Bio-Interfaces: From molecular understanding to application

General Information

BIOCONTROL will establish an educational structure for a new type of European Life Scientist embedded in a top quality research network that combines fundamental biophysical and biochemical expertise in structures, processes and interactions at selected bio-interfaces with protein function and cell interaction. The novel scientific approach merges different, so far fragmented, aspects of interactions in and around bio-membrane. The two major scientific objectives of BIOCONTROL are to: 1) Provide fundamental knowledge of the forces and molecular mechanisms that regulate the interactions and biological processes taking place in and around biological membranes; 2) Construct bio-mimetic surfaces and self-assembled structures that permit external control of biological and biotechnological processes such as cell adhesion and cell cycle regulation. BIOCONTROL includes three main topics, the central theme of which is the interrelation between lipids and proteins/peptides in biomembranes. Molecular information on small membrane-active molecules, having a significant influence on the structure and function of cell membranes, will be obtained for Membrane-Associated Peptides and Disease Related Peptide-Membrane Interactions. Understanding of these interactions will enable the use of specific structural and physical properties to induce and control functional changes in cell membranes and proteins. In combination with Bio-mimetic and Nano-structured Interfaces, BIOCONTROL provides novel routes to control desired function and processes at bio-interfaces. This will be of fundamental importance for future treatment of membrane-related diseases as well as for regenerative medicine.
With this ambitious aim BIOCONTROL will scientifically increase the attractiveness of the European Research Area (ERA) and contribute to the socio-economic aspect of improving health issues in the ERA .

EU-Programme Acronym and Subprogramme Area	FP6-Human Resources and Mobility-2005, Research Training Network
Project Type	Marie-Curie Research Training Network
Contract Number	MRTN-CT-2006-033439
Co-ordinator	Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Geesthacht GmbH

Total Eligible Costs (€)	HZG Eligible Costs (€)	EC Funding for HZG (€)
2.842.101	384.546	384.546

Contact Person at HZG

Dr. Regine Willumeit, Institute of Materials Research, WFS Phone: +49 4152 87 1291, Fax : +49 4152 87 1356 E-mail contact

Participants

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (AT), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL), Birkbeck College, University of London (GB), Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (SE), Lunds Universitet (SE), Malmö University (SE), Tel Aviv University (IL), Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE), Université Louis Pasteur (FR)

Last Update: 07. April 2016