VES4US project
The five project coordinators of EU EVs projects, in Palermo
The five FET-Open/EIC Pathfinder projects, INDEX, VES4US, evFOUNDRY, GLADIATOR and MINDGAP are currently channelling their efforts towards the study of EVs. An action of coordination and cross-fertilization is expected to increase the chance of success for a future European leading role in this emerging scientific domain. The projects have started to draft a road map that should shape the research agenda in the next years.
What are Extracellular Vesicles (EV)s?
Cells communicate with each other. The nature of this communication has long been ignored, and only ten years ago EVs were thought to be a mechanism applied by cells to get rid of waste. Only in the last few years, an interest for the topic has blossomed, pointing to the central role of EVs in the communication strategies of cells. Extracellular vesicles are cell-derived nanoparticles that can ‘carry’ messages from one cell to another, by detaching from the cells themselves.
These interactions happen at the level of nanoparticles and both in a normal (when the cells are not sick) and pathological (when they are). The link between EVs behaviour and the spread of diseases can lead to new approaches to life sciences, environment and public health. The need for further research is particularly intense now that all over the world companies are sensing the potential of this revolutionary research field. This affects crucial industrial sectors in biomedical applications, cancer, equiment manufacturers, cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
More information
- EV Manifesto
- evMANIFESTO released, EVFoundry news
- 1st EVs Clustering Event in Palermo, VES4US press release
Background
FET-Open and FET Proactive are now part of the Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot (specifically of the Pathfinder), the new home for deep-tech research and innovation in Horizon 2020.