DIVIDE – reproduce in vitro with synthetic approaches the mechanisms and principles of 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 one of the cellular structures that best represents the ability of biological matter to self-organize through 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 behavior of the mitotic spindle captures the imagination of synthetic biologists and modelers.
INFO
SKILLS
FIELD OF APPLICATIONS
Temperature
Medium renewal
Drug injection
CHERRY’S ROLES AS BENEFICIARY OF DivIDE
Cell environmental control
Pablo Salaverria works as a so-called “Early Stage Researcher” within DivIDE. As a Ph.D. student, he will use his engineering background to think and realize a device capable of imaging cells in real time using high-resolution microscopy techniques, while controlling 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 extent, 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 valorized
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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 community know about cell division and the consortium results. Specific actions will be carried out throughout the project.
CONSORTIUM
Dr. Thomas Guérinier
CO-FOUNDER & CSO
Pablo Salaverria
ESR (PhD student)
Dr. Jérémy Cramer
FOUNDER & CEO
DivIDE
Training a new generation of molecular engineers to address cell division.
http://divide-eunetwork.org/institutions/cherry-biotech
http://www.crg.eu/en/content/research/projects/ec-coordinated/divide
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 675737
