Acronym
RedCat
Full Title
Natural Products and related Redox Catalysts: Basic Research and Applications in Medicine and Agriculture
Programme
Marie Curie - Initial training network
Contract Number
215009
Abstract
Intracellular redox processes are pivotal for cell survival and proliferation. Redox active natural products, enzymes and their mimics may therefore be considered as regulators of various cellular processes which may, for instance, control inflammatory processes, cancer formation and proliferation, but also bacterial, fungal and microbial growth. Research has shown that redox control exerted by such natural and synthetic products may be used for prevention and therapy in medicine and for the development of ‘green’ pesticides in agriculture. The RedCat research and training network studies chemical, biochemical and biological aspects of the modulation of cellular redox balances by selected natural agents and their mimics. It relies on the expertise of 10 full and 7 associated partners (1 SME) in a range of scientific disciplines, including synthetic, analytical, biological and pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, cancer research and agricultural research.
Together the RedCat partner institutions provide interdisciplinary training for 4 experienced and 10 early stage researchers, all of which will acquire expertise in 3 or more scientific disciplines. Each researcher develops his/her individual training portfolio when joining the network whereby the early stage researchers are expected to obtain internationally recognised PhD degrees. In addition to intensive scientific training at various host institutes, there will be a framework programme offering training in science related matters and soft skills, such as logical and ethical aspects of research, IP, patenting and commercialisation, communication skills as well as cultural and gender issues.
Duration
48 months (01/12/2008 – 30/11/2012)
Project Funding
2,785,650.00€
Coordinator
Saarland University
Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
Junior Prof. Claus Jacob
Phone: +49 681 302 3129
Email
Medical Faculty, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Prof. Mathias Montenarh
Phone: +49 6841 162 6501
Email
Partners
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH), Germany
Institute for Biology - Plant physiology (Prof. Alan Slusarenko)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Department of Chemistry (Prof. Artur Silva)
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Germany
Cancer Chemoprevention (Dr. Clarissa Gerhäuser)
ECOspray Ltd, United Kingdom
David Sadler Bridge, Dr. Murree Groom
University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Peninsula Medical School (Prof. Paul Winyard)
Department of Biosciences - Biological Chemistry & Exeter Biocatalysis Centre (Prof. Jennifer Littlechild)
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer (LBMCC), Luxembourg
Recherches Scientifiques Luxembourg (RSL) (Dr. Marc Diederich)
Université Paul Verlaine – Metz, France
Laboratoire d’Ingénierie Moléculaire et Biochimie Pharmacologique (Prof. Gilbert Kirsch)
Université Paris Descartes, France
Hôpital Cochin (Dr. Frédéric Batteux, Dr. Caroline Nicco)
URSAPHARM Arzneimittel GmbH, Germany (Dr. Peter Meiser)
Associated Partners
Bio Products Laboratory (BPL), United Kingdom
Research & Development Department (Dr. John More)
John Innes Centre (JIC), United Kingdom
Disease and Stress Biology (Dr. Ian Bedford)
Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Germany
Biology – Phytopathology (Prof. Matthias Hahn)
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Chemistry Department (Prof. Maria Fernanda Proença)
Université Henri Poincaré, France
Prof. Pierre Mutzenhardt
BASF SE, Germany
Agrarzentrum Limburgerhof (Dr. Delphine Breuninger)
University of Bath, United Kingdom
Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology (Dr. Charareh Pourzand)
Eurice GmbH, Germany (Dr. Vera Siegmund)
Contact at Eurice
Cornelia Köck
Project Officer
Phone: +49 681 9592 3366
Email
Project Website
www.redcat-itn.eu