met-flam.at
The Doctoral Programme
“Metabolism in Immune Responses and Inflammation”
(MET-FLAM)
Research questions and concept of MET-FLAM
The structured and formalized collaborative effort of the MET-FLAM consortium will combine excellence in basic, translational and clinical research. MET-FLAM will thus lead to novel concepts for innovative therapeutic strategies based on the tailored manipulation of inflammation and its underlying processes and molecules in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The program will ensure additive and synergistic interaction of mechanistic and methodological approaches, thereby creating a highly competitive network of expertise that is readily accessible to all students enrolled in MET-FLAM. This PhD program will be the first in Austria and possibly in Europe that explicitly addresses the broad field of metabolism in inflammation as a potential therapeutic approach. Close contact with patient organizations and clinicians serving as PIs and co-PIs will provide the students with first-hand information about current needs, open questions, available therapeutic options, and ongoing clinical trials. This unique format will allow the science to be kept at the highest standards and the scientific questions to be tailored to patients’ needs. Discussions about the data generated with the external scientific advisory board will further advance the research program.
To tackle the major challenge of combining the many different aspects relevant to inflammation research into one training program, MET-FLAM
offers innovative thesis projects covering both basic and translational research with well-defined clinical implications. Within the next
- Through its strong translational orientation, MET-FLAM will fulfil this mission as documented by several ground-breaking contributions to inflammation research, as evidenced by top ranking publications, coordination of large national and international research consortia, and translation of several key findings into clinical use and exploitation.
- MET-FLAM will profoundly foster the career development of young basic and clinician scientists, as well as gender equality in its faculty.
- MET-FLAM will provide a new generation of highly trained young researchers and PIs who will be endowed to push the boundaries of inflammation research during the next decades. Students will be trained at the highest level by a multidisciplinary consortium and will work on highly challenging research projects. They will be involved in national and international conferences and industrial exchange.
- International exposure will promote scientific exchange and lead to the development of strong international co-operations, both for the students and the consortium. This will be another pivotal step to further establish Graz as a leading center of inflammation research.