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The researcher is moving from Italy to the UK in order to build a new chronology and classification method for early metal artefacts (i.e. axes, daggers and halberds) from Italy, c.4500-2000 BC. The project aims will be achieved through a combination of radiocarbon dating and scientifically informed work on artefact classification criteria, which takes into account the technological transformation undergone by the objects during their life-cycles. The importance of the project is twofold: (a) this is the first time that a researcher develops a reflexive approach to metalwork classification, which explicitly takes into consideration forging, use and other post-casting alterations to the shape and features of objects; (b) it is also the first attempt ever made to ground the chronology of early Italian metalwork in a comprehensive set of radiocarbon dates. The significance of the project goes beyond Italian archaeology insofar as early Italian metals are typologically cross-linked to similar objects in Europe and the Mediterranean. It is thus anticipated that the project will bring about dramatic changes in our understanding of the chronology and developmental sequence of prehistoric metal technology across large swathes of Europe, with particular reference to central Europe, the western Balkans, Sardinia and Crete. Whilst working on the project, the researcher will acquire new expertise in metalwork use-wear analysis and Neutron Diffraction (ND) analysis, two cutting-edge techniques of artefact characterization. ND analysis will be deployed during a secondment at the ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Didcot, UK). The researcher will also develop new skills in radiocarbon dating, artefact classification and statistical analysis. Newcastle University, the host organisation, will in turn benefit from the researcher's expertise in Italian and European prehistory, with special regard to the technology of prehistoric bronzes.

Since 2014, the revolution of immuno-oncology gives unprecedented hope for cure to cancer patients thanks to immunotherapies such as anti-PD(L)-1. However around 80% patients still don’t respond to anti-PD(L)-1. Several barriers are still to be overcome to sustain the path of a novel paradigm responding both unmet therapeutic needs and health economy sustainability; cancer being estimated as a leading cause of deaths in Europe (350’000 deaths in 2012– Globocan) corresponding to an economical burden of €126BN in total costs PDC*line Pharma develops a ground-breaking therapeutic vaccine platform using an exclusive cell line of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (PDC*line); potentially doubling the response rate to anti-PD(L)-1 without additional toxicity, eliminating complex and costly process usually required by cell therapies. Our innovation project is aiming to establish the clinical proof of concept that PDC*lung, our leading candidate for lung cancer can induce strong anti-tumour immunity in patients. Lung cancer is of high priority for Europe since 1.9 million people are affected worldwide of which 340 000 in Europe (Globocan, 2012). It also represents an attractive market segment opportunity for PDC*line Pharma with an expected market growth of 4% per year: $6.1BN in 2013 to $8.6BN in 2023 worldwide (IMS, 2015).

Glycogen storage disease III (GSD III) is a rare (1:100,000) autosomal recessive disorder that results from the deficiency of the glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE). The major cause of morbidity is associated with the muscle accumulation of glycogen, which leads to progressive myopathy. A dietary treatment with frequent meals high in carbohydrates, slows the progression of the pathology that is however inevitable. There is no cure for GSD III, the recent development of a mouse model lacking GDE activity, which recapitulates the human condition, represents a unique opportunity to develop and test novel therapies for the disease. Here, we propose to perform a proof-of-concept study of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated gene therapy for the treatment of GSD III. AAV gene therapy has been successfully used for the correction of several genetic diseases in animal models and humans. One of the main limitations of AAV vectors is that they cannot package vector genomes significantly larger than 5kb. Due to the length of the sequence of the GDE enzyme (4596 bp), we engineered a dual-vector system with a recombinogenic sequence to drive reconstitution of the full-length GDE sequence. In alternative to this strategy, we engineered also a truncated GDE that can fit in a single AAV. Because GSD III is both a liver and muscle diseases, and because the liver is involved in glycogen metabolism and, ultimately, in the supply of glucose to the muscle, we will test two main therapeutic strategies to treat GSD III, consisting of constitutive or liver-specific expression of the transgene. The rescue of the GDE enzyme deficiency will be carried out in vivo in a GDE KO mouse, and in vitro in human iPS cells-derived hepatocytes and myocites. We will generate fibroblast-derived iPS cells from GSD III patients and the pluripotent cells will be successively differentiated in hepatocytes and myocites.

Rafnar is an Icelandic Shipbuilding Company that has created Sure-Rider Boats, a revolutionary type of boats equipped with the OK Hull, a new hull design that dramatically reduces motion responses (MR) such as vibration and slamming during navigation. MR cause discomfort to crews and passengers right from the beginning of every sea journey, and often lead to injuries, especially in rough seas. This is a growing concern worldwide: 65% of high speed boats crews suffer at least 1 injury related to shocks/vibrations, the vulnerability of the crew and passengers being the main limitation for the use of high speed crafts. Sure-Rider Boats design substantially reduces vibrations and slamming and thus reduces crew fatigue and injuries that lead to days lost to hospitalization, sick leave, limited duty, and loss of physical conditioning time. Pleasure cruising becomes also more comfortable in Sure Riders, even in seas with up to several meters high waves. Finally, the drastically reduced motion reduces vessel’s mechanical fatigue and thereby the maintenance cost over its lifetime. Sure Riders safety and comfort make them ideal for a variety of ship uses: they are ideal as tough enduring Search & Rescue (SAR) and Coast Guard (CG) boats, but are also extremely comfortable and can be used as yachts or super yacht tenders, as well as for virtually any use since comfort and safety are key features any ship/boat owner demands. There is a huge market waiting for our Sure Riders, and we already have received numerous proofs of interest from important potential customers. We have so far developed three prototypes equipped with our unique OK Hull, with lengths ranging from 8,5 to 12 meters, and we want now to go ahead and take them to the market, as well as continue developing Sure Riders of different sizes and for different uses.

The LT2016 Researchers’ Night projects for 2016 and 2017 will take place in major Lithuanian cities, i.e. Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai and Moletai, as well as in rural areas. The project aims to enhance public recognition of researchers and their work through bringing scientists and public closer to one another and thus increasing an understanding of the impact of researchers' work on citizen's daily life as well as encouraging young people to choose careers in science and research. Both events will offer a broad range of varied activities addressing all categories of the public at large, regardless of age and scientific background, i.e. notably: Meetings and activities together with researchers; Lectures, discussions; Visits to open laboratories; Real life observations and experiments; European corners; Various contests, games, exhibitions, movie and online broadcast watching. All the activities planned will actively involve researchers and will offer a balanced combination of "serious" activities and funny ones to be attractive for the general public. Activities will be hosted in labs, lecture halls, meeting places, cafes, while in the rural areas they will take place in schools or public spaces. Some activities conducted in the main sites will be broadcasted online. Common concept for the Night in 2016 and 2017 will be Learning about Technology Futures. Therefore activities of Researchers’ Night projects in 2016 will be organised with focus on Virtual Reality thus building foundations for the Night in 2017 which will focus of "science futurity" or Futures of technologies. Both events will be finalised with the grand event unifying different fields - music, science and cinema. We expect at least 500.000 people made aware of the Researchers' Night and its objectives through the awareness campaign and 11.500 direct attendees to the various events planned in 2016 as well as in 2017.