“The PsyCoMed project opened avenues for investigating neurological consequences of pollutant contamination. Our researchers benefited from secondments during the 48 months of the project to collaborate with laboratories in Tunisia and Italy to explore microplastic contamination, and in France to study animal models of ADHD pathophysiology. We are also developing local studies to understand glioblastoma pathophysiology.”

PsyCoMed
Psychiatric disorders and Comorbidities caused by pollution in the Mediterranean area

Pollution has been linked with psychiatric disorders and comorbidities. The EU-funded PsyCoMed project considers the role of anthropogenic pollutants as a risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders and associated pathologies in the Mediterranean area. It investigates the role of neuroinflammatory responses in disease progression. This MSCA Staff Exchange programme merges molecular and clinical science, mechanistic and behavioural approaches and intersectoral strategies to compare the effects of pollutants on psychiatric symptoms with alterations of inflammatory pathways in animal models and psychiatric patients. By investigating neural mechanisms underlying pathological changes in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, the project aims to standardise protocols and experimental design, and propose therapeutic strategies.

“My MSCA project has broadened my research opportunities, strengthened international collaborations, and enabled the creation of sustainable scientific networks. It has significantly enhanced excellence in my field while providing a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, mobility, and impactful knowledge transfer.”

FarmEVs
A greener and healthier future for both plant and human well-being

Agriculture’s sustainability challenges are reaching critical levels, calling for innovative eco-friendly solutions. Extracellular vesicles, tiny structures released by living cells, have long been known for their pivotal roles in cellular communication. Now, researchers are exploring plant-derived vesicles as a game-changing alternative to those from mammalian cells. With the support of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the FarmEVs project will harness plant-derived vesicles to revolutionise sustainable agriculture, creating a greener, healthier future for all. It will establish a large-scale, vegetable-based system for vesicle production by harnessing organically grown crops. These plant-derived vesicles are set to revolutionise sustainable agriculture, thanks to the collaborative efforts of an international consortium comprising eight partners from six countries.

“The H2020-MSCA-RISE offered me an invaluable opportunity to get in contact with an elite class of brilliant minds in their fields from three continents and of different specialities. It was a turning point in my career path that enriched and diversified my expertise while being hosted at various partner institutions in the project. The earned advancement through H2020-MSCA-RISE was not limited to scientific but extended to personal perspectives.”

MYCOBIOMICS
Joining forces to exploit the mycobiota of Asia, Africa and Europe for beneficial metabolites and potential biocontrol agents, using -OMICS techniques

The H2020-MSCA-RISE GoMyTRi project has successfully paved the way for international collaboration between three global research leaders from Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand. With partners specialised in applied mycology, the project explores beneficial secondary metabolites for the development of antibiotics and identifies potential candidates for the development of environmentally friendly fungal biocontrol agents. The EU-funded MYCOBIOMICS project expands the collaboration to carefully selected partners from Austria, Czech Republic, Kenya and South Africa for implementing omics technologies and studies on the interaction of fungal organisms to discover new bioactive molecules. The project also characterises the mycobiota of important agricultural plants.