Overview

Deregulation of cell death causes many human diseases such as cancer, which represent major social and health challenges. This project links up 13 academic and two industrial partners of recognised international stature in a well-defined collaborative research project to provide a platform for structured training, transfer of knowledge and career development in cell death research.

The joint project aims at deciphering molecular mechanisms of cell death to develop better cancer therapies (new prognostic biomarkers and new cancer drugs). Translation of new knowledge “from bench to bedside” is fostered by interdisciplinary and intersectoral transfer of knowledge. Innovation and commercial exploitation is facilitated by academia-industry cooperation.

The network’s training program addresses important and timely training and transfer of knowledge needs and fully exploits the network’s interdisciplinary, intersectoral and trans-European potential, combining local specialist with network-wide training adapted to the targeted researchers. Visits/secondments including an industrial placement, education in complementary skills, and mentoring should advise trainees on new opportunities for multiple career paths, taking into account the broader needs of the European labour market for researchers. To foster mobility of researchers in Europe, all twenty scientists employed in the course of the project will work in teams outside their native countries.

The network realises European added value by integrating different disciplines, industry-academia cooperation, overcoming fragmentation, structuring the European Research Area through integration of New Member and Associated Countries and less-favoured regions, promoting women in science and by enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and attractiveness for researchers. As “Marie Curie Research Training Network”, the project is financed by the European Community under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) with over 4 million EUR for the next four years (contract no. MRTN-CT-2006-035624).