The consolidation of the knowledge that cancer is not only a genetic, but also a metabolic disease, has led scientists to investigate the intricate metabolic plasticity that transformed cells must undergo to survive the adverse tumor microenvironment conditions, and the contribution of oncogenes and tumor suppressors in shaping metabolism. In this scenario, genetic, biochemical and clinical evidences place mitochondria as key actors in cancer metabolic restructuring, not only because these organelles have a crucial role in the energy and biosynthetic intermediates production but also because occurrence of mutations in metabolic enzymes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA has been associated to different types of cancer.
The Marie Curie European project TRANSMIT aims to dissect the metabolic remodeling in human cancers, placing the focus on the role of mitochondria and bridging basic research to the improvement/development of therapeutic strategies. Further, TRANSMIT fosters the communication of this emerging field to the patients and their families.
To these aims, TRANSMIT has created a network of seven different countries, among which world-leading basic science and clinical centers of excellence, several industrial partners with up-to-date omics technologies, as well as non-profit foundations and associations who care for cancer patients. By creating the critical mass of scientific excellence, TRANSMIT means to transfer the current knowledge into the wide field of cancer research, translating scientific and technical advances into the education and training of eleven Early Stage Researchers (ESRs). The selection process will be carried out during the upcoming months.
TRANSMIT will implement training-through-research dedicated to unravel the metabolic features of cancer, as well as to provide a full portfolio of complementary skills through the creation of a network of basic, translational and industrial laboratories, devoted to a multidisciplinary/multisectorial education of young scientists.
The project is coordinated by Prof. Anna Maria Porcelli from University of Bologna, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology. TRANSMIT officially started on January 1, 2017. All the partners involved in the project met in Bologna on February 20, 2017 for the kick-off meeting, where they defined together both the scientific stages and the recruitment process of the Early Stage Researchers that will be selected within the Consortium.
The scientific partners of TRANSMIT project are:
1. University of Bologna, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (Italy).
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2. University of Bologna, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Italy).
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3. Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium).
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4. OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS GmbH (Austria).
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5. Justus Liebig University of Giessen (Germany).
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6. University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg (Austria).
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7. Karolinska Institutet (Sweden).
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8. The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom).
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9. BIOCRATES LIFE SCIENCES AG (Austria).
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10. AvantiCell Science Ltd (United Kingdom).
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11. University of Bordeaux (France).
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