CSBR: 3 research centres subsidized

CSBR ocurrently consists of 3 research centres:

1. Systems Biology Centre for Energy Metabolism and Ageing (SBC-EMA, 853.00.110), Groningen. This centre addresses how energy metabolism interacts with processes associated with ageing.
2. The Cancer Systems Biology Centre (CSBC, 853.00.120), at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) in Amsterdam. This centre focusses on the  interactions eventually leading to breast cancer.
3. The Centre for Systems Biology and Bioenergetics (CSBB, 853.00.130), Nijmegen. The subject of this centre is energy production within the cell, more in particular the important biochemical key complex in oxidative phosphorylation called 'complex I'.

Centre 1
Systems Biology Centre for Energy Metabolism and Ageing (SBC-EMA) 

The Systems Biology Centre for Energy Metabolism and Ageing (SBC-EMA), located at Groningen State University, receives a subsidy of € 4 million. This centre will investigate the relationship between energy metabolism and ageing. When comparing different species of living creatures, from the smallest unicellular bacterium to the largest elephant, the amount of energy individual creatures use during their lifespan, expressed per unit body mass, turns out to be roughly the same. Cutting energy consumption down seems to result in a longer life, and vice versa. Within a species this relationship is not automatically valid, and (mild) exercise can, despite higher energy consumption, prolong life. It is currently not known what causes these effects. Energy metabolism and ageing are complex processes characterized by the interplay of a great many factors. Elucidating the connections between these processes therefore requires an interdisciplinary, systems biology approach. Computer models will be developed, that will be challenged by experiments with, mainly, yeast cells and mice. By connecting the outcomes of the SBC-EMA research centre to an epidemiological study called 'lifelines', the centre hopes to obtain more knowledge about 'healthy ageing'.

Centre 2
Cancer Systems Biology Centre (CSBC), NKI Amsterdam

The Cancer Systems Biology Centre (CSBC), associated with the Dutch Cancer Institute and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (NKI-AVL) in Amsterdam, receives a subsidy of € 4.5 million. This centre wants to fully understand two complex mechanisms that are involved in the development of breast cancer. The researchers will look at the reactions shown by cell cultures, tumours and other tissues in the body. The 2 complex mechanisms are challenged and studied on different levels of organisation and complexity. To this end, clinical patient data will be employed, but most information will come from experiments using cell cultures and special strains of mice. In this way the investigators hope to come to computer models that can predict the effects of therapies better. The outcomes can also contribute to improving diagnosis of the type of breast cancer and developing more effective therapies.  The generated knowledge can subsequently be used to analyse other forms of cancer and other diseases using a systems biology approach.

Centre 3
Centre for Systems Biology and Bioenergetics (CSBB), Nijmegen

The third centre, also receiving a subsidy of 4,5 million, is het Centre for Systems Biology and Bioenergetics (CSBB; www.csb-bioenergetics.nl). This centre is associated with the Academical Medical Centre Sint Radboud and the Radboud University in Nijmegen. Research within CSBB involves the energy production in the cell, with emphasis on one important key biochemical complex. This complex is used by cells to efficiently generate energy. The production of the constituting proteins that make up the complex, transporting them to the spot where assembly is to occur, putting the building blocks together in exactly the right fashion, and have this key complex to perform flawlessly, all these stadia require precize orchestration. The complex pattern of mutual interdependencies around this complex provides an explanation why many symptons and diseases coincide with disturbances in energy metabolism.