EIMID-IAPP

European Initiative for basic research in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases - IAPP

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The EIMID-IAPP training programme is part of the European Initiative for Basic Research in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (EIMID), created in 2003 by scientists of five European centres of excellence (the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, the CMMI at Imperial College in London, the Institut Pasteur in Paris, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm; and the vaccine company Novartis in Siena). By building a strong coalition among these institutes, EIMID aims at setting the basis for a future no-wall European Institute of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, as part of the European Research Area (ERA). EIMID-IAPP aims at implementing the Industry-Academia cooperation through an integrated programme of exchange of young researchers between the industrial partner and the four academic institutions. The goal of the collaborative project is the development of Novel Therapeutic Approaches against Infectious Diseases, with particular emphasis to drug-based and vaccine-based therapies for bacterial infections affecting mucosal surfaces. Four researchers will be seconded from the industrial partner to the four academic institutions and vice-versa. Each secondment will be for two years (with a six month intermission for intermediate knowledge transfer to the mother institution), and the seconded staff between two institutions will investigate complementary aspects of the same project sub-area. Each institution will also recruit an experienced researcher for two years, to acquire new expertise and technologies necessary to the project development. A series of informal discussions, and annual general meetings, will allow constant exchange of information and efficient project steering. This activity of Industry-Academia exchange fulfils the EIMID goals of 1) harmonising European research programmes, so as to achieve a critical mass on relevant topics. 2) fostering exchange of scientists, particularly at the doctoral and post-doctoral levels.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

With the fast-spreading nature of infectious diseases, it has become an EU imperative to encourage more in-depth research and novel approaches to vaccines.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The EU-funded 'European initiative for basic research in microbiology and infectious diseases' (EIMID-IAPP) programme aimed to promote the development of novel therapeutic approaches against infectious diseases. This was undertaken with particular emphasis on drug-based and vaccine-based therapies for bacterial infections affecting mucosal surfaces.

In order to gain fresh insight, four researchers were transferred from the project's industrial partners to its academic partners and vice versa. Each transfer yielded thorough investigations and complementary research.

Each academic institution also recruited an experienced researcher for two years in order to acquire new expertise and technologies necessary for project development. A series of informal discussions and annual general meetings also allowed for a constant exchange of information and efficient project steering.

The scientific work-plan was divided into two areas. The first concentrated on discovering key antigens that are essential for infection. The second focused on identifying key bacterial genes essential for survival, growth, colonisation and virulence expression in vivo.

One topic examined during the project was gene regulation in Shigella. The objective was to understand the mechanisms governing survival and virulence in the lower intestine. Several proteins that control the transport of proteins to the bacterial surface were shown to be affected by low oxygen levels.

http://www.eimid.org/projects/iapp/index.html (EIMID-IAPP) has yielded a number of insights into how mucosal pathogens cause disease, which could aid in the development or improvement of drugs and vaccines. Furthermore, the close interactions between academia and industry have led to lasting collaborations that should strengthen the field of microbiology in Europe.