Objectives
What are our main goals ?
The main scientific objective of the Action is to develop a common, comprehensive and holistic map of signal transduction that will advance development of pathway-specific chemical modulators. This unique and innovative goal will be realised by linking of a diverse group of researchers in the field through the networking activities funded by COST.
The Action additionally aims to create a diverse multidisciplinary network of researchers. Diversity will be manifest not only in core expertise, but also career level, gender, country of residence, and type of institution (e.g. academia or industry). Excellent research groups are present in every corner of Europe, and the Action will bring these groups together in cooperation.
Research coordination objectives
01. Develop a multidimensional signalling map with molecular, spatial and temporal information detailing how different signal transduction pathways give rise to distinct cellular responses, and how aberration in signal transduction gives rise to disease.
02. Utilize the signalling map to create new pathway-specific chemical modulators of signal transduction.
03. Establish community-accepted best practice principles in measuring and reporting ligand bias and pathway selectivity.
04. Promote new methods and technologies for experimental investigation of signal transduction.
05. Develop specialized public resources (e.g. databases and web-based analysis tools) for the integration, sharing and utilization of information and data pertaining to modulation of signal transduction (e.g. ligand bias and functional selectivity).
Capacity building objectives are
01. Promote communication, knowledge exchange and cooperation between investigators from different disciplines, institutions, and countries to cultivate a comprehensive picture of transmembrane signal transduction that spans the molecular, cellular, physiological and clinical perspectives.
02. Strengthen the European scientific community by:
a) expanding the scientific, transferable and collaborative skills of Early Career Investigators (ECIs) through training, educating and mentoring;
b) promoting gender balance in the field;
c) enhancing research, collaboration and leadership opportunities for investigators from less research-intensive countries.