About the Project

Hot4cryo aims to attract and maintain a prominent researcher (ERA Chair) together with a high-quality supporting team to advance multidisciplinary research in the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) by founding the high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy Unit for Excellence, i.e., CryoUNITe, unique in Greece, the Balkans, and Southeast Europe.

While cryo-EM technology is transforming international research in exciting, multiple directions, substantial disparity exists in its possession across European countries and is absent in the complete Southeast Europe. This hampers innovations in biomolecular and materials structure research and development and limits progress of EU Missions Cancer, Soil, and Green Deal, which align to the research directions of NHRF and the prospective ERA Chair Holder.

Hot4cryo plans to address this issue, aims to eliminate this disparity, and envisions to urgently transmit the “resolution revolution” to Greece and the wider region, emerging as a cultural hub for seeding Horizon Europe’s strategic plan across players and the society.

CryoUNITe will be embedded in NHRF, enhancing institutional structural transformations. Hot4cryo will bring high-end cryo-EM knowledge for a wide range of systems in alignment with ERA priorities

Specific Objectives

Create

Create the CryoTeam for Excellence (ERA Team) with the mission of effecting positive transformations within EIE NHRF, specifically at the levels of research management and human resources. The primary aim of this team is to facilitate the transfer of expertise in the field of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

Contribute

To contribute to the highend cryo-EM Unit, 'hot4cryo' is establishing the 'cryoUNITe,' funded by NHRF through the 'Greece2.0' Recovery and Resilience Fund. Dr. Kasritis provides expertise, and PoC studies will confirm success. The cryoUNITe is a specialized research management/administration unit for cryo-EM.

Implement

Implement a research agenda using cryo-EM for essential projects and result visualization, focusing on two ERA Chair/EIE NHRF themes and aligning with these EU missions: 1. Climate Adaptation
2. Soil Health
3. Cancer Research

Foster

Foster stakeholder networks to enhance EIE NHRF's excellence and sustainability in cryo-EM research in Greece and the wider region. Establish a dissemination, exploitation, and communication (DEC) plan to expand the scientific, political, and societal influence of the cryoTeam and EIE NHRF. Additionally, design a strategy to systematically ensure the longevity of the ERA Chair beyond the conclusion of hot4cryo.

Overview

National Hellenic Research Foundation and Junior Professor Dr. Panagiotis Kastritis found an ideal match for hot4cryo realization, aligning their unique
knowledge in characterizing cellular and artificial nanomachines across
disciplines.

Horizon Europe provides funds to establish era chairs to promote excellence, attract outstanding researchers to underdeveloped regions, enhance research and innovation, and reduce disparities in research and innovation within europe.

NHRF contributes infrastructure and expertise in chemical biology and materials science, while Dr. Kastritis enhances EIE NHRF’s reputation with cryo-em and computational structural biology.

Hot4cryo aims to raise the research profile of EIE NHRF to a level comparable to leading EU research institutions. To do this, EIE NHRF received funding4,5 to acquire and install cryo-em infrastructure, the first in the region.