“A multidisciplinary training network for the bioinspired development
of glycomimetics tuning the Siglec-Sialoglycan axis”
(GLYTUNES)
Introduction
GLYTUNES GLYTUNES is an Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme. GLYTUNES represents a novel, pioneering platform for understanding and exploiting the Siglecs-glycans cross-talk by harnessing the synergy of combining chemical to biological, biophysical, immunological research strategies and finally translating this knowledge into novel diagnostics and therapeutics. The GLYTUNES training network involves leading scientists from academia and industry and offers a total of 14 doctoral research projects (PhD projects) for early stage researchers (ESRs). The research topics range from fundamental to translational science and aim at i) unravelling the mechanisms governing sialo-glycans recognition by the immune surface receptors Siglecs, and ii) enabling the rational design and development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies against immune and infectious diseases. Experts in chemical and structural biology, drug design and computational chemistry, synthetic and medicinal chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, immunology and molecular and medical microbiology will provide the ESRs with a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary training. Successful applicants will receive training in carbohydrate chemistry, glycoimmunology, tumor immunology, microbiology, drug design and development, project management, scientific communication, funding programmes and grant writings, entrepreneurship, ethics and intellectual property. GLYTUNES will expose ESRs to a unique combination of “hands-on” research training, non-academic placements, courses, and workshops on scientific and complementary skills necessary for their future thriving careers in academia, clinical research or industry and to become the new leaders in the expanding research area of glycosciences.
Research projects
The research activities implemented in GLYTUNES have the following objectives:
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To gain structural, functional, immunological and mechanistic insights into the mechanisms governing sialoglycan recognition by Siglecs.
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Host glycocodes: to understand the molecular, immunological and dynamic features of Siglecs-glycans crosstalk.
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Sialylated Microbial Glycans: to understand the structure, function and conformation of sialylated envelope, and their interaction with cognate Siglecs.
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To perform the rational design, development and optimization of mono- and multivalent glycomimetics active against the Siglecs-sialic acid axis.
The 14 Early Stage Researchers (ESR)’ individual projects are listed in the following table.
Download all the information about the call and details of the individual ESR Projects
| ESR | TITLE OF THE PROJECT | HOST INSTITUTION | SHORT NAME | SUPERVISOR | EXPECTED START DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full characterization of bacterial sialylated envelope components | University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy) |
UNINA | Alba Silipo | 1st October, 2021 |
| 2 | The role of Siglecs in the association between Fusobacterium nucleatum strains and colon cancer | Quadram Institute Bioscience (Norwich, UK) |
QIB | Nathalie Juge | 1st October, 2021 |
| 3 | Deciphering the structural details of the recognition mode of cancer-associated glycoproteins by Siglec receptors implicated in immune suppression in cancer | Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (Derio, Spain) |
CIC-bioGUNE | June Ereño-Orbea | 1st September, 2021 |
| 4 | Studying the immunological pathways of the Sialic acid-Siglec axis including the Siglec/TLR cross-talk | VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
VUMC | Yvette van Kooyk Fabrizio Chiodo |
1st September, 2021 |
| 5 | Biophysical characterization of Siglecs and Siglec- sialoglycans complexes | University of Florence - Magnetic Resonance Center (Florence, Italy) |
UNIFI-CERM | Marco Fragai | 1st November, 2021 |
| 6 | High resolution structural analysis of Siglec oligomers by cryo-EM | Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (Grenoble, France) |
CNRS | Irina Gutsche | 1st September, 2021 |
| 7 | Development and optimization of novel active glycomimetics | Radboud University (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
RAD | Thomas Boltje | 1st September, 2021 |
| 8 | NMR methods for the characterisation of protein-ligand interactions using 19F-compounds | ATLAS Molecular Pharma (Bilbao, Spain) |
ATLAS | Oscar Millet | 1st September, 2021 |
| 9 | Chemoenzymatic synthesis of novel ligands for the detection or inhibition of Siglecs | ICENI Diagnostics (Norwich, UK) |
ICENI | Rob Field | 1st July, 2021 |
| 10 | Synthesis of Advanced sialylated glycans libraries and their variant | GlycoUniverse (Potsdam, Germany) |
GCU | Kim Le Mai Hoang | 1st September, 2021 |
| 11 | Expression and biophysical characterization of Siglec proteins | Giotto Biotech (Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) |
GIOTTO | Tommaso Martelli | 1st September, 2021 |
| 12 | Physico-chemical analysis of Siglecs-Glycan complexes | University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy) |
UNINA | Alba Silipo | 1st October, 2021 |
| 13 | Looking at different sialylation in cancer tissues using Siglecs (and tissues sialic acids) as biomarkers | VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
VUMC | Yvette van Kooyk Fabrizio Chiodo |
1st September, 2021 |
| 14 | Sialic acid biosynthesis inhibitors to target the sialic acid - Siglec axis | Radboud University (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
RAD | Thomas Boltje | 1st September, 2021 |
Training Programme
All the selected students will be involved in a highly stimulating training programme,
both at the local and at the network-wide level.
The training programme comprises:
- The implementation of the individual research project at the host institution. The research project will involve collaborations with other GLYTUNES institutions, to be implemented through secondments.
- Each researcher will be involved in local training sessions.
- Joint scientific courses and meetings will be organised by the GLYTUNES consortium, together with short courses for transferable skills training.
- Enrolment in PhD programmes of the following universities:
| ESR | HOST INSTITUTION | UNIVERSITY RELEASING THE PhD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNINA | University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy) |
| 2 | QIB | University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK) |
| 3 | CIC-bioGUNE | Universidad del País Vasco (Leioa, Spain) |
| 4 | VUMC | VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
| 5 | UNIFI-CERM | University of Florence (Florence, Italy) |
| 6 | CNRS | University Grenoble-Alps (Grenoble, France) |
| 7 | RAD | Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) |
| 8 | ATLAS | Universidad del País Vasco (Leioa, Spain) |
| 9 | ICENI | University of Manchester (Manchester, UK) |
| 10 | GCU | Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany) |
| 11 | GIOTTO | University of Florence (Florence, Italy) |
| 12 | UNINA | University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy) |
| 13 | VUMC | VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) |
| 14 | RAD | Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) |
Recruitment
The ESRs will be contractually employed for 36 months by the recruiting organisation and will be covered under the related national social security scheme. ESRs will receive a Monthly Living Allowance plus a Mobility Allowance (where applicable) compliant with the applicable EC Marie Skłodowska - Curie Actions – ITN
(https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2018-2020/main/h2020-wp1820-msca_en.pdf page 89 and 92)
Eligibility Rules
At the time of recruitment applicants must fulfil the following rules:
Experience:
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Applicants must be in possession of the degree (usually the Master Degree) which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher will be recruited. In case the degree has not been obtained yet, it is necessary to send a declaration of the university stating that the degree will be obtained before the expected starting date.
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Applicants must be in the first 4 years of their research careers (full-time equivalent research experience) at the signature of the contract (measured from the time the Master’s degree has been obtained).
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Eligible applicants must not hold a Doctoral degree already.
Mobility:
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The applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country where the research training activities will take place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date.
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Exceptions International Organisations: Eligible researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of selection in the same appointing international organisation.
How to apply
GLYTUNES will select ESR through a 2-step recruitment process.
Candidates should submit their application for their top two preferred research projects.
Application documents should be sent by email to the relevant project supervisors (see emails indicated in the individual project descriptions above).
Applications (in English) should indicate the preferred research project(s) and should include:
- an updated CV; the CV must be without gaps, in order to easily check the mobility and experience requirements. CVs that either do not clearly show the applicant’s past experience, or have gaps, will be considered ineligible.
- a letter giving reason for his/her motivation for the position;
- at least 1 reference letter (in English) from one former supervisor and/or lecturer;
- the scan of the degree (usually the Master Degree) which would formally entitle him/her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher will be recruited. In case the degree has not been obtained yet, it is necessary to send a declaration of the university stating that the degree will be obtained before the expected starting date;
- transcripts of records (document indicating their ranking and marks within their last year at their Master Degree as well as the courses/modules they have followed).
Applications must be in English and will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- educational record;
- scientific quality of the applicant’s CV;
- expected individual impact and benefit to the fellow and to the project.
- previous experience in the subject of GLYTUNES research programme.
The closing date for applications is 30/04/2021.
Candidates will be evaluated by the recruiting institution on the basis of the received documents.
The best 4 candidates for each position will be invited for a Skype (or face to face) interview (in the period 15-31 May 2021). Interviews will be held by the recruiting institution and at least one other member of the respective ESR Board, preferably from the industry.
For each position a short list of top candidates will be prepared and notified to the applicants.
The top candidates will be asked to provide a written acceptance of the studentship; then the following ranked candidates will be requested to confirm. If a successful candidate declines the offer, the studentship will be offered to the next ranked candidate.
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Download all the information about the call and details of the individual ESR Projects |  |
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s |
Last update: February 26, 2021
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