1 million euros to study Metals in Biology and Biocatalysis through Biospectroscopy

Oeiras, 30.05.2018

“Twin to Illuminate Metals in Biology and Biocatalysis through Biospectroscopy” (TIMB3) is a project that has been awarded Twinning funding from the European Union. Almost 1 million euros will be invested to ‘illuminate’ the role of metals in biology and enable the translation of this knowledge to applications.

TIMB3 brings ITQB NOVA, the leading Portuguese institute for metalloprotein research, together with the Technical University of Berlin (TUB) and the Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), located in Florence. These are world leading institutions in the area of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CIRMMP) and vibrational spectroscopy (TUB) in life sciences. The envisaged actions will reinforce the shared vision of the three partners on the key role of Biospectroscopy for the study of metals in biology.

“We are very happy to have this opportunity to come together with our partners in Italy and Germany to take the internationally recognized contribution of ITQB NOVA research on metals in metalloenzymes and catalysis a step further”, said Miguel Teixeira, ITQB NOVA leader of the Metalloenzymes and Molecular Bioenergetics Laboratory, and one of the coordinators of the project. ITQB NOVA team includes co-coordinators Ricardo Louro and Smilja Todorovic, and researchers Lígia Saraiva, Manuela Pereira, Inês Cardoso Pereira and Elin Moe.