In Europe, the population is aging. The age-associated decline in cognitive functions represents a serious social and medical problem. Recent studies show that changes in lifestyle such as physical activity and nutritional interventions – even late in life –are beneficial for cognition. The microbiome in the gut is a central effector in the maintenance of brain plasticity and therefore represents a promising target as well as sensor for interventions that aim to improve cognitive ability in the elderly. Detailed and concise scientific investigations of gut-brain interactions, in particular in the elderly, are limited. Such studies require a multidisciplinary approach and a combination of experts from various fields. The aim of our network is to train a new generation of young scientists within a multidisciplinary consortium. The ESRs will engage in individual and well defined, jointly supervised research projects, securing excellent career perspectives and employability. By enabling ESRs to design and conduct studies in this economically and socially important field, SmartAge will elucidate the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in aging and its impact on cognition. SmartAge will apply a translational approach combining animal and human studies, nutritional and life style interventions, cognitive tests, brain imaging, cutting edge OMICS and systems biology as well as fecal transfer as proof of principle to identify key regulators of gut-brain communication with the aim to develop microbiome-based therapies. An expert team of scientists from both academia and industry such as clinicians, psychologists, nutritionists, biotechnologists and bioinformaticians will closely collaborate to strengthen microbiome research in aging which will have a direct impact on cognitive health in Europe. Specialists for public communication outreach will ensure effective and efficient transfer of outcomes to policy makers and into the everyday life of the European population.

Cancer is a major health burden responsible for 20% of European deaths. There is a critical need to understand its fundamental biological mechanisms. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins which play an important role in regulating cellular functions integral to cancer biology and, as highly druggable proteins, oncogenic GPCRs are important therapeutic targets. ONCORNET2.0 builds on the success of ONCORNET (Oncogenic GPCR Network of Excellence and Training), a first-in-kind ETN in GPCR drug discovery that has successfully delivered scientific advance and training to talented early stage researchers (ESRs). ONCORNET2.0 will incorporate recent scientific and technological advances to understand and target two oncogenic GPCRs; the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and ACKR3. These are highly expressed in multiple tumours but their role in cancer progression remains poorly understood. We will develop new strategies for CXCR4/ACKR3 modulation (photochemistry, nanobodies) and investigate their effects on oncogenic responses, to yield key new knowledge and potential leads for drug development and commercialisation. ONCORNET2.0 will bring together the leading GPCR research groups in Europe and 15 ESRs. By leveraging on the success and experience of ONCORNET and recent ground-breaking advances in the field of GPCRs (e.g. cryo-EM, CRISPR-Cas, advanced microscopy), ONCORNET2.0 brings a young, gender-balanced team of PIs to target oncogenic GPCRs. The consortium will offer an extensive multidisciplinary training programme for ESRs ensuring their successful incorporation in today’s fast-moving drug development programmes. This programme integrates both research and transferable skill sets through blended learning. Our aim is that, through training these ESRs with interdisciplinary and intersectoral exposure, we will develop the next generation of scientists with skills that are in high demand by the drug development industries but rarely offered academically.