Description
The project focuses on two subjects of immediate interest for Romania and for the international scientific world: a public health issue represented by molecular evaluation of the effects of high fat diet in humans and the molecular mechanisms underlying adipocyte metabolism and their consequences on obesity and associated metabolic conditions. This project aims to consolidate a biomedical collaboration between Romania and Norway oriented towards the stimulation of medical multidisciplinary research for improving the quality of life. Successful dealing with this type of priority health problems is possible only with a team of highly trained researchers. So, the main objective of this project is for the master and PhD students and staff of University of Bucharest to gain expertise in modern techniques of molecular biology from institutes of high scientific class related to molecular research from Norway. Experience accumulated during the research stages will allow the achievement of a team of highly trained researchers in Romania to successfully deal with high priority health issues as obesity and the consequences of high fat diet in humans. The project aims to add value to existing knowledge in the field through original and innovative research correlated with high fat diet and transcriptional regulation of critical adipogenic factors and molecules involved in obesity and metabolic diseases. The target group consists of two master students, two PhD students and five researchers. The researchers from Norway have wide experience in molecular investigations correlated with high fat diet. As the project develops the synergies between the working groups will be consolidated with the final purpose of new collaboration.
Summary of project results
The project was focused on two subjects of immediate interest for Romania and for the international scientific world: a public health issue represented by molecular evaluation of the effects of high fat diet in humans and the molecular mechanisms underlying adipocyte metabolism and their consequences on obesity and associated metabolic conditions. NIPH hosted 2 master students (3 months each) and 1 researcher (7 days) and UiO hosted 1 PhD student (6 months) and 1 researcher from UB. The master students achieved research results were: mRNA and miRNA analysis was performed; cDNA from testis for mRNA expression analysis was obtained, and also for miRNA (prepared from tissue); The PhD student gained research experience in an international environment; performed some experiments for the final part of her PhD thesis related to adipogenic differentiation and molecular biology studies. Some of the data obtained in this project will be presented at a Conference on Prenatal Programming and Toxicity in Japan and they are currently working on a paper that will include all the results obtained during this project (paper should be ready by the end of 2016). Research articles issued for PhD Student mobility at UIO: the research results she obtained during the mobility to Tasken lab, BiO, University of Oslo, are part of 2 publications (one abstract and one submitted manuscript): Abstract: Dinescu S., Rogne M., Tasken K., Some mutations in OPA1 causing Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy are associated with loss of OPA1 function as an A-kinase anchoring protein that binds PKA, Annual Network Meeting of The Nordic EMBL Partnership For Molecular Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark, 08-10.09.2015. Paper submitted, under review: Rogne M., Dinescu S., Costache M., Staerk J., Tasken K.,Mutations in OPA1 acting as an A-kinase anchoring protein that binds PKA interfere with fat tissue metabolism, submitted, under review. These mobilities at NIPH helped the students to enhance their lab experience. One of them have been asked to work for NIPH to finalize the results from September to December 2015. Researchers trained during this mobility opened a new field of research in the University of Bucharest. Several applications for funding projects related to obesity and to OPA1 function have been submitted for evaluation and funding in the national projects competitions launched this year, currently during selection procedure.
Summary of bilateral results
This project aimed to consolidate a biomedical collaboration between Romania and Norway oriented towards the stimulation of medical multidisciplinary research for improving the quality of life.The donor and partner institutions provided the necessary infrastructure for the project. The partnerships will develop in further cooperation in research projects and common research articles. Both partners provided the access to the computing resources and to highly equipped laboratory and involved our students and staff in their projects