Pharmaceutical biotechnology: Knowledge for Health

The research activities of the programme group are part of the advanced trends in science aimed at increasing our understanding of living processes and improving health care. Understanding the basic mechanisms of cell function as well as disturbances causing the development and progression of cancer, neurodegenerative and immune disorders is our major preoccupation. Besides understanding the mechanisms we wish to change them and to identify targets for development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Cancer is a typical disease of modern society. Conventional therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have a limited range, and have to be supplemented by new approaches if we want to prolong the survival of cancer patients and improve their quality of life. New chemotherapeutics, directed against exceeded action of proteolytic enzymes, new delivery systems and understanding of molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity of T cells and natural killer cells and the processes triggered by tumour cells to impair their cytotoxicity, enable additional opportunities for development of more effective anti-tumour therapies. Neurodegenerative diseases represent another big burden for health in developed countries which is increasing due to longevity, since neurodegenerative diseases like cancer affect elder population. Despite half a century of advances in neuroscience there are no drugs that significantly improve the course of any neurodegenerative disorder. The discovery of new neurotrophic factors which promote protection and regeneration of neuronal cells, and their signalling pathways represent an advanced approach and enables new treatment strategies. Recent results of our and other groups, being published in respected journals, suggest an arising importance of RNA-related processes in etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. These studies will be upgraded by studying some of the most basic newly discovered processes, such as RNA toxicity and RAN translation, which will have far wider implications for understanding of neurodegenerative processes. Immune diseases were a subject of our investigations also in the previous financing period. We determined the role of proteolytic enzymes in regulation of integrin receptors in immune cells, which achieved a confirmation in scientific community. We will extend our studies on allergic diseases, a part of immune diseases which significantly expanded during last years. The causes for the increase and the mechanisms are not yet known, our studies should contribute to better detection of allergens in individual patients. The achievements of the members of the programme group are reflected in numerous publications and citations and show our significant contribution to universal understanding. Moreover, our group is introducing into our research area the most recent biotechniques and analytical methods. The collaboration with other researchers in Slovenia and worldwide guarantees rapid transfer of knowledge, good science and valuable applications also in future.

In developed countries medical treatment, health care and prevention are important elements in the socio-economic development of individuals and the society, and every step towards better health is important. Although cancer, neurodegenerative and immune diseases are receiving an outstanding input of funds for basic and clinical research, they still represent a great burden for health systems. Only new approaches based on the investments to basic and clinical research in this field may result in progress in treatment, improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the financial burden for health systems. Furthermore, the activities of the programme group will also contribute to all levels of university education. They will enable students to acquire new knowledge and will provide opportunities for diploma, master and doctoral training in different research fields. The latter will be possible since the members of the programme group are involved in the pedagogical process at public universities and at the Jožef Stefan Postgraduate School. The results of the programme will also foster our collaboration with excellent research groups, increasing knowledge exchange and opportunities to obtain new European and other funds for financing our science. The results of the proposed programme will make possible the development of new technologies and products, which will be economically interesting for pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies. They can also serve as a basis for establishing new start-up companies. In Slovenia and the European Union, biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmacy constitute a leading scientific and economic priority. The pharmaceutical industry has exhibited outstanding growth in recent years and the implementation of new products, either original or generic, constitutes the main driving force. Only the scientific knowledge arising from top class research in this field, to which our proposed project will contribute, may result in products with high added value increasing the competitiveness of companies in Slovenia and Europe. Besides potential new drugs, the project will employ the most recent methods and techniques, which can easily be adopted by industrial laboratories. The experience of the programme group on patent protection of applicable research results and established co-operation with industrial partners will guarantee successful transfer of the knowledge and the results of the proposed programme to users in industry and clinics.