Led by the CiMUS at the USC, this is a pioneering initiative in scientific training that will finance, with nearly three million euros from the Horizon Europe programme and over four years, the projects of 11 doctoral students from several countries around the globe.
Coordinated from the singular centre by Ashwin Woodhoo, a distinguished researcher contracted by the Oportunius programme of the Xunta de Galicia, the beneficiaries of the scholarships will join their respective work centres in September, including universities, research institutes and high-profile companies.
Identifying new drug targets in intractable diseases such as certain cancers, neurological disorders, liver disorders or infectious diseases is the aim of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral network “RBP-ReguNet: Deconstructing and Rewiring RNA-RBP regulatory networks”. It is a European consortium, coordinated from USC’s CiMUS by Ashwin Woodhoo, distinguished researcher contracted through the Oportunius programme of the Xunta de Galicia. The network aims to take advantage of new discoveries in RNA-binding proteins (RBP) biology to try to find new therapeutic approaches.
Seeking the Next Generation of European Researchers
A total of 11 doctoral candidates from various countries from all over the world have been carefully chosen to embark on their project development journey in September at different working centers. These centers range from esteemed universities to cutting-edge research institutes and high-profile scientific and technological companies. Over a span of four years, they will provide comprehensive coverage for the projects, encompassing both theoretical and practical aspects with a multidisciplinary approach that spans computational, structural, molecular, and cellular biology, as well as medicinal chemistry and pharmacological detection. Ashwin Woodhoo, the network coordinator, highlights that “this is an all-encompassing program aimed at providing advanced scientific training and fostering an ecosystem for the new generation of researchers in Europe”.
Moreover, from the unique USC center, the coordination of the project on cholestatic liver disease will be spearheaded by the Sergio Vidal awarded researcher Marta Varela Rey. The leadership from Santiago de Compostela will be further complemented by contributions from Mabel Loza, the director of CiMUS, through the Kaertor Foundation.
In addition to USC, RBP-ReguNet boasts representation from eight other pioneering universities and research centers across Europe. These include the Center for Genomic Regulation in Spain, the Curie Institute in France, the Sanquin Institute in the Netherlands, the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, the EMBL in Germany, as well as the universities of Trento and Milan in Italy, and the Italian biotechnology company IMMAGINA SRL.
The formation of the RBP-ReguNet consortium, with its selection of talented doctoral candidates and collaborative efforts from prominent institutions across Europe, demonstrates a resolute commitment to tackling the challenges posed by untreated diseases. With an ambitious vision and a multidisciplinary approach, this consortium aims to drive scientific innovation, ultimately bringing about new treatment options and instilling hope for patients who currently lack effective therapies.
Source: RBP-ReguNet | CiMUS
In press: RBP-ReguNet | El Correo Gallego