Projects
| Project Name | Principal Investigator | Organization | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Research Centre for Materials Science for Nanoscale Surface Engineering | Karin Larsson | Uppsala University (Uppsala) |  |
Strategic Research Centre for Materials Science for Nanoscale Surface EngineeringDescriptionThis center provide a strongresearch platform & framework for cooperation between organizations in the area of advanced surface engineering, with a focus on nano-technology for tools, components, contacts, and sensors. Strategic Research Centre for Materials Science for Nanoscale Surface Engineering is a collaboration between the universities of Linköping and Uppsala. |
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| Swedish Brain Power | Bengt Winblad | Karolinska Institutet (Huddinge) | |
Swedish Brain PowerDescriptionSwedish Brain Power. A national network based at KI with the ultimate goal to improve early diagnosis, treatment and care of subjects affected by neurodegenerative diseases. Around 70 research groups are coupled to Swedish Brain Power and the objectives are: To develop methods to identify neurodegenerative diseases as early as possible, to develop, test and evaluate new drug or other treatments in the very early stages of the disease, to facilitate integrated research between the leading expertise within the neurodegenerative area in Sweden, to stimulate and facilitate translational research between basic, clinical and caring research, to establish and maintain Swedish neuroscience research internationally leading in order to attract national and international industrial collaboration, to establish an education and technology transfer program, e.g. supported by internet-technology based infrastructure. Brain imaging is a vital part of the venture and special effort concerns structural and functional brain imaging where the aims are to find biological markers that can be used as early diagnostic instruments, as well as for monitoring anti-dementia treatment and to study brain plasticity in chronic neurodegenerative disorders, eg Alzheimers disease. |
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| Systems Biology of Colorectal Cancer (SYSCOL) | Jussi Taipale | Karolinska Institutet (Huddinge) | |
Systems Biology of Colorectal Cancer (SYSCOL)DescriptionSystems Biology of Colorectal Cancer (SYSCOL). SYSCOL will focus on colorectal cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in both men and women, which is now increasing dramatically in many parts of the world. The challenge faced by the scientists is to identify genes that cause the formation of tumours and the regulatory elements that control the expression of these genes. This information will hopefully enable identification of those at particularly high risk of developing colorectal cancer. Scientists from nine European universities participate in the SYSCOL project, together with one American university, and a biotech company. |
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| Targeting p53 pathway: from lab bench to patient | Galina Selivanova | Karolinska Institutet (Solna) | |
Targeting p53 pathway: from lab bench to patientDescriptionTargeting p53 pathway: from lab bench to patient. p53-proteinet är en kraftfull naturligt förekommande tumör-suppressor, som motverkar tumöruppkomst genom programmerad celldöd (apoptos). Mer än 50 % av alla tumörer bär på en muterad TP53-gen. I tumörer utan TP53-mutation är p53-proteinet inaktiverat på grund av dess påskyndade nedbrytning av MDM2. Är cancercellens beroende av att hålla p53 inaktivt dess Akilleshäl? Genom att screena NCI?s (National Cancer Institute) bibliotek av små molekyler som kan hämma tumörtillväxt har vi hittat två substanser av låg molekylvikt vilka är selektiva mot varsin p53-inaktiverande mekanism. PRIMA-1 är selektiv för tumörceller som uttrycker muterat p53, och RITA är selektiv för icke-muterat p53, eftersom den förhindrar nedbrytningen av p53 genom att hindra MDM2 och p53 att interagera. Friska celler påverkas inte av någondera. Det här projektet är inriktat på en fortsatt utveckling av "lead compounds" och identifiera nya substnser. För att nå dessa mål vi ska använder moderna molekylär- och cell-biologiska metoder samt den senaste teknologin och systems biology. Projektet kommer att leda till en djupare förståelse av de mekanismer som leder till p53 reactivering. Vårt hopp är att våra studier kommer att bana väg för utvecklingen av mer effektiva och tumörspecifika läkemedel. |
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| The Genomics of Phenotypic Diversity in Natural Populations | Hans Ellegren | Uppsala University (Uppsala) | |
The Genomics of Phenotypic Diversity in Natural PopulationsDescriptionThe Genomics of Phenotypic Diversity in Natural Populations. Genomic science began with model organisms, which have been instrumental for our understanding of how biology works. However, a major challenge for the future is to unravel the genetic architecture of phenotypic traits in natural populations, essentially taking genomics from models to the wild. We foresee that 21st century biology is poised to see a synthesis between the theory of evolution by natural selection and knowledge on the molecular genetic basis of phenotypes. The Evolutionary Biology Centre in Uppsala is one of largest centres for evolutionary research in the world, with the team behind this application representing world-class competence in several sub-disciplines of evolutionary biology. We are prepared to take on an internationally leading role in the demanding process of studying the genomics of natural diversity. Our aims are to: (a) trace the genetic background to variation in fitness and local adaptation (b) study the genetic basis for speciation, and (c) analyse the genomics of large-scale morphological evolution. The study organisms range from bacteria and amoebas to plants and vertebrates, reflecting the focus on diversity. The merging of genomics and evolutionary biology has far-reaching implications; for example, the long-term persistence of living organisms depends on their ability to adapt to environmental changes and the sustainable development of human societies relies on an understanding of the evolution of virulence and host shifts of parasites. |
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| The Human Regenerative Map | Jonas Frisén | Karolinska Institutet (Solna) | |
The Human Regenerative MapDescriptionThe Human Regenerative Map. The Human Regenerative Map is a research center started 2008 and funded by the Swedish Research Council. The center aims to establish a map of cell turnover in the human body in health and disease. We have recently devised a novel strategy, by integrating biomedical approaches with recent developments in nuclear physics, which enables establishing the turnover of cells in human tissues. By measuring 14C derived from nuclear bomb tests in DNA, we can retrospectively establish the birth date of cells and directly measure cell turnover and tissue regeneration in humans. This will give fundamental information on the dynamics of cell replacement in the human body, which will have significant implications for the understanding of many diverse processes, such as for example human brain function and the development of obesity. Moreover, it will provide knowledge necessary for the development of diagnostics and regenerative therapies in for example neurology, psychiatry, cardiology, obesity and diabetes. |
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| THE LEUKOTRIENES, novel targets for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease | Jesper Haeggström | Karolinska Institutet (Solna) | |
THE LEUKOTRIENES, novel targets for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseaseDescriptionTHE LEUKOTRIENES, novel targets for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. FETTSYROR I INFLAMMATIONSPROCESSEN - Nya Möjligheter att Förebygga och Behandla Hjärt-Kärlsjukdomar. BAKGRUND: Leukotriener är viktiga signalmolekyler vid akuta och kroniska inflammatoriska sjukdomar, i synnerhet astma. Nya läkemedel som blockerar leukotriener har också blivit effektiva mediciner för behandling av astma. Flera internationella studier, inklusive våra egna, tyder nu starkt på att leukotriener deltar i utvecklingen av arterioskleros, hjärtinfarkt, och aorta-aneurysm (utbuktning på stora kroppspulsådern), vilket öppnar nya möjligheter för behandling av dessa dödliga sjukdomar. MÅLSÄTTNING: Vår målsättning är att sammanföra basal och klinisk forskningskompetens för att kartlägga betydelsen av leukotriener för uppkomsten av hjärt-kärlsjukdomar. Vi kommer att tillämpa de allra senaste biokemiska och molekylära teknikerna på kliniska material och djurmodeller med fokus på följande delstudier (1) Betydelsen av syntes och effekter av leukotriener för uppkomst av arterioskleros, hjärtinfarkt och aorta-aneurysm. (2) Inverkan av läkemedel på syntes och effekter av leukotriener. (3) Leukotrieners betydelse för koronarspasm och hjärtarrytmier. Tack vare vår unika kompetens inom leukotrienforskning, samt ett brett och fruktbart samarbete med kliniska forskare vid Karolinska Sjukhuset, Solna, finns det stora möjligheter att göra snabba framsteg inom projektet och därmed hitta nya mål för läkemedelsutveckling för att på sikt kunna förebygga och behandla dessa allvarliga folksjukdomar. |
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| Tools for minimally invasive diagnostics (DIATOOLS) | Erik Ullerås | Uppsala University (Uppsala) | |
Tools for minimally invasive diagnostics (DIATOOLS)DescriptionTools for minimally invasive diagnostics (DIATOOLS). A new generation of molecular tools is becoming available that can digitally record numbers, identities and locations of a broad range of molecular markers for increased diagnostic accuracy. This project will for the first time combine synergistically several groundbreaking technological innovations by the partners, notably padlock and proximity probes with rolling circle amplification for single molecule detection and counting, directed self-assembly of solid phases, and advanced micro-fluidics and read-out techniques, bringing these from the research lab into integrated instruments useful in routine. This will enable minimally invasive diagnostics, prognostics, and follow-up of treatment of cancers. Blood samples and fine needle aspirates will be subjected to high content, multiplex and multimodal assays of nucleic acids, proteins and interacting complexes thereof in single cells as well as in cell-free bodily fluids. We will use flow cytometry to collect multi-parameter information for large populations of cells, and individual detected molecules will be recorded using a fluorescence activated molecule counter developed by one of the partners. Also, very rare cells and molecules will be targeted through enrichment techniques using novel capturing approaches of unprecedented efficiency. We will apply these diagnostic approaches to characterize biomarkers in solid tumours and in leukemia and lymphoma for minimally invasive diagnostics, monitoring disease progress and selecting optimal therapy, and the assays will be clinically validated in small-scale studies of well-characterized patient samples. |
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| Translational Program in Diabetes Research, Education and Care | Juleen Zierath | Karolinska Institutet (Solna) | |
Translational Program in Diabetes Research, Education and CareDescriptionDiabetes is a large and growing health problem in the population. Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University are joining in a new research programme focused on new ways to prevent and treat diabetes. The diabetes programme focuses on developing new methods to prevent and treat diabetes and complications resulting from diabetes. An overarching goal is to quickly translate research results into new treatments. Clinical research, where patients participate, will therefore increase in this area. |
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| U-CAN – The U-Can Comprehensive Cancer Consortium | Lena Claesson-Welsh | Uppsala University (Uppsala) | |
U-CAN – The U-Can Comprehensive Cancer ConsortiumDescriptionU-CAN is a unique biobank (still under development) for blood and tumor samples from patients with various types of cancer. Samples and clinical information collected from patients before, during and after treatment make it possible to examine how the tumors are affected by treatment. This information will be used in various research projects. U-CAN’s goal is to increase our knowledge about different types of cancers in order to eventually be able to customize treatments to individual patients' illnesses. U-CAN, (Uppsala, Umeå Comprehensive Cancer Consortium) is a collaboration between Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Umeå University, Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (KTH). |
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