Lipids are chemically diverse biological molecules that play essential roles in cell structure, energy production and storage, metabolic regulation and cell-cell signaling. Lipid disturbances are involved in the pathogenesis of a large number of human diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity and asthma.
Although much is known about lipid metabolism, we are very limited in our ability to visualize specific lipids in vivo and through this project we propose to develop and validate novel methodologies to image different classes of lipids in vivo, by combining organic synthesis with biochemistry and molecular biology. Our novel imaging strategies will have a broad impact, by helping solve unanswered questions in lipid biology, by providing new diagnostic tools for lipid disturbances in disease, and by facilitating new assays for drug development.
This project is funded by MINISTRY OF RESEACH, INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION – NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN, Investment 8 „Development of a program to attract highly specialised human resources from abroad in research, development and innovation activities” PNRR/2022/C9/MCID/I8 Novel probes for dissecting the cellular roles of lipids – ProLip, Contract no. 760056/23.05.2023, code CF 235/29.11.2022.
Estimated Approved budget (in EUR, by calendar years):
| Budget chapter | First year | Second year | Third year | Total budget |
| Staff expenses | 260,225 | 263,467 | 259,414 | 783,106 |
| Logistics expenses | 182,400 | 162,134 | 104,766 | 449,300 |
| Travel expenses | 10,741 | 10,640 | 8,917 | 30,299 |
| Indirect costs | 54,325 | 51,756 | 49,885 | 155,966 |
| Total | 507,691 | 487,997 | 422,981 | 1,418,670 |
