The overall goal of
this project is to provide high-level training to
early-stage researchers and experienced researchers in
integrated analysis of cell physiology by performing
interdisciplinary analyses of the role, structure,
function and regulation of aquaporins, thereby
advancing this field and contribute to structuring the
area within Europe.
This Research
training network will combine concepts and techniques
from molecular cell biology; physiology and systems
biology of cell, tissue and animal models; clinical
studies; model organisms; protein production,
purification and crystallisation; structural biology
by atomic force microscopy, electron crystallography
and X-ray crystallography; computational biology via
molecular dynamics simulation and mathematical
modelling; rational molecular design, organic
chemistry and combinatorial chemistry.
This project
relies on the following main activities:
1. Six joint PhD projects, in which students undergo
their entire PhD programme in the project.
2. Four
Post-doctoral projects, for 2 years
3. Two scientific
meetings per year
4. Joint courses and workshops, which will be a
central part of the training, communication,
networking and dissemination activities.
This network is centred on four ambitious scientific
goals:
Ø
Achieve an
understanding of the physiological role of
aqua(glycero)porins in order to assess their
importance in health and disease and their use as drug
targets.
Ø
Achieve a detailed
understanding of the mechanisms that control
aqua(glycero)porins, to gain new knowledge of control
principles and to identify targets to interfere with
AQP function, this includes a systems biology
approach.
Ø
Fully understand
the structural determinants of transport, specificity
and regulation of all mammalian aqua(glycero)porins to
support rationale drug design and to elucidate the
mechanisms of action of novel aquaporin blockers.
Ø
Develop specific
AQP blockers, understand their mechanism of action and
test their function in different model systems.
