BrainMap

Mrs. Lilia Matei

PhD

Researcher - INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU"

Other affiliations

Researcher - TAXON SOLUTIONS S.R.L. (Romania)

Researcher

Web of Science ResearcherID: O-8008-2014

Curriculum Vitae (01/10/2019)

Expertise & keywords

Implementation of a complex genome profiling diagnostic algorithm for patients with congenital and developmental abnormalities Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-2240 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL PENTRU SANATATEA MAMEI SI COPILULUI "ALESSANDRESCU-RUSESCU" BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "GR. TH. POPA" (RO); PERSONAL GENETICS S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO)

Project website: http://www.virology.ro/ro/congen-proiect

Abstract:

The proposed project will set up a consortium in genomics, aiming at the implementation of new investigation methods in clinical practice that could contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of congenital and developmental abnormalities with a final practical goal in prophylaxis and better clinical management of patients. The project corresponds to the direction 4 - HEALTH and its objectives refer to the national implementation of new prevention and intervention methods in accordance with European standards (4.1.6). The major objectives of the project are:

1) Investigation of genetic abnormalities in Romanian patients with congenital/developmental disorders aiming to identify possible new genomic variants;

2) Integration in the international endeavor of identifying and confirming new genomic variants for these rare disorders through active participation and inclusion of the Romanian data in the multi-center international consortia.

3) Implementation of a complex genome profiling diagnostic algorithm for patients with congenital and developmental abnormalities and use the integrated results for improving diagnostic yield, genetic counseling and clinical management.

The partnership consists of Stefan S. Nicolau IVN Bucharest, that will set-up the cells/DNA/RNA sample bank and perform PCR, MS-MLPA, sequencing analysis; Alfred Rusescu IOMC Bucharest and Grigore T. Popa UMF Iaşi that will recruit the patients, perform the phenotype/formal-genetic analysis and clinical management of the patients, and Personal Genetics Ltd. which will perform aCGH and next generation sequencing, will integrate the results of the analysis and will apply the resulting algorithm, firstly in their practice, and next will disseminate it to a clearly defined target market. The consortium represents a specialized and complementary team, capable to advancing the knowledge on clinical management, prevention, and eventually, therapy of congenital and developmental abnormalities, and to join international research effort in this direction.

GENOMEWIDE STUDY OF BIPOLAR I DISORDER AND GUIDE FOR ASSESSING THE GENETIC RISK FOR BIPOLAR I DISORDER IN THE ROMANIAN POPULATION Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1628 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: SPITALUL CLINIC DE PSIHIATRIE PROF.DR.ALEXANDRU OBREGIA

Project partners: SPITALUL CLINIC DE PSIHIATRIE PROF.DR.ALEXANDRU OBREGIA (RO); INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); PERSONAL GENETICS S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO)

Project website: http://www.bio.unibuc.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=212%3

Abstract:

Medicine develops into three directions: prevention, prediction and personalization. Bipolar I disorder (BPI) is a chronic major psychiatric disease with a polygenic basis not yet elucidated. The objectives of the project are: 1) fine mapping of two haplotypes in NCAN and MAD1L1 genes found associated with BPI in a previous genomewide association study (GWAS) (Cichon et al, Am J Hum Genet, 2011) in which the project coordinator was involved; 2) a GWAS of the response to lithium therapy aiming at detecting the genotypes linked to positive response; 3) estimating morbid risks (MR) for relatives of BPI patients valid for the Romanian population; 4) determining the structure of Mad1 and Mad2 molecules and their neurobiological consequences with potential impact on drug development; 5) development of a guide for genetic counseling containing genotypes associated with BPI in the Romanian population, MR for relatives of patients, phenotypic variables that increase MR and genotypes predicting the positive response to lithium. The study will be conducted in an international consortium including Romanian partners. A Romanian sample of about 550-570 patients and 550-570 controls will be integrated in an international sample of several thousands of patients and controls that will be genotyped with high-throughput methods (Illumina, Sequenom) by Romanian researchers at the German partner and with next generation sequencing technology atone of the Romanian partners. Probands and their available first degree relatives will be investigated with DIGS and FIGS interviews and will provide psychiatric family history necessary for estimating MR. The response to lithium therapy in patients treated at least one year will be rated with the Alda scale. Our sample of lithium-patients will be integrated in the international lithium sample for genotyping. The biometric and molecular results of the study will be implemented in personalized medicine by a private health care company and disseminated among specialists.

Role of S100A4 and MAP4K4 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1490 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL CLINIC FUNDENI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL CLINIC FUNDENI (RO); RNTECH S.R.L. (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE SI PATOLOGIE CELULARA ,,NICOLAE SIMIONESCU'' (RO); INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO); INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.ALEXANDRU TRESTIOREANU BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO)

Project website: http://www.icfundeni.ro/S100MAP/

Abstract:

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death both in man and women. Annually, its incidence closely matches its mortality, highlighting the limited efficacy of existing treatment options. Most pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and the 5-year survival rate for patients with localized disease after surgical resection is 20% and for those with metastatic disease, the survival rate is a dismal 2%. In the last years, investigators of the pathogenesis of this disease have turned their attention to the tumor microenvironment as a critical determinant of pancreatic tumor progression and clinical outcome. To address the question of the involvement of stromal cells in the pancreatic cancer progression, this project will have a specific interest on the interplay between stellate and pancreatic cancer cells analyzing the putative tumor markers in both cellular components.

Given the expertise of the consortium and the resources of the coordinating institute – consisting of a rich tumor biobank, an established Center for Cellular Therapies and a genomic platform – the present project will pursue two of the signaling pathways of the pancreatic cancer with the long-term goal to develop new remedies for this highly lethal disease. We will examine the role of the S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S1004) and the mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 (MAP4K4) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression. In doing so, we will consolidate the expertise and maintain the critical mass of scientists in areas of excellence and recruit strong external collaborators with significant expertise in these pathways and translational cancer research. Thus, the project is to set up a partnership in a priority research field – cancer genomics – to identify new molecular mechanisms involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression, which may result in rapid design and implementation of new therapeutic approaches targeting these pathways.

Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation of Novel Pyrazole Compounds Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - TE-2011 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0228 2011 - 2014

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila

Project partners: Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila (RO)

Affiliation: Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila (RO)

Project website: http://www.umfcaroldavila.ro/index.php/activitatea-stiintifica/programe-pnii/447-sinteza-si-evaluarea-antitumorala-a-unor-noi-compusi-pirazolici

Abstract:

The project focuses on improving the therapeutic solutions for a better treatment of the cancer patients by designing selective chemotherapeutic agents. The project main objective is the synthesis, the complex physical and chemical analysis followed by the anticancer screening, of a broad series of novel pyrazole based small-molecules for using them in antitumor therapy. In order to achieve this objective, we will use iterative cycles of design and chemical synthesis combined with biological evaluation, thereby progressively optimizing potency and selectivity while paying due attention to pharmaceutical and ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) properties. Modern computerized prediction methods (in silico) will be performed to estimate the bio-pharmaceutical properties and the drug-likeness of the designed molecules, prior to their synthesis, greatly minimizing time and resources consuming steps of synthesis and biological screening of unfit molecules. State of the art equipment and methods will be used for the compounds synthesis and to determinate their physico-chemical and structural characteristics (HPLC-MS, IR, NMR, elemental analysis). The compounds anticancer quantitative evaluation will be performed in vitro on various human tumor cell lines, representing different cancer types, measuring also the substances effect on apoptosis and on the cell cycle. Structure-activity relationships studies will allow the optimization of the anticancer effects.

FINDING AND VALIDATING MOLECULAR TARGETS IN GASTRIC TUMOR STEM CELLS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ANTI-CANCER THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES. Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - TE-2010 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2010-0062 2010 - 2013

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE STEFAN S NICOLAU DIN BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE STEFAN S NICOLAU DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE STEFAN S NICOLAU DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.virology.ro/ro/cercetare/proiecte/tinte-moleculare

Abstract:

Cellular heterogeneity, present in most solid tumors, represents an enormous challenge for cancer eradication. Present strategies for inducing cell death usually target only the most rapidly proliferating cells within a tumor, and are unable to destroy tumor stem cells that are more resistant to standard chemotherapeutic agents and have the ability to regenerate the tumor. It became increasingly obvious that it is necessary to develop strategies targeted to the mechanisms of survival and regeneration characteristics of tumor stem cells.

A recent study published in 2009, which identify gastric tumor stem cells (GTSC) based on surface antigen CD44, opens new directions for the management of gastric carcinoma, disease that is the second cause of death worldwide (700,000 deaths/year worldwide ; 17/6.6 m / f deaths/100000 people/year in Romania).

Given the opportunity to identify and isolate gtsc, and our laboratory experience in the field of stem cells and anti-tumor therapy, we intend to use small interferece rna technology to specifically inhibit certain genes overexpresed in gastric cancer which can be promoters of processes such as: cell proliferation, interaction with the matrix, motility, metastasis, angiogenesis.

The objectives are:

1. Identification, isolation and characterization GTSC. Testing their tumoral capacity on immunodeficient animal models

2. Identification of molecular targets by testing gene expression in the gtsc, and selection of genes significantly modified

3. Specific inhibition of selected gene expression using siRNA methodology

4. Analysis of molecular target therapy-induced effects on GTSC functionality.

The project will lead to consolidation of a young specialists team in a leading field of the research: anti-tumor therapy, based on modern biotechnological methods of gene therapy.

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List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects