MAIN: Targeting Cell Migration In Chronic Inflammation

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0441-4

Key words (English)

Chemokines; chemokine receptors; signalling; lymphocyte traffic

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 502935

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.1a

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Basel
DKWB Klinisch-Biologische Wissenschaften
Institut für Biochemie und Genetik

Abstract (English)

Chronic inflammation is a systemic disorder resulting from the dysregulation of multiple, mechanistically unrelated higher order biological processes. This MAIN Consortium will promote the integration of multi-disciplinary research groups to achieve a thorough understanding of directed inflammatory cell migration towards and across injured tissues. To achieve its goals, the Consortium will be based on four developmental Research Programs (Tool Development Program, Target Identification Program, Target Validation Program and Drug Development Program), three Support Facilities (Imaging, Proteomics and Microarrays) and one Core Facility (Bioinformatics). The Research Programs are tightly interconnected in a logical sequence of highly integrated activities. The Tool Development Program (TDI) will develop technological tools that are instrumental to make advancements in the field of cell migration. The Target Identification Program (TIP) will identify signalling pathways and/or molecular networks involved in defined aspects of inflammatory cell migration. The Target Validation Program (TVP) will validate targets emerging from the TIP by testing them across in vitro and in vivo models, different inducing stimuli and manipulating conditions. The TVP combines the products of the TOP and the TIP to provide a unified explanation on how multiple 'inputs' received by inflammatory cells result in spatially and temporally coordinated 'outputs', affecting the migratory behaviour of such cells. The Drug Development Program (DDP) will transfer selected targets into a pipeline of drug development, through the SMEs of the Consortium. The Support Facilities (Imaging, Microarrays and Proteomics) and the Bioinformatics Core will provide technological and biocomputational support to the programs. To spread excellence through education and training, MAIN will implement a Training and Education Program (TEP), with practical courses and workshops for graduate students.
The focus of the University of Fribourg (UniFR) is on the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) in the control of migratory processes and leukocyte path finding. Moreover, we will investigate the importance of PI3Ks in the initiation of inflammatory responses mediated by tissue resident cells (e.g. mast cells) and their influence on surrounding tissues.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0441-4