WG 1 – Developing protocols for raising marine/aquatic invertebrate stem cells under in vitro conditions


Leader: Dr Isabelle DOMART-COULON  , Vice-leader: U. Frank

WG1 coordinates the activities of a series of tasks devoted to the development of common protocols, problem solutions and tools (such as the development of resource services) in order to foster integration of research institutions. It will focus on the tasks listed below. This will guide the development of shared services and solutions not only within the research institutions but also into the working environments of stakeholders and users to lay a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.

TASKS

• New marine invertebrate models and access to marine resources
• The problem of endosymbionts in establishment of pure or mixed cell cultures of MISC
• Methods for stem cell enrichment in culture
• Immortalisation of marine/aquatic invertebrate stem cells
• Cryopreservation of marine/aquatic invertebrate stem cells

WG2 – “omics” to characterize the MISC phenotypes


Leader A. Varela Coehlo (PO), Vice-leader K. Bartscherer (D)

Technical and scientific capabilities to support the cooperation are coordinated by WG2: molecular/biochemical profiling of novel model organisms needs data services for annotation, analysis and archiving

TASKS

• Comparative functional genomics and transcriptomics of marine/aquatic invertebrate tissues or derived MISCs
• 
Comparative proteomics of marine/aquatic invertebrate stem cells
• Differentiation molecular pathways of MISCs
• Development of strategies for “manipulating” stem cells (knockdown, CRISPR, transgenesis, etc.)

WG 3 – Blue technology: MISCs as model systems for the study of fundamental biological processes related to stem cells.

Leader P. Oliveri (UK), Vice-leader A. Rosner (IL)

WG3 coordinates the activities of the tasks listed below devoted to the address the various aspects of stem cell biology in MISC. It will foster integration of research institutions.

TASKS

• Evolutionary aspects of stem cell differentiation and development
• Cancer, aging and senescence phenomena
• Regeneration

WG 4 – Networking with stakeholders


Leader A. Burzynski (PL), Vice-leader AM Geneviere (FR)

The evaluation of the potential of MISC to provide useful biomolecules is the focus of WG4

TASKS

• Bioactive molecules. The technology developed in culture may be instrumental in solving some practical tasks in marine biotechnology, including the generation of cell cultures producing complex bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Stakeholders, some of which are already part of the proposing network, will be contacted from the beginning of the COST project and invited to participate to specific workshops in which the potential applications of MISC will be discussed.