Molecular Aspects of TLR4 Activation and Signalling.

Within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Program. an Innovative Training Network is being funded for a 48 month period.The full title of the program is : Toll-Like Receptor 4 activation and function in diseases : an integrated chemical-biology approach, to be referred to as its acronym TOLLerant.
The aim of the research is to gain information on molecular aspects of TLR4 activation and signalling by using synthetic and natural compounds and nanoparticles that interact selectively with some components (mainly MD-2 and CD14) of the TRL4 recognition system.
TLR4 is an emerging molecular target related to an impressively broad spectrum of modern day disorders still lacking specific pharmacological treatment. These include autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammations, allergies, asthma, infectious and CNS diseases, and cancer. The short-term scientific objective is to develop novel, non-toxic, synthetic and natural TLR4 modulators (agonists or antagonists) and to assess their therapeutic potential on animal models of TLR4-related acute and chronic pathologies. The long-term scientific objective is to develop a new generation of innovative, TLR4-based therapeutics, to be used as vaccine adjuvants, anti-sepsis agents, and anti-inflammatory agents to treat chronic inflammations (allergy, asthma). An obstacle in achieving these high impact goals is the lack of suitably trained scientists with broad skills and understanding of the underpinning basic life science and cutting-edge chemistry. The training programme will fill this gap and provide Early Stage Researchers (ESR) with broad competences, experience and skills in the cutting-edge, inter-disciplinary research in the field of chemical biology related to the molecular mechanisms of innate immunity and inflammation. During the training, the young researchers will be supported by senior scientists to cultivate their scientific, entrepreneurial and inter-cultural mindset. The non-academic sector will be committed to provide ESRs with entrepreneurship and company management skills, in order to enhance their employability by the private sector or even to motivate them to create own start-up companies.
Contact for more information Prof. F. Peri (francesco.peri@unimib.it)