Project acronym EVOLNA
Project Evolution of LNA Aptamers
Researcher (PI) Jesper Thagaard Wengel
Host Institution (HI) SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS9, ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
Summary Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides which are able to target peptides, proteins, small molecules or live cells by virtue of their well-defined three-dimensional shapes. Aptamers are typically generated by evolution of specific sequences against a given target by in vitro evolution using the process known as SELEX. Progress of this field with respect to drug development has so far been hampered by the relative large size and poor biostability of evolved aptamers composed of unmodified nucleotides, necessitating tedious and extensive post-SELEX truncation and modification approaches. LNA (locked nucleic acid) is a prominent nucleotide modification which is in the process of revolutionizing gene silencing and RNA detection. LNA however has never been included in de novo aptamer evolution. EVOLNA is an ambitious but coherent research program with the objective of transforming the field of aptamer technology. The vision is to enable evolution of aptamers that per se possess most of the desired properties, thereby alleviating the need for extensive post-SELEX procedures. This will be realized by combining the unique properties of LNA with innovative methods for LNA aptamer evolution. LNA aptamer technology is envisioned to enable evolution of aptamers displaying maximum chemical diversity, minimum size and high biostability. The developed strategies will be applicable not only towards evolution of therapeutic aptamers, which will be the main subject of this program, but also towards evolution of aptamers for biosensing, diagnostic and imaging applications. The program is at the very frontier of biotechnology research and spans the areas of chemistry, molecular biology and drug research.
Summary
Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides which are able to target peptides, proteins, small molecules or live cells by virtue of their well-defined three-dimensional shapes. Aptamers are typically generated by evolution of specific sequences against a given target by in vitro evolution using the process known as SELEX. Progress of this field with respect to drug development has so far been hampered by the relative large size and poor biostability of evolved aptamers composed of unmodified nucleotides, necessitating tedious and extensive post-SELEX truncation and modification approaches. LNA (locked nucleic acid) is a prominent nucleotide modification which is in the process of revolutionizing gene silencing and RNA detection. LNA however has never been included in de novo aptamer evolution. EVOLNA is an ambitious but coherent research program with the objective of transforming the field of aptamer technology. The vision is to enable evolution of aptamers that per se possess most of the desired properties, thereby alleviating the need for extensive post-SELEX procedures. This will be realized by combining the unique properties of LNA with innovative methods for LNA aptamer evolution. LNA aptamer technology is envisioned to enable evolution of aptamers displaying maximum chemical diversity, minimum size and high biostability. The developed strategies will be applicable not only towards evolution of therapeutic aptamers, which will be the main subject of this program, but also towards evolution of aptamers for biosensing, diagnostic and imaging applications. The program is at the very frontier of biotechnology research and spans the areas of chemistry, molecular biology and drug research.
Max ERC Funding
2 497 720 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-04-01, End date: 2016-03-31
Project acronym HARMONY
Project "Harmonic identification, mitigation and control in power electronics based power systems"
Researcher (PI) Frede Blaabjerg
Host Institution (HI) AALBORG UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2012-ADG_20120216
Summary "Global electrical energy consumption is still increasing which demands that power capacity and power transmission capabilities must be doubled within 20 years. Today 40 % of the global energy consumption is processed by electricity in 2040 this may be up to 70 %. Electrical power production is changing from conventional, fossil based sources to renewable power resources. Highly efficient and sustainable power electronics in power generation, power transmission/distribution and end-user applications are introduced to ensure more efficient use of electricity. Traditional centralized electricity production with unidirectional power flows in transmission and distribution system will be replaced by the operation and control of intelligent distribution systems which are much more based on power electronics systems and having bidirectional power flow. Such large scale expansion of power electronics usage will change the characteristic of the power system by introducing more harmonics from generation, from the efficient load systems all resulting in a larger risk of instability and more losses in the future power system. The projects goal is to obtain “Harmony” between the renewable energy sources, the future power system and the loads in order to keep stability at all levels seen from a harmonic point of view. The project establishes the necessary theories, models and methods to identify harmonic problems in a power electronic based power system, a theoretical and hardware platform to enable control of harmonics and mitigate them, and develops on-line methods to monitor the harmonic state of the power system. The outcomes are new tools for identifying stability problems in power electronics based power systems and new control methods for reducing the harmonic presence and reduce the overall instability risks. Further, new design methods for active and passive filters in renewable energy systems, in the power system and in the power electronics based loads will be developed"
Summary
"Global electrical energy consumption is still increasing which demands that power capacity and power transmission capabilities must be doubled within 20 years. Today 40 % of the global energy consumption is processed by electricity in 2040 this may be up to 70 %. Electrical power production is changing from conventional, fossil based sources to renewable power resources. Highly efficient and sustainable power electronics in power generation, power transmission/distribution and end-user applications are introduced to ensure more efficient use of electricity. Traditional centralized electricity production with unidirectional power flows in transmission and distribution system will be replaced by the operation and control of intelligent distribution systems which are much more based on power electronics systems and having bidirectional power flow. Such large scale expansion of power electronics usage will change the characteristic of the power system by introducing more harmonics from generation, from the efficient load systems all resulting in a larger risk of instability and more losses in the future power system. The projects goal is to obtain “Harmony” between the renewable energy sources, the future power system and the loads in order to keep stability at all levels seen from a harmonic point of view. The project establishes the necessary theories, models and methods to identify harmonic problems in a power electronic based power system, a theoretical and hardware platform to enable control of harmonics and mitigate them, and develops on-line methods to monitor the harmonic state of the power system. The outcomes are new tools for identifying stability problems in power electronics based power systems and new control methods for reducing the harmonic presence and reduce the overall instability risks. Further, new design methods for active and passive filters in renewable energy systems, in the power system and in the power electronics based loads will be developed"
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-03-01, End date: 2018-02-28
