Short-Term Scientific Missions MitoEAGLE

News and Events

Working Groups

Short-Term Scientific Missions

Management Committee

Members

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COST Action CA15203 (2016-2021): MitoEAGLE
Evolution-Age-Gender-Lifestyle-Environment: mitochondrial fitness mapping

Short-Term Scientific Missions MitoEAGLE

STSM Grant Period 1

Awardees 2016 November 20^th and 2017 March 25^th

STSM applicant	Country	Host	Project	WG
Zanou Nadege	Switzerland	Garcia-Roves Pablo M (ES)	Role of Ryanodin receptor (RyR) 1 in skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise: physiology and metabolism	WG1, WG2
Meszaros Andras	Hungary	Gnaiger E (AT)	Harmonizing protocols of high resolution respirometry and fluorometry - completed	WG1
Dymkowska Dorota	Poland	Gnaiger E (AT)	Training in the MitoFit Laboratory - completed	WG1
Komlodi Timea	Hungary	Gnaiger E (AT)	Standardization of protocols in mitochondria respirometry and fluorometry - completed	WG1

• The final dates of the STSMs will have to be negotiated between the applicant and the host.
• 4 STSMs for 750.- EUR

3,000.- EUR (Work and Budget Plan)

• Notification of final decision by the Management Committee: 2016-11-12
• 2 STSMs for 750.- EUR

1,500.- EUR (addition from FSAC - open for further applications)

Grant periods

GP	GP time span	MC Meeting	Work and Budget Plan	STSM application deadline 1st Call	STSM application deadline 2nd Call	STSM time span	STSM final report deadline
	2016-09-12	Brussels, BE 2016-09-12
1	2016-11-01 to 2017-04-30	Barcelona, ES 2017-03-21	WBP 1	2016-11-01		2016-11-20 to 2017-03-25	2017-04-25
2	2017-05-01 to 2018-04-30	Hradec Králové, CZ 2017-11-15	WBP 2	2017-05-13	2017-09-28	2017-06-01 to 2017-10-31 2017-11-01 to 2018-03-25	2018-04-25
3	2018-05-01 to 2019-04-30	Jurmala, LV 2018-09-18	WBP3.1/WBP3.2	-	2019-02-28	2018-05-15 to 2019-03-25	2019-04-25
4	2019-05-01 to 2020-04-30	Belgrade, RS 2018-10-13	WBP 4.1	-	2020-02-29	2019-05-01 to 2020-03-25	2020-04-25
5	2020-05-01 to 2021-02-28	Obergurgl, AT 2020	WBP 5	-	2020-12-01	2020-05-01 to 2020-12-01	2020-01-01

STSM Coordinators

Coordinator Magdalena Labieniec-Watala, PhD, DSc - [email protected]

Co-coordinator: Susanne Klaus, Prof. Dr. - [email protected]

COST criteria for evaluation of STSM applications

Aims and scope of a STSM

1. Support individual mobility.

2. Specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of MITOEAGLE.

3. Strengthen the MITOEAGLE network.

4. Foster collaborations by allowing researchers participating in the COST Action MITOEAGLE to visit an institution/organisation in

• another participating COST Country;
• an approved Near Neighbour Country institution - Sameh S Ali
• an approved International Partner Country institution - IPC institutions are not yet approved in MITOEAGLE.

5. Learn new techniques.

6. Gain access to specific data, methods and instruments not available in the home institutions / organisations.

Researchers eligible for a STSM

• PhD students and Early Career Investigators (up to 8 years after the date of obtaining the PhD/doctorate, full-time equivalent) have priority.
• Senior scientists.
• We particularly encourage the application of researchers from “inclusiveness target countries” (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, FYR Macedonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey).
• Gender balance will be monitored.

• Researchers are eligible to receive a STSM Grant if the country where they hold their primary affiliation is listed here: http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/ca/CA15203?parties.

• The home institution is the institution / organisation where the STSM applicant holds their primary affiliation as registered on their e-COST profile / STSM application / C.V. and where they are currently performing their main strand of research.
• The host institution concerns the institution / organisation that will host the successful applicant.

Funding regulations

• STSM in which practical science is getting carried out.
• STSM which directly lead to tangible outcomes (e.g. writing papers/grants).
• Funding rule in section 7 of the COST Vademecum.

The money will be returned AFTER the Grantee has completed her/his visit and submitted a report (a written report on the activities carried out during the STSM within 30 days of the end of the research visit)

Note: STSM grantees must make their own arrangements for all provisions related to personal security, health, social security and pension matters.

How to apply for a STSM

Interested researchers have to submit their application and supporting documents to the STSM Coordinator.

Supporting documents

1. Letter of invitation to the applicant from a senior researcher affiliated to the host institution.
2. The submitted STSM application form (downloadable when the online application is submitted – see point 4 below).
3. Motivation letter including an overview of the proposed activities that will be performed which must contain a plan of work for the visit highlighting the proposed contribution to the scientific objectives of MITOEAGLE.
4. Letter of support from the home institution.
5. Full C.V. (including a list of academic publications – if applicable).

Application process

1. Read the funding rules in Section 7 of the COST Vademecum: »Guidelines
2. Register for an e-COST profile at https://e-services.cost.eu/ - add your bank account details to your profile.
3. Include in your application a letter of invitation from the host institution confirming that the host can undertake the STSM on the given dates.
4. Complete, submit and download your STSM application online at: www.cost.eu/STSM.
5. Send the submitted STSM application form and the supporting documents to the STSM Coordinator:

• Magdalena Labieniec-Watala: [email protected]

Evaluation process

1. The amounts granted for each individual STSM will be determined during the evaluation process by the STSM Coordinator, Chair and Co-chair.
2. The selection of applicants is based on the scientific scope of the STSM application which must clearly compliment the overall objectives of MITOEAGLE outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding.
3. Within 30 days from the end date of the STSM, the successful applicant must submit a scientific report to the host institution and to the STSM Coordinator. The Scientific Report must contain the following:

• purpose of the STSM
• description of the work carried out during the STSM
• description of the main results achieved
• future collaboration with the Host institution (if applicable)
• foreseen publications/articles resulting from the STSM (if applicable)
• confirmation by the Host institution of the successful execution of the STSM

1. The applicant is responsible for acquiring an official acceptance letter (or Email confirmation of acceptance) from a senior researcher affiliated to the host institution formally accepting the scientific report. This formal acceptance of the scientific report has to be sent to the Grant Holder Scientific Representative ([email protected]) and the STSM Coordinator ([email protected]) for archiving purposes. Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM will effectively cancel the Grant.

Please note that the COST Association can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submittedby STSM applicant.

MITOEAGLE host institutions

• We would like to invite institutions who are willing to host MITOEAGLE Short Term Scientific Missions to join the list as an important information for potential applicants. Please, let us know the topics of expertise of your institution related to the MITOEAGLE Working Groups and Memorandum of Understanding, and the contact details of the responsible mentor.

» Open doc file: STSM Host Institution - invitation

» Open doc file: STSM Host Institution - template

Work in progress

Country	Host Institution	Mentors	Working Group	Techniques in the lab
AT	Medical University Innsbruck	Gnaiger E	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
AT	OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS	Doerrier Velasco CA, Drinnan M, Gnaiger E, Sumbalova Z	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
PL	University of Lodz	Labieniec-Watala M, Watala C	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
ES	INIBIC-Hospital, Universitario A Coruña.	Blanco FJ	WG1, WG2, WG4
ES	University of Barcelona	Garcia-Roves PM, Perales JC	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
ES	Universitat de Lleida	Boada J	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
HU	Semmelweis University	Chinopoulos C	WG3, WG4	i) Mitochondrial respirometry in intact and permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria; ii) fluorescence measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential in intact and permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria; iii) assessment of mitochondrial substrate-level phosphorylation in intact and permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria; iv) Western blotting; v) isolation of mitochondria; vi) cell culturing; vii) TR technique protocol for assessment of permeability transition in intact and permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria; viii) assessment of ANT activity in permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria; ix) determination of maximum calcium uptake capacity in permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria.
DE	Technical University of Munich	Klingenspor M,Fromme T	WG1, WG3, WG4	Preparation of single cell suspensions / isolated mitochondria from cultured cells / murine tissues / human blood, respirometry (Oroboros Oxygraphs, Seahorse Flux Analyzer, legacy clark type electrodes), fluorescence based assays of membrane potential and superoxide production, wide array of molecular biological and biochemical methodology.
UK	University of Nottingham	Chakrabarti L	WG2, WG3	Proteomics, lipidomics with collaborators at UoN, enzyme biochemistry (electron transport chain and others), lifespan studies in c.elegans
DE	University Hospital Regensburg	Renner-Sattler K, Kreutz M	WG1, WG4	Isolation and differentiation of human immune cells,(lymphocyte populations, monocytes, dendritic cells)metabolic analysis of human immune cells and cultured cells respirometry, PreSens technology, Seahorse Technology, measurement of metabolites as glucose and lactate by enzymatic assays, western blot analysis of mitochondrial proteins, determination of mitochondrial content, ROS production and membrane potential by FACS analysis;
IR	Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI)	Porter RK	WG1
LT	Lithuanian University of Health Sciences	Borutaite V, Arandarcikaite O	WG2, WG3, WG4	Isolation of mitochondria from various tissues (brain, heart, liver, kidney), respirometry (isolated mitochondria and cells), measurement of mitochondrial permeability transition, activities of mitochondrial enzymes, cell culture techniques (primary neuronal-glial, cell lines - macrophages, glioblastoma and neuroblastoma)
ES	Instituto Teofilo Hernando I+D del Medicamento	Cano-Abad MF	WG3	Neuronal cell culture, mitocondrial calcium measurements by Aequorin and fluorecents probes genetically encoded to the mitocondrial matrix pericam.
SK	Slovak Academy of Sciences	Ukropec J, Ukropcova B	WG2, WG4	primary muscle cell culture, skeletal muscle & adipose tissue biopsy, O2k respirometry (muscle,.blood cells, muscle cell culture - could be established), real-time PCR, western blot (in-cell western), muscle IHCH, exercise intervention studies, clinical metabolic phenotyping, indirect calorimetry, human muscle functional characteristics, aerobic fitness test, physical activity monitoring
NL	Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam	Wuest RC, Houtkooper RH	WG1, WG2, WG4	Mitochondrial respiration (Oroboros and Seahorse)Metabolomics, Cell culture, Metabolic disease models (large biobank with fibroblasts from patients), C. elegans, CRISPR/CAS9, Enzyme and DNA diagnostics, Cardiac cell function measurements, stable isotope flux measurements
GR	National & Kapodistrian University of Athens	Trougakos IP	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4
IT	University of Bologna	Genova ML	WG2, WG4	Tissue fractionation and mitochondrial isolation techniques, First model OROBOROS High resolution Oxygraph and respirometric equipments of different brands, Gel electrophoresis apparatus for BN-PAGE, Spectrophotometric techniques for respiratory enzyme kinetic assays
UK	De Montfort University	Moisoi N	WG1, WG3, WG4	Models: Cell culture and Drosophila models of Parkinson’s Disease Techniques: High Resolution Respirometry, RT-qPCR, Western Blotting, Immunofluorescence (Microscopy), Measurements of Neurotransmiters by electrochemical detection (HPLC)
HU	University of Debrecen	Bai P	WG2, WG3	Cellular models for white adipocytes, beige adipoctes, hepatocytes, skeltal muscle myoblasts/fibers, Oroboros oxygraph 2k for oxymetry on cells, Seahorse XF96 for oxymetry on cells, Flow cytometric determination of mitochondrial membrane potential, Assessment of mitochondrial fusion by microscopy, Gene expression studies, Assessment of the activity of certain cellular energy sensors (AMPK, mTORC1, mTORC2, etc.)
NO	University of Oslo	Rustan AC	WG2, WG4	Multiwell fuel handling system using radiolabeled precursors
UK	University of Cambridge	Murray AJ	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4	HRR, enzyme activity assays, isolated heart perfusion, metabolomics, molecular biology
IT	Fondazione S.Lucia -IRCCS	Pieroni L	WG2, WG3, WG4	Mitochondria enrichment from tissues and cells ( with the possibility to culture cell lines), Wet Lab Biochemistry ( SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, IP, immunohistochemistry) Proteomics Facilities: MALDI TOF MS/MS-MS: for PMF analysis on digested proteins or Biomarker Profiling in biofluids ( liquor, plasma, urines, etc..), LC-MS and LC-MS/MS: label free comparative proteomics, bottom up and top down analysis, targeted proteomics, GC-MS: metabolic survey analysis
EG	Helmy Institute of Medical Science	Ali SS, Abdel-Rahman EA	WG2, WG3, WG4	1. Metabolic Studies (two Oroboros O2k with fluorescence and ISE modules + Seahorse XF24 Flux Analyzer), 2. Reactive Oxygen Species detection, identification, and quantifications (Magnettech Benchtop electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer with temperature and gas controllers + BMG multiplate reader for optical detections + WPI Free Radical Analyzers), Flowcytometric detections in suspended cells, 3. Cell Fractionation techniques (mitochondrial and synaptosomes isolations, isolations of platelets neutrophils from human blood, etc.), 4. Flow cytometry (Attune® Acoustic Focusing Flow Cytometer), 5. Molecular and Cell Biology techniques (Western Blot, RT-PCR, etc.), 6. Imaging (Fluoresence and confocal microscopy), 7. Membrane fluidity measurements by EPR spin labeling.
ES	INIBIC A Coruña	Mayan MD	WG1, WG3, WG4	Cell culture, molecular, cellular and electrophysiological thecniques. Human primary cells (chondrocytes, dermal fibroblast, keratinocytes), cell lines and animal models (mice).
IT	University of Verona	Calabria E	WG4	Separation and isolation of PBMCs, HRR.
ES	Universitat of Granada	Acuna-Castroviejo D, Escames G, Lopez Garcia LC	WG2	Crude and purified mitochondrial preparations; ATP production determination; high resolution respirometry in isolated mitochondria and permeabilized fibers from miocardial and skeletal muscles; in vivo respirometry in zebrafish embryos; spectrophotometric measurement of cytochromes;sSpectrophotometric measurement of mitochondrial respiratory complexes activities; HPLC-EC and HPLC-UV determination of Coenzyme Q and adenosine nucleotides; RT-PCR (including mtDNA copy number), Western-Blot, histology and immunohistochemistry (including COX and SDH stains), oxidative stress markers (carbonyl groups, lipid peroxidation, glutathione redox state, activities of GPx, GRd and MnSOD, ...); mouse models of diseases including aging, sepsis, Parkinson's disease, mitochondrial diseases. Primary cell models of mitochondrial diseases; mouse phenotyping (locomotor activity, MRI and MRS).
US	Wake Forest School of Medicine	Molina AJA	WG1, WG2, WG4	Muscle biopsy (human, primate), Muscle fiber respirometry, Blood-based bioenergetic profiling
PL	Poznan University of Medical Sciences	Michalak S	WG1, WG4	ELISA, Western blotting, indirect fluorescence, enzymology
IR	Dublin City University	O'Gorman D	WG2	Oroboros, Standard lab techniques (western blot, enzyme assay), Proteomics, Gene array, Microscopy (inverted, confocal, etc), Cell culture, Clinical facility (human data collection, including biopsies), Flow cytometry
DE	Institut für Vegetative Physiologie der Universität Köln	Wiesner RJ	WG1	Mouse genetics, physiology, proteomics, tissue function
LV	Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis	Makrecka-Kuka M, Liepins E	WG1, WG2	mt respirometry combined with fluorometry, enzyme activity measurement. research of mitochondrial function after ischemia-reperfusion injury (ex vivo), in the models of oxidative stress and diabetes.
DE	Heinrich Heine University	Ventura N	WG2, WG3	We primarily use the nematode c.elegans for aging and toxicology study. We carry out: silencing of nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes, stress response assays, lifespan and neuromuscular assays further details can be found on our webpage www.iuf-duesseldorf.com/ventura-lab.html
IT	Università Politecnica delle Marche	Battino M	WG3, WG4	Mitochondrial Respiration monitored by SeaHorse XF24
EE	Tallinn University of Technology	Vendelin M, Birkedal R	WG1, WG2	Experiments are mainly performed on isolated mouse cardiomyocytes (WT and KOs). We have been using earlier rat and trout cardiomyocytes as well. As a preparation we use either intact cells or saponin-permiabilized cells. From the techniques routinely used in the lab: oxygraphy (Strathkelvin with custom software); absorbance and fluorescence spectrophotometers; confocal [imaging and FCS/RICS] and fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence microscopy is running on our custom software allowing us to combine fluorescence imaging with single cell mechanics (control over cell mechanical contraction via carbon fibers) and patch clamping (electrophysiology). [WG2] In addition to wet lab, we have experience and are actively developing mathematical models of different aspects of heart function: bioenergetics, mechanical contraction, and electrophysiology [WG2]. Finally, all experiments are monitored via database developed in the lab. [WG1]
UK	University of Cambridge	Murray AJ	WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4	HRR, enzyme activity assays, isolated heart perfusion, metabolomics, molecular biology
IL	University of Valencia	Borras C, Vina J	WG2, WG3, WG4	Oxidative stress-related parameters determination (HPLC, western blotting), Seahorse measurements (just starting with this), molecular biology (RT-PCR, ELISA…), mitochondrial isolation, cell cultures
US	University of Texas Medical Branch	Porter C	WG2, WG3	HRR
ES	Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC)	Casado Pinna M	WG1, WG3
CU	University of Havana	Pardo Andreu GL

General: STSM duration and budget

• Five to 90 days.
• Early Career Investigators: up to 180 days.
• STSMs need to be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period

• The financial support is a contribution to the overall expenses and does not necessarily cover all expenses. Financial support is limited to cover travel, accommodation and meal expenses and is paid in the form of a Grant.
• Up to a maximum of EUR 160 per day for accommodation and meal expenses; up to a maximum of EUR 2,500.- per STSM.