Fp7: Energy (Finland)

Contact

Thomas Coch
e-mail [e-mail]
Tel. [phone]
UNESCO Biosphaere Entlebuch
Chlosterbueel 28
CH-6170 Schuepfheim
Switzerland
www.biosphaere.ch
FP7: Energy (Finland, 16.03.)

Funding Source/Programme

FP7: Energy

Description

Vaasa Energy Institute (Finland) is highly interested in joining a project consortium within
FP7 – Theme Energy. We are looking for cooperation possibilities especially within the following topics:

• 
  Biodiesel from oil crops, animal tallow and used cooking oils (2007.3.1.2.)
  
• 
  Harmonisation of biomass resource assessment (2007.3.7.1.)
  
• 
  Develop and validate innovative control strategies and network architectures for active networks
  with large-scale penetration of renewable sources and distributed generation (2007.7.1.1.)
  
• 
  Develop new tools to simulate smart distribution networks (2007.7.1.2.)
  
• 
  The value of innovative storage solutions for smart networks (2007.7.3.2.)
  
• 
  Analysis and scenarios of energy infrastructure evolution (2007.7.3.4.)
  
• 
  More efficient integration of renewable energy into future infrastructures (2007.7.3.5.)
  
• 
  Energy behavioural changes (2007.9.1.2.)
  

We have specific competence in those fields and would like to offer this expertise to a European level
consortium.

Ideally, we would like to participate in your consortium as active R&D partners.

About Vaasa Energy Institute

VEI is a coalition of three educational institutions at Vaasa region – University of Vaasa, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences and Svenska yrkeshögskolan, University of Applied Sciences. The purpose of VEI is to offer a wide variety of research, consulting, and educational services for the energy sector both at a domestic and international level. VEI combines technological, market-oriented and businessfocused fields of know-how and provides its expertise for the use of companies and the surrounding society. Even if being highly academic, VEI also has a practical approach towards the energy issues.

Our expertise and specific interests

VEI has comprehensive expertise of

• 
  Energy markets (well established and internationally acknowledged expertise concerning especially consumer psychology and behaviour)
  
• 
  Energy technology (especially power systems, including the related applications of ICT and automation technology)
  
• 
  Sustainable development in the energy sector (especially efficient and competitive energy markets and the wider application of renewable energy sources).
  

VEI member organisations have conducted numerous projects over the years, funded by numerous energy utilities (such as Shell, Fortum, Helsinki Energy and ABB) and other organisations (such as ERGEG, Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry, EU, and IEE).

Contact

Vaasa Energy Institute
University of Vaasa
Pekka Peura
P.O. BOX 700
FIN-65101 Vaasa
Finland
[e-mail]
Tel. + 358 6 3248 451,
Gsm + 358 44 0244 451

FP7: Health (UK, 16.03.)

Funding Source/Programme

HEALTH-2007-2.3.2-14; Next generation of researchers for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected infectious diseases.

Description

University of Wolverhampton in the UK (UoW), School of Applied Sciences and Research Institute in Health Care Sciences.  UoW is a large regional University in the West Midlands. Our research strengths include applied sciences, biomedical and biological sciences, health and social care related studies, history and governance, engineering, construction and IT.

What kind of project partners are you looking for?

A project co-ordinator/leader  who is a research institution/University.

Partner Search for Health projects

√ major diseases and infectious diseases

Title.  “Use of anti-polyphosphate kinase drugs synergistic with host defences in TB therapy”.

Objectives of the proposal

In general, to study if anti-PPK drugs handicap Mycobacteria in vivo.  ICOS is a pharmaceutical company that has active compounds from a screen against PPK and tested against Gram-negative pathogens.  These compounds have been made available to this project.  The project will study the survival of PPK null-mutants of Mtb (available as gifts) and their wild types:-

a) in Mtb media and also in a protozoal model of infection and in the presence and absence of conventional antibiotics.
b) in the presence of novel anti-PPK drugs in combination with/without conventional antibiotics in Mtb media and in a protozoal infection model.  Depending on results, animal studies will follow.

Relevance to the Call

It has been shown that polyphosphate kinase (PPK) is an essential gene for Mtb.  Furthermore PPK does not occur in animals / humans adding to its attraction as a target.  It is likely that anti-PPK compounds will prove valuable in Mtb therapy as a novel approach.

Type of partnership

SICA: Coordinated or Support Action

Scientific Excellence

There is now much evidence that polyphosphate plays crucial roles in metabolism, in pathogenicity and especially in all survival mechanisms in bacteria.  The main enzyme synthesizing inorganic polyphosphate is polyphosphate kinase (PPK), conserved in numerous pathogens.  This crucial enzyme (but not poly P itself) is absent from higher organisms and consequently is likely an excellent novel target for drug therapy against bacteria.  Recently, it has been shown that ppk is also an essential gene for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).  The project will study the survival of PPK null-mutants of Mtb and their wild type (a) in conventional Mtb media and also in a protozoal model of infection and in the presence and absence of conventional antibiotics; (b) the effects of novel anti-PPK drugs in combination with/without conventional antibiotics in lab media and (c) the effects of novel anti-PPK drugs in combination with/without conventional antibiotics in a protozoal infection model.  Depending on results, animal studies will follow.  This proposal is based on work carried out by Prof. Brown at the lab of Dr Arthur Kornberg at Stanford Medical School.  Request  £171K plus overheads.

Impact

The project addresses the issue of the need for novel approaches to therapy of Mtb.  Polyphosphate is indeed a novel target, essential in Mtb but absent in humans.  Novel anti-PPK compounds in combination with conventional antibiotics will be tested.  Also, a novel protozoal model will be tested and used.