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What is Advanced Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences (ACCLifeSci)?
Advanced Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences (ACCLifeSci) is an educational and scientific project coordinated by prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Skrzydlewska, the Dean of MUB’s Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, financed from Erasmus+ Programme implemented by a partnership of three universities:
- Medical University of Białystok, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine (The Leader)
- Aveiro University (Portugal, partner)
- University San Pablo-CEU (Spain, partner)
What is the period of project implemaentation?
1st September 2015 – 31st August 2018
What is the subject matter of the project?
The rapid development of civilization diseases is the main reason for the increase of morbidity and mortality in Europe and quantitative/qualitative research into identifying biomarkers of civilization diseases in the context of omics, addressed by this project, is one of the possible remedies. Omics may explain the biochemical bases of an organism’s functioning through characterization/quantification of pools of biological molecules. As single compounds are ineffective biomarkers, omics give new opportunities for a more detailed understanding of diseases. This improves efficiency, monitoring, and leads to personalized therapy. Advanced Analytical Chemistry (AAC), an instrumental basis for all pharmaceutical/biomedical examinations, allows to apply the premises of omics in practice.
Omics development in European universities is imbalanced. Although AAC/omics is usually included in PhD courses through theoretical/practical classes, the number of specialized units/teams with access to dedicated equipment needed for a comprehensive approach is limited. There is also a lack of AAC-qualified academics, didactic materials or a system for an experience exchange at all levels. Thus, only few PhD students can be fully trained in AAC, instrumental analysis or data handling or acquire the skills necessary to integrate AAC with the needs of health service, hospital diagnostic labs, business or labour market.
What is the aim of the project?
The aims of the project is to adapt the study programmes in the three Partner Universities to the needs of the health service in the area of the use of Advanced Analytical Chemistry techniques in omics through an exchange of experiences at the European level.
How the aim will be achieved?
The aims of the project will be achieved by
- preparing the academic staff of the 3 Partner Universities for educating PhD students in using of AAC techniques in metabolomics/lipidomics and proteomics,
- modifications in study programmes
- creation of educational resources - the manuscript and e-materials for students /i.e. the Intellectual Outputs/
The project activities include partnership-based learning/training/teaching activities, and involve an exchange of experiences and good practices, creating a stable and active network of cooperation, and personal and social development of project participants.
What activities will be organized as part of the project?
Learning/Training/Teaching Activities
The assumed activities will play a key role in relevant preparing of the researchers/teachers involved in the project implementation and realizing all the project’s Intellectual Outputs.
Learning Activities will be organized to provide the researchers/teachers the necessary theoretical and practical skills in AAC. This will be followed by Training Activities with students (workshops) whose purpose will be to expand on the previous sessions in a researcher/teacher-PhD student context (an international teaching cooperation). The last series of activities (Teaching Activities), in addition to providing a further extension of the earlier ones, will be aimed at testing the first draft of the manuscript and introducing all the necessary modifications.
Implementation of the project gives the unique opportunity for the 3 Partner Universities to combine the knowledge and experience of their scientific and administrative teams. An additional result of the project implementation will be an exchange of good practices and skills and an extension of cooperation between the 3 institutions, which may open possibilities for joint investigations in the future. Moreover, the project will create a rich multidisciplinary environment, facilitating the sharing of knowledge between each of the team members at a high academic level. It is envisaged that the impact of the project will extend to both the scientific community and patients, leading to a better therapeutic possibilities in the area of different diseases.
What is the reason for the international character of the project?
The transnational cooperation results from the inherent highly specialized nature, global character, and specific path of development of its subject area. Discussion during international events is key, so to realize the project objectives, a collaboration in a wide group of international experts, competent in various aspects of AAC and omics, is absolutely essential. As AAC and multiomics development in Europe varies, this will facilitate an exchange of knowledge, experience, and good practices. This is an EU-level added value, the outcomes impossible to achieve by one institution, or even various institutions from a single country.
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