Stefan Szedlacsek, Dr.

The main idea of this project was that by inhibiting at least one of these two interactions of GluA2, the internalization of AMPAR will be reduced and therefore the synapse resistance will be increased, thus leading to improved cognitive functions.

The project is agreed as a bilateral collaboration between IBAR and ATOMKI, and the University of Debrecen and IFIN-HH participate in this project voluntarily.

The project is agreed as a joint collaboration among IBAR, ATOMKI and UD, the latter being a cost free participant. There are two main directions envisaged by the proposed project: - receptors mapping and therapy, using an affibody against HER2 receptors, combined with an adequate radioisotope. In this respect, the specific objectives are: a) expression and purification of affibodies; b) establishing labelling procedures; c) ex vivo and/or in vivo testing of optimal compounds.

Affibody molecules are highly promising therapeutic candidates due to their advantageous features like: small size, efficient delivery, straightforward engineering towards improved formats, site-directed conjugation of payloads, possibility of GMP production by chemical synthesis or inexpensive bacterial production leading to low product costs.

Project Funded under: Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006. PTPNET was a Training Network for young scientists in the field of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) research.

Proteins are essential players of all biological processes and they are involved in practically every function performed by a living cell.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation promotes academic cooperation between foreign and German researchers at the highest level. Each year, the Foundation awards more than 700 research fellowships and awards to support researchers from abroad who come to Germany to work on a research project together with German researchers at a host institute. The research topic is chosen by the applicant.

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is the most important independent research funding organisation in Germany. It supports both scientific and humanistic studies and aims to promote top-level research in various disciplines at universities and research institutions. The main focus is on funding projects proposed by the scientific community, with an emphasis on knowledge-driven research.

Proteins are the most important functional units of living matter: all cellular processes are governed by specific proteins possessing highly specialized functional roles. Understanding the intimate mechanisms of cell functions necessitates a detailed knowledge of the 3D-structure of proteins.

One of the most powerful techniques in modern biomedical research is the determination of the three dimensional structure of proteins. This project proposes to establish a laboratory for 3D protein structure determination using X-ray diffraction experiments.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are fundamental regulatory enzymes that dephosphorylate phosphotyrosine residues and are essential components of intracellular signalling pathways in both normal and pathological conditions. There is experimental evidence that disruption of the phosphatase activity of many PTPases is involved in the pathogenesis of several congenital or acquired diseases, including diabetes, cancer, infections, autoimmune, neuronal and cardiovascular diseases.

The project focuses on characterizing the branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in the EYA gene. The goal is to enzymatically analyze the conserved C-terminal domain of the Eya3 protein and identify physiological substrates to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in this syndrome.

Cancer causes 1.5 million deaths a year in Europe, accounting for a quarter of all deaths. The incidence of cancer is increasing, with 20 million new cases and 10 million deaths expected in the next 20 years. Approximately 90% of deaths are due to metastases rather than primary tumours. Genetic mutations and genomic instability allow tumour cells to invade and form metastases.

This project aims to develop a highly efficient enzyme for the conversion of xylose from cellulosic wastes into high-value biosynthetic intermediates. By optimising the catalytic efficiency of phosphoketolase and designing an enzymatic reactor, the project aims to provide a sustainable method of utilising lignocellulosic residues.