MEET - Mitochondrial European Educational Training

The expanding diversification and specialization of knowledge and the growing complexity of contemporary research in translational research warrant the creation of cooperative multi-disciplinary networks including both basic and medically oriented expertise. This notion is especially true for Mitochondrial Medicine which aims at understanding the physiopathological mechanisms sharing the features of mitochondrial biology and represents an ideal platform for the training of young investigators who will develop a broad view of biomedical sciences working in such a multifaceted area of research. The project will create a network of 10 basic and translational laboratories (among which 2 SMEs) and 2 associated partners who will provide well established professional tools for training and dissemination. MEET will train 11 ESRs and 3 ERs supervised in their research by 15 mentors and by their collaborators. In addition, the 14 trainees will attend at least 1 advanced course in the genetic field, 1 complementary training course about public and private financial sources for R&D and Innovation projects and 1 or 2 selected technical workshops organized by the 10 partner laboratories. The cohesion of the research and teaching activities will be guaranteed by: monthly telematic meetings of, an international scientific Symposium specifically addressed to associations and foundations of patients and patients families in order to exchange the most up-to-date knowledge advances. By creating the critical mass of scientific excellence documented by the track records of the individual investigators, most of whom have worked together in the FP6 EUMITOCOMBAT project, MEET will combine the efforts of leading clinicians with those of more basic oriented groups and will have important implications for the comprehension and treatment of mitochondria-related pathologies.