners from the applied sector with a shared ambition of training the next generation of research leaders in the humanities as well as highly skilled professionals in NGO, private or public sectors. Finally, ConMove is designed to establish an enduring partnership between the academic and applied sectors and facilitate new forms of collaboration.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 2.938.576 EUR

The main objective of the proposed research programme is to connect excellent laboratories and international working teams to conduct joint research focusing on efficient detection methods and approaches aiming to simplify, economize and shorten toxicological testing of biologically active compounds in the human organism (exogenic compounds including commonly used or potential new drugs). All consortium members will participate in this main topic in different levels and secondments of ESR will help to extend directions of all consortium members working in specialized, but isolated fields of scope of the same connecting research objective. All ESR will work on the respective parts of this main objective to fill all gaps in the expected experimental work – in miniaturization using 3D printing technology , development of 3D microarrays and chips for point of care testing, application in bioavailability or bio-accessibility tests and drug interaction testing on the level of interaction with cell membrane transporters to explain and predict their intestinal bioavailability. In these described areas testing live cells is needed to mimic the real human body conditions that can help to explore the real situation without the need to use animal models.

 Žadatel:  Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 2.938.576 EUR

The main objective of the 3D-PRINTOX network is to connect excellent laboratories and international working teams to conduct joint research focusing on efficient detection methods and approaches aiming to simplify, economize and shorten toxicological testing of biologically active compounds in the human organism (exogenous compounds including commonly used or potential new drugs). All consortium members will participate in this main topic in differentlevels and secondments of ESRs will help to extend directions of all consortium members working in specialized, but isolated fields of scope of the same connecting research objective. All ESRs will work on the respective parts of this main objective to fill all gaps in the planned experimental work – in miniaturization using 3D printing technology, development of 3D microarrays and chips for point-of-care testing, application in bioavailability or bio-accessibility tests and drug interaction testing with insight into interactions with cell membrane transporters to explain and predict their intestinal bioavailability. In these described areas in-vitro testing with living cells is needed to mimic physiologically relevant conditions without the need to use animal models according to REACH specifications.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 2.955.470 EUR

3D-TOX project represents a network created to connect international teams working on different steps of automation, miniaturization and toxicology testing to develop a 3D-printed module to perform routine toxicological tests of exogenous compounds, including drugs, in a fully automated manner. The proposed structure and content of the ESR positions will support sharing information, equipment and ideas to economize and shorten testing of biologically active substances and connecting all consortium members to cooperate in the same research field. 3D printing will enhance possibilities of quick development of modules for bioavailability and bio-accessibility tests, to follow drug interactions with cell membrane transporters for prediction of intestinal bioavailability. Different 3D printed materials will be tested for cultivation of living cells to mimic physiological conditions in different human tissues and barriers. 3D microarrays will be applied for detection of selected markers with fluorescence or chemiluminescence properties. Moreover, chips for point-of-care testing will be developed as a quick diagnostic tool in case of hospital infections. All consortium members will be directly involved in the ESRs training as a supervisors of a PhD courses, secondments and in frames of summer schools and workshops. Members and partners were carefully selected from various EU countries, based on previous collaborative contacts, to build a strong team of international experts with different experience in the fields of 3D printing, miniaturization, automation, toxicology testing and to cover all areas for successful progress to fulfill the main research objective – to develop the 3D printed module/chip to economize and shorten toxicological testing in accordance with the REACH legislation.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.331.736 EUR

PRIMS is a project focused on the joint research objective of identifying the most efficient and beneficial approach in physical rehabilitation for people with Multiple Sclerosis and aims at connecting research to practice. PRIMS will analyse four conceptually different physiotherapeutic approaches (facilitation, task-oriented, muscle re-education, application of high-end technologies) in a multicentre double blind, randomized clinical trial with the aim of identifying the best physiotherapeutic approach for improvement of clinical functions and life quality of patients. The analysis will be complemented by research in the field of brain plasticity factors and changes of immune functions in the body. The effectiveness of the selected therapies will be correlated with genotypes of MS and widely disseminated among professional and lay public within participating countries. PRIMS will make critical connections between research and practice in MS symptomatic treatment through innovative research, patient interactions, network-wide training events, exposure to relevant issues in related disciplines, and communication. Current fragmentation within the field has precluded a broader, more inclusive understanding of the effectiveness of these approaches. The absence of a cure for MS itself increases the importance of treating the symptoms related to the disease.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.504.380 EUR

The MASEMIG project reflects on the need for a complex understanding of migration processes and consequently proposes an approach that can bring benefits to European society at large. MASEMIG aims at the diverse scale of dominating contemporary and historical discourses on migration from vertical and horizontal perspectives to produce and disseminate comprehensive knowledge of what migration means, especially in the symbolic “East” where intolerance is high. For this, MASEMIG brings together a unique combination of academic and non-academic partners with the common ambition to provide a next generation of research leaders in the humanities as well as highly professional NGO leaders with an excellent research and highly inclusive training environment. The EU-wide MASEMIG network of academic institutions is complemented by a well selected community of partners from the applied sector. While employing interdisciplinary approach MASEMIG explains and interprets diverging narrative frameworks and public attitudes towards migration processes which cannot be reduced to cognitive (in)difference and political manipulation. Based on long-term cooperation, this consortium´s setup allows for catering of all the diverse needs and skills that are in end effect required from the upcoming generation of researchers and activists, capable of efficient dealing with the upcoming societal challenges.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova