Personalized medicine uses pharmacogenomics (PGX) to individualize therapy upon patients’ unique DNA profiles. With ~200,000 deaths/year in Europe due to adverse drug reactions, it has become an imperative to improve treatment. In Western Balkans (WB), individualization of therapy is done sporadically. IMGGE (Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia) is a pioneer in the PGX in WB. PharmGenHUB will strengthen IMGGE’s PGX R&I potential by exchanging knowledge between IMGGE and EU partnering institutions: University of Patras, Greece (UPAT), University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (UL), University of Trieste, Italy (UNITS). Through collaboration and knowledge sharing with 3 EU partners, IMGGE will become WB central place for PGX diagnostics and R&I, education and trainings, and translation of PGX knowledge into clinically applicable digital solutions. IMGGE’s research project, high-throughput DNA sequencing of WB populations, with support of UPAT and UL, will identify WB specific drug-PGX marker pairs and enable design of electronic tool for better decision-making in clinical practice, electronic PGX assistant for WB (ePGA-WB). iPSC model for validation of novel PGX markers relevant for Europe will be introduced at IMGGE with support of UNITS. IMGGE will renew, reinforce and establish new connections through networking with WB institutions. Project will be realized through short-term visits of IMGGE staff to EU partner institutions, staff exchanges, on-site trainings, experimental laboratory work. Outreach activities will include PGX days, WB conference and joint summer schools. To strengthen research management capacities and administrative skills of IMGGE staff, a research management unit will be established with assistance from UPAT. As focal point of PGX translational research, IMGGE will impact on WB health-care cost benefits and facilitate WB integration to EU-PGX research area through R&I activities and digitalization.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) caused by alterations in early brain development are a group of complex and heterogeneous disorders that give rise to the psychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. NDDs have a high socio-economic impact and patients with NDDs and mental health problems are geographically dispersed. Thus, establishment of high capacity regional centres with equivalent research capacity and codes of practice is needed in order to build global research activity. The goals of STREAMLINE are to enhanced strategic networking and reinforce research and innovation potential of the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) in order to develop IMGGE as a high capacity hub for research of NDDs in the Western Balkans which is able to integrate with similar centres in Europe. This will be achieved by twinning IMGGE with three top-class research institutions in Europe: Cardiff University, University of Maastricht and Centre for Research and Technology. The project objectives are: a) to enhance the current and scale up the overall strategic networking activities between the IMGGE and internationally-leading European partners and regional partners; b) to raise the research profile of research stuff and scientific attractiveness of IMGGE in the field of NDDs; c) to strengthens research management capacities and administrative skills of the IMGGE staff and d) to become a regional leader in innovations tackling NDDs. Objectives will be achieved through networking, staff exchanges, training, summer schools, symposia, workshops, participation at conferences and dissemination in scientific community, industries and public. Twinning with partners will provide access to new research avenues, creativity, development of new approaches and increased mobility (inwards and outwards) of qualified scientists.

Plastics have become indispensable in various industries today, but their widespread use has resulted in a severe environmental crisisplastic waste accumulation. Traditional methods of plastic waste management are insufficient and recycling faces quality and degradation challenges. Enter upcycling, a process gaining prominence in converting plastic waste into valuable chemicals and materials in an eco-friendly manner. TwInn4MicroUp presents an innovative approach to plastic waste upcycling, employing green bio/mechano/chemical technologies to recover plastic monomers. Modern molecular techniques will be utilized to create microbial cell factories capable of producing bioactive compounds from these plastic-derived feedstocks, revolutionizing industries related to bio-colorants, biotherapeutics, bio-nutraceuticals, biosurfactants, and biomaterials. TwInn4MicroUp is on a visionary mission to create the MicroUp HUB, an advanced Research and Innovation Hub in Synthetic Microbial Biotechnology. In our pursuit of maximal impact, we aim to establish strategic partnerships, strengthen NTUA's capabilities, enhance scientific excellence, and promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Our overarching goal is to establish NTUA at the core of the MicroUp HUB, leaving a lasting legacy by advancing scientific knowledge, environmental protection, public awareness, economic development, and global collaboration. Together, we are steering toward a sustainable and responsible future.