Fig. 1 The search for differences in the epigenome and genome of osteosarcoma and normal bone The osteosarcoma project aims to elucidate the epigenetic and genetic signature of osteosarcoma – a childhood cancer of the bone. Osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bone, occurs primarily in children and young adults and accounts for approximately 5% of childhood cancers overall. The first indication of osteosarcoma is pain, which is often misjudged for more common disorders such as ‘growing pains’. As a result the diagnosis is often made at a late stage, when 15-25% of the patients have detectable metastasis. The long term survival rate for these patients is only 10-40% and has not improved in the past two decades. Osteosarcoma is characterised by a complex array of cytogenetic abnormalities with the consequence that only very few markers exist to determine the prognosis and predict the optimal treatment of the patient. Therefore, it is highly important to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the biology behind osteosarcoma progression and metastasising, to improve the treatment and survival of these very young patients. Research focus Our research is founded in cancer genetic and epigenetic studies. Epigenetics describe changes in gene expression not caused by direct changes in the DNA sequence. The term epigenetics comprise: DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA expression. Epigenetic changes are early events in tumour development, and these alterations accumulate throughout tumour progression and metastasis formation. The identification of tumour specific epigenetic changes will therefore draw a picture of the biological events leading to osteosarcoma and metastasis formation. When these data are correlated against clinical information as survival, tumour biology and treatment response, the epigenetic changes form a solid basis for the generation of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication, and selection of therapy. We apply genome-wide analysis of copy number variations combined with single gene analysis. Whole epigenomic analysis is combined with gene expression studies to correlate the specific epigenetic event with both protein coding and non-coding (as microRNAs) gene expression status. The genome-wide approach is used to elucidate the general alterations of the cancer, thereby obtaining a more complete picture of the changes leading to the malignancy. The single gene analyses are used to validate the genome-wide results and for developing new biomarker assays. Epigenetic and genetic alterations in osteosarcoma The patient material consists of biopsies of the bone tumour, which are compared to normal bone tissue. Survival data and clinical information are the foundation for correlation studies to all the genetic and epigenetic data we obtain. To characterise the epigenetic changes of osteosarcoma, we have identified the genome-wide DNA methylation and microRNA expression changes. To further support the biological function of these alterations, the results are compared to gene expression and copy-number changes. A number of genes and microRNAs with a potential biological implication in osteosarcoma development are now identified. In addition, we have identified a panel of specific genomic regions undergoing significant DNA methylation changes, which holds the potential as biomarkers to determine the chemotherapeutic response in osteosarcoma patients. Assessment of biomarkers Our studies on osteosarcoma have created a promising foundation for the use of prognostic and predictive epigenetic biomarkers to increase the survival possibility for these young patients. We analyse a blood sample to assess the biomarkers in a mildly invasive way, for which we have developed and patented a highly sensitive method to assess DNA methylation (MS-HRM), and have proved that we can detect a few copies of methylated DNA in a blood sample, as well as in urine from bladder and prostate cancer patients. Future perspectives of osteosarcoma Our future focus is to implement functional studies to determine the biological effect of the identified epigenetic changes. As bone metastasis are often connected with other primary cancers, we will expand the studies of epigenetic alterations identified in osteosarcomas to other relevant cancer forms in order to further explore the biological mechanisms behind formation of malignant bone cells. Epigenetic alterations are reversible and the use of FDA approved epigenetic drugs in cancer treatment has shown very promising results and the field is rapidly evolving. Gitte Brinch Andersen PhD student gitteba@biomed.au.dk Lise Lotte Hansen Associate Professor Lotte@biomed.au.dk Department of Biomedicine Aarhus University Denmark +45 2899 2180 http://biomed.au.dk/en/research/researchers-and-research-laboratories/g-h/hansen-lise-lotte/ http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/LOTTE@HUM-GEN.AU.DK The post Osteosarcoma: a childhood cancer appeared first on Horizon 2020 Projects.

Metals can help to solve environmental challenges through the development of more efficient processes. The conversion of low economic value molecules (pollutants) present in Nature into high value products (e.g. fuels) is one of the main goals of research towards a clean environment. Alternatively, research can focus on the development of more efficient industrial processes that reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment. The Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry group at Centro de Química e Bioquímica (FCUL) combines complementary experimental and computational approaches to help solve these issues.  We develop transition metal derivatives (molecules, porous solids, nanoparticles) to obtain new homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, aiming to improve selectivity, namely enantioselectivity, in industrially relevant reactions. We use co-ordination chemistry to produce molecules with functional architectures, as well as materials for CO2 activation and reduction (chemically and electrochemically). Computational studies, based on several methodologies, allow us to understand our experimental results and to predict properties and reactivity that will direct the synthetic approaches. Molecules and materials for CO2 activation and conversion Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas resulting from everyday human activities and its increasing concentration in the atmosphere affects Earth’s delicate energy balance. Known consequences include changes in the energy reaching the Earth, such as alterations in its atmosphere and in its surface reflectivity. Our group has been developing easily accessible and low cost catalysts, joining the effort to find efficient pathways for carbon dioxide utilisation and recycling, and to obtain products with significant commercial value, such as methanol and methane. We have developed a method to produce both homonuclear and heteronuclear binuclear first row transition metal complexes with fine-tuned architectures. Our catalysts have shown very promising results in the electrochemical reduction of CO2. State-of-the-art computational studies have assisted us in understanding the mechanism behind this reduction reaction and aided the improvement of catalyst performance. Molecules and materials for selective catalytic processes The field of porous solids and nanoparticles is not only very dynamic, but its applications are transversal to many areas of science, ranging from chemistry and physics to medicine. Our group has acquired an extensive expertise in preparing and functionalising these materials, characterised by high surface/volume ratio, which contributes to categorising them, generally, as having high catalytic performance. Special attention has been dedicated to the development of hybrid matrix materials (chiral or achiral) as supports to bind covalently single-site catalysts, which will conjugate high selectivity and easy separation of the products. Catalytic olefin epoxidation has demonstrated that this methodology is successful. Publications from our group evidence highly selective heterogeneous catalytic epoxidation taking place under green conditions, e.g. stoichiometric substrate:oxidant ratio. Maria José Calhorda Full Professor Centro de Química e Bioquímica +351 217 500 196 mjc@ciencias.ulisboa.pt http://intheochem.fc.ul.pt The post Cleaner environment with metals appeared first on Horizon 2020 Projects.

The University of Exeter, UK, is to lead a groundbreaking new collaborative research project to discover crucial new deposits of essential raw materials across Europe. The research team, which includes geologists from the university’s Camborne School of Mines, will devise new, state-of-the-art techniques to expose previously unknown underground resources that are vital to the manufacturing of a number of high-tech products. Less than 3% of the supply of critical raw materials – including rare earths, phosphate and niobium – is currently sourced directly from Europe. But experts believe a wealth of as yet unexplored deposits exists throughout the continent, which could be successfully mined. The four-year project will use mineralogy, petrology and geophysics techniques to create advanced exploration models to determine where these valuable minerals can be found. “The pioneering new research that will be developed as part of this exciting project will give us unrivalled access to new locations for some of Europe’s most critical raw material deposits,” explains Professor Frances Wall, who is leading the project. “We believe that the project will pave the way for Europe to become a world leader in this specialist, but vital, area of mineral extraction, and crucially exploit them in an environmentally responsible way.” The project team comprises 12 partners including the Natural History Museum, GeoAfrica, the British Geological Survey, Terratec Geophysical Services, Lancaster Exploration Ltd (a subsidiary of Mkango Resources Ltd), A. Speiser Environmental Consultants, and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the universities of Tübingen, St Andrews, G. d’Annunzio and Mendel in Brno. As part of the project, which has been supported by a €5.4m Horizon 2020 grant, four industry partners will also utilise world-leading expertise to develop and expand their businesses, transferring their expertise from Africa to Europe. Studies, combined with expert council workshops, will take place at seven natural laboratories. “We believe that this is the largest research project on carbonatites and alkaline rocks ever undertaken,” adds Wall. “It is a tremendously exciting opportunity to garner lifetimes’ worth of expertise from the world’s experts, which we will do through a series of expert council workshops and fieldtrips.” The post UK university spearheads raw materials project appeared first on Horizon 2020 Projects.

Fewer than two months remain until the sixth edition of the Transport Research Arena (TRA2016) conference in Warsaw, Poland. The four-day event (18-21 April) will bring together some of the most influential players in the modern transport sector to discuss how to make transport more efficient, ecological and safe. Scientists, private company representatives, state and road administration authorities, politicians, managers and students will come together to consider ‘innovative solutions for tomorrow’s mobility’. They will present the latest research, innovation, technologies and implementations, as well as examples of best practice throughout Europe and the world concerning the sustainable mobility of people and goods. Over 500 papers have been accepted for lectures and scientific presentations. Each day of the conference will see participants discuss a different set of challenges: Monday will address the role and meaning of transport in creating ‘one Europe’; Tuesday will focus on automation in transport, the challenges and possibilities of fast changing technologies, and the role of industry; Wednesday will consider methods to reduce CO2 emissions, ensure fuel safety, and achieve effectiveness objectives; and Thursday will centre on the development of transport models, the improvement of technology in transport, radical demographic changes, and scenarios for the future, as presented by young scientists. Events include a TRA marketplace featuring 150 poster sessions; a results forum (professional brokerage forum) and outreach sessions on the European Commission stand; two key workshops on women and students; and dedicated special sessions on international collaboration, EU/US co-operation in the field of automation, and the 2050 vision for transport R&I. Further attractions comprise some 34 technical and 14 invited sessions; a number of side events, including an Era-net Transport conference and a Horizon 2020 brokerage event; a dynamic exhibition featuring the key sponsors and presentations; and social events, including a welcome cocktail and gala dinner. The conference has been organised by the European Commission in co-operation with the Conference of European Directors of Roads and the European technology platforms ERTRAC, ERRAC, WATERBORNE and ALICE, as well as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction and the Road and Bridge Research Institute, Poland. It is supported by the European Construction Technology Platform, the European Transport Research Alliance and the National Centre for Research and Development, Poland. Go here to view the preliminary programme in detail.   The post Counting down to Transport Research Arena 2016 appeared first on Horizon 2020 Projects.