DivIDE : a European training network focusing on cell division

DivIDE aims to investigate the mechanisms and principles of cell division and to reproduce them in vitro with synthetic approaches. Crucial to cell division is the mitotic spindle, a structure whose main duty is the separation of chromosomes. The spindle is made of microtubules (MT), molecular motors, and MT-binding factors, some of which show astounding complexity. The mitotic spindle is the one of the cellular structures that best represents the ability of biological matter to self-organize though arrays of dynamic protein-protein interactions. It rapidly assembles when cells enter mitosis, and it disassembles, after sister chromatid separation and mitotic exit. The complexity and dynamic behaviour of the mitotic spindle captures the imagination of synthetic biologists and modellers.

Cherry’s roles as beneficiary of DivIDE

Cell environmental control

Pablo Salaverria works as a so-called “Early Stage Researcher” within DivIDE. As a PhD student, he will use his engineering background to think and realise a device capable of imaging cells in real time using high-resolution microscopy techniques, while controling key parameters (temperature, medium renewal or drug injection). These automated systems require biocompatible materials, smart microdevices and precise instruments to allow cell growth and division in the best micro-environment.

Exploitation of the project

In such a great consortium, it is very important to handle intellectual property at very early stages. To this extend, we set up an Exploitation Committee involving both academic and private beneficiaries. The aim of this committee is to inform the consortium members on how to behave and act when a scientific output could be valorize.

Dissemination

As reaching a wide audience both specialized or not is very important to disseminate science, Cherry is proud to be involved in the “impact” section of DivIDE. Our objective is to communicate, let the scientific communty know about cell division and the consortium results. Specific actions will be carried out throughout all the project.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 675737