Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Today

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Today

Facts & Achievements

"Biochemistry brings molecular science to life"

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Introduction

Education and Research – organizational structure

Educational offer

National and international visibility

Resources

Research directions and activities

Our labor markets partners

Perspectives

Contents

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Introduction

Since its establishment, 38 years ago, the Department has contributed to the teaching of numerous generations of undergraduate and post-graduate students in the fields of Biology. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (DBMB) ensures annually the training of more than 100 undergraduate students and 40 PhD and Masters students. Our predecessors, including the most recent Heads – Prof Dr Ioan F Dumitru, Prof Dr Dana Iordachescu - have forged a unique spirit and promoted outstanding research. As our predecessors we continue to uphold excellence in the Department while maintaining its strength and competitiveness.

Mission Statement & CommitmentOur Mission StatementOur Mission is to increase current knowledge of the biochemical and molecular bases and to train highly qualified scientists who, through research, teaching and service, will continue to provide new insights into the biochemical, and molecular aspects. Why us?Biochemistry is a vibrant field of study that exists as a program at the interface of Biology and Chemistry in the effort to understand the molecular basis of life. Today, Biochemistry serves as the dynamic interface for various fields of the Life Sciences and the Physical Sciences in the 21st Century. Our CommitmentTo excel in Research, Teaching and Training of undergraduates, postgraduates and postdoctoral fellows in the field of Biology, Biochemistry specialization.  What are the objectives of the DBMB?The prevalent objectives of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are:To increase the quality level of educational process in the field of

biochemistry and molecular biology;To offer theoretical and practical education;To promote and implement quality in the research area;To offer high level competence and scientific expertise;To promote, apply for and manage research grants;To create a climate of scientific cooperation within the academic

community based on decisional transparency and periodical evaluation of activities in the department.

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Education and Research – organizational structure

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Teaching Unit

Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyResearch Center

Research Projects and Structural Funds

Management Unit

Genetic Biodiversi

ty, Molecular Phyologen

y, Genotypin

g (MicrosatelitesDNAmt)

Molecular characteriz

ation of varrious human cancer

pathologies:

Dystrophinopathies, Aging,

Autoimmune diseases,

Pulmonary fibrosis

MolecularToxicology

Tissular Engineeri

ng,Biomateri

als Biocompat

ibility

MolecularBiotechnol

ogy

Quality assurance division

for research and teaching

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Educational offer

The whole structure of the curricula has been translated according to the Bologna process. According to the University of Bucharest strategy, the education structure offerd by DBMB meets the following rule:

three years for the undergraduate level two years for master studies level, three years for PhD level.

Our department has achieved the objectives of the Bologna process, and has created an educational structure fostering a strong research infrastructure.

The realization of these programs is achieved with the collaboration of members of the academic and teaching staff of the University of Bucharest or/and the collaboration of specialists, visiting professors, research fellows, when and if this is considered necessary, according to the needs and the characteristics of each course.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides many opportunities for students to get involved in research. Thus, postgraduate students (MSc, PhD) and outside researchers/ teachers can participate as researchers and, in some cases, graduate students can get involved in a project, as research assistants.

After completing the curriculum for the 3-year Bachelor of Science degree, qualified students can further pursue an additional 2 years of Master of Science courses. They will then graduate with a Master of Science degree in Biology with specialization in Biochemistry and can continue thier formation in the PhD program under the superving of the two PhD coordinators. After completing a 3-years program they will be graduate with the PhD diploma in Biology with specialization in Biochemistry.

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Bachelor of Science Program

The undergraduate level is a study program which prepares students for a future career in teaching, research and clinical field.It was conceived as a study cycle tightly connected to the labour market by implementing practice stages and internships and supporting students’ extracurricular activities.

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The Master of Science (MSc) degree program requires two years of coursework, the completion of original research and the preparation of a research based thesis.

Our masters program was restructured according to relevant qualifications for the European labour market and for increasing the mobility and the flexibility of masters graduates.

Typically, MSc students present their findings at national meetings and publish their results in peer-reviewed journals. Some continue on to advanced graduate study, while others obtain research positions on the market.

Master of Science Program

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General and specific skills

acquired by the students

Professional skills acquired: • the possibility to accumulate in-depth

specific, state of the art biological and biochemical notions;

• the possibility to understand and explain concepts, processes and mechanisms specific to the biological systems;

• the ability to utilize techniques and instruments of identification and investigation of the biological systems.

General skills acquired: • the capacity to analyze, synthesize,

organize and plan;• the capacity to select and apply

laboratory methods;• the capacity to solve problems and

take decissions;• acquisition of elementary

bioinformatic skills.

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At PhD level, a student becomes a real researcher. His/ her previous activity – results at national and international competitions, publications – develops into research projects which are the object of intense activity in research centers.

Our PhD program is part of the Doctoral School of Biology which organizes all the activities provided for advanced academic training program, connected with European standards.Qualified students will be trained in advanced research techniques and conduct scientific research along with our M.Sc. and researchers, under the mentorship of full-time members of the departments.

The research attachments in our well-equipped state-of-the-art laboratories offer our students many opportunities to develop their organizing, analytical and problem-solving skills. They will participate in seminars and presentations aimed at developing communication and writing skills, and present their work via poster presentation and submission of a research PhD thesis at the end of the project.

PhD Program

During their stage the PhD students benefit from scholarships and residences in national/ international universities with which the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has partnership agreements .

Their research activities are financed from research projects which are ongoing into the Department and are under the teachers/postdoctoral researchers coordination.

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Resources

Human Resources

Depending on their activity the academic staff is represented by 3 different groups:

1. Teaching staff: 3 Professors 6 Associate professors 4 Lectures 2 Universitary assistants

Researchers staff: 1 Scientific researcher II 6 Scientific researchers III 13 Assistant researchers

Non-teaching staff : 1 Economist Chemical engineer 5 Technical staff

Non-teaching staff is in charge with many activities or operational area like administration and finance, education service, suport activities for research, teaching organization, human resorces, universitary evaluations.

In the last years, working together, the academic staff increase theier vizibility by publishing the research activities results in pear-review journals and poster presentation at many congresses/ conferences.

Articles publised in pear-review journals with ISI cotation

115Articles publised in pear-review journals with CNCSIS cotation

47Brevets (including gene sequences)

108Citations of the published articles

81Articles published in pear-review journals with BDI cotation

11Monographies

7Articles published in the international conferences proceedings

9Poster presentation at national/ international conferences

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Courses and research internships for academic staff

Courses organized by TATAA BIOCENTERCourses organized by FEBSCourses organized by EMBOCourses organized by EBI TrainingQuality Management coursesProject management

Research internship in the European laboratories from:

Paris, Franta, Padova, Italy, Stockholm, Sweden, Amsterdam, Holand Budapest, Hungary Trondheim, Norway

Resources

Human Resources

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Resources

Financial resouces

Since 1994 our main objective was to improve the laboratory infrastructure in order to increase the quality of educational process and research activity.Tempus projects undertaken between 1992-1998 represented the first step in improving teacher training for PhD and research internships, and laid the foundations of a modern infrastructure for education and research in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Bucharest.

The open-mindedness was offered by the managerial vision of Prof. Dr Dana Iordachescu, who sent colleagues to specialize in the best European universities. The determination of those who returned to the Department, together with the belief that they can implement new concepts in education and research conducing to an infrastructure which allow us to increase the Department quality and visibility. Until 2010 the academic staff have been developed many research and infrastructure projects financed by National Authority of Research and Innovation, World bank and Structural Founds. In 2002 was established the "Research and training center in molecular biology” (BCUM-BM), under Prof. Dr Marieta Costache coordination, us a self-sufficient unit with organizing, exploitation, and utilizing autonomy of the material and financial resources.

During years, the goals of the academic staff was to achieve a qualitative leap in the research field in institutions from Romania led to their striving to access further national projects (CNCSIS, PNCDI, CEEX PNII). The total value of investment in infrastructure is worth more than 8,890,000 lei (1.996.575 EUR) of which 7,000,000 lei (1.555.555 EUR) between 2005-2009.

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The 10 laboratories from which 4 laboratories are accredited ISO 17025/2005 are equipped with high tech equipment similar to those from European laboratories and allow us to perform research, consultancy and services at high level.

In the field of Genomics, Proteomics and Transcriptomics, the Molecular Biology laboratories include infrastructure such as genetic analyzers, PCR equipments, Real-Time PCR and microarray platforms. Cell biology, cultures and microscopy laboratories have dual laminar flow hoods, CO2 incubators, microscopes, optical flow cytometers, cryotome, microtome, direct and inverted fluorescence microscopes, confocal, laser microdissection. In the 3 biochemistry laboratories we undertake qualitative and quantitative specialized analyses with UV/ VIS Spectophotometers, electrophoresis, blot, video/ photo documentation, FPLC and HPLC systems, all belonging to the latest generation.

Research activities oriented towards epigenomic and genomic analysis (isolation and purification, molecular cloning, in vitro amplification, sequencing, gene fingerprinting, methylation, SNPs analysis by DNA Microarray and Real-Time) are interconnected with the molecular diagnosis (LOH, MSI, MLPA).

High-performance facilities and staff specialization allowed the orientation towards transcriptomics and proteomics by combining modern techniques (RNA separation and purification, Real Time RT-PCR, in vitro transcription and translation, RNA interference, RNA microarray, HPLC, FPLC) with the collective experience of the research team with classical approaches (proteins and peptides purification, enzyme kinetics, single/ two-dimensional electrophoresis).

Resources

Financial resouces

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Research directions and activities

Knowledge is essentially the result of scientific research, one of the most significant indicators for ranking a university/ department in a hierarchy based on quality and prestige.

Scientific research is meant to ensure knowledge in all sectors of social activity. The results of such an activity ensure economic growth and the vital knowledge transfer between the academic and economic environment.

We are privileged to be part of the University of Bucharest, university of which entire research activity is authorized, thus, enjoying considerable advantages in developing MA and PhD programs as well in increasing the eligibility degree for EU grants.

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Now, we manage research grants from various sources that are to be invested in research, educational, training, and developmental projects, as well as other related services or activities which contribute to the establishment of linkages between education, research and the production market.

A short analyses of our research activity reveals that during 2004 – 212 we have been developed a number of 114 research grants from which:

Research directions and activities

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International research grants:

COST 844 - Apoptosis and programmed cell death: molecular mechanisms and applications in biotechnology, 1999-2005COST B19 - Molecular cytogenetics of solid tumors, 2002-2006COST B23 - Oral facial development and regenation, 2003-2007COST B35 - Lipid Peroxidation Associated Disorders – LPO, 2004-2010COST TD 0901 - Hypoxia Sensing, Signalling and Adaptation (2009 - 2013)COST 0902 - Understanding and combating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Europe (2009 - 2013)

MRE07/25 FP6 - Identification of men with genetic predisposition to prostate cancer: targeted screening in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (IMPACT study)

COBIL Romania –Grece, 2003-2005COBIL Romania –Cypru, 2007-2009COBIL Romania –Belgium Valonne Community ,2010-2012

Micro and Nanotechnologies to EASTern Europe through NETworking (MINAEAST-NET FP6), Contract no: 510470,

EUREKA/ERA-NET 2008/030/Ro - Romania-Franta (2008-2011): NanoBioAll: „Advanced Metallic Biomaterials, nano-structured, for implantable medical devices”

Michigan State University - Evaluation of chemopreventive activities of botanical extracts and environmental tumor promoters in rodent and human cell lines using gap junctional intercellular comunication (GJIC) as a key biomarker

Research directions and activities

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Activities

Research directions and activities

Molecular biology LaboratoriesSequencer,PCR,Real-time PCRMicroarray Equipments

Microscopy LaboratoriesMicrodissection,FluorescenceConfocal microscopes

Between 1998-2012: 8.877.302 lei, out of which 7.000.000 lei between 2005-2009 wher used for laboratory reconstruction and modernization, and equipment acquisition

Infrastructure investments

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Activities

Research directions and activities

Laborator aparatură specială

Cell Culture Laboratory

Double laminar flow hoodsCO2 incubatorsInverted light microscopes and fluorescence microscopesFlow-cytometer

Bioinformatics and Documentation Laboratory

Biochemistry Laboratories

FPLC si HPLCSpectrophotometersElectrophoresis andElectroblotting systems

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Culture/ Apoptosis and Cell proliferation

Achievements:• normal and pathological cells models :

fybroblasts, keratinocytes,chondrocytes, osteoblasts, tumor cells

morphology, proliferation, metaloproteinases

• apoptosis: after retinoic acide, ceramide, H2O2

treatment in cancer

melanoma (ISH) fish

hepatocyte cultures apoptosis tests (ISH)

Perspectives• expression of Bcl2, Bax, Bad, p53 proteins in

keratinocytes and fibroblasts cell cultures after ceramides and retinoic acid treatment

• expression of p53, Ki67 in colorectal cancer, ISH• expression of p53, Ki67 in breast cancer, ISH

Techniques • cell cultures• PCR• RT-PCR•

immunohistochemistry• Elisa• Western blot • flow-cytometry

Research directions and activities

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Research directions and activities

Cancer pathology

Achievements• expression of tumoral markers APC, sPLA2

type IIA, β-catenin, EGFR, E-cadherin, etc in epithelial and skin cancer

o protein expressiono allelic disorders in human

chromosomes• cell models for studying sPLA2 type IIA :

o human cell cultures CHOo insect cell cultures Sf21o tumoral cell cultures

• purification of sPLA2 type IIA:o cell cultures Sf21+

• PGp protein expression :o biochemical characterizationo molecular characterization

Techniques• immunohistochemistry • cell cultures• allelic disorders• electrophoresis• Western blot • flowcytometry

Perspectives• treatment improvement by personalized

medicine• probiotics effect on colorectal cancer.

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Aquatic ecotoxicology

Achievements:• in vivo studies regarding apoptosis in Carassius

auratus sp.: the effect of Mn2+, microscopic studies enzymatic assay of SOD, GST, GR, CAT, LDH

• cell models of studying oxidative stress in Carassius auratus sp.:

fish hepatocytes cell culture

Techniques• histochemistry• immunohistochemistry • cell cultures• methods of enzymatic

assay

Perspectives• in vitro studies regarding pesticides action on

the oxidative status in fish hepatocyte cultures

Research directions and activities

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Taxonomy/ Phylogeny

Perspective• others genetic markers in fish • molecular modification in reproductive cycle of

Polyodon

Achievements:• taxonomic biochemistry in different species (fish,

amphybians,invertebrates):histological modifications, enzymatic profile, multiple molecular forms (LDH)

• transfferine polymorphism in carp studies on the reproduction cycle in Polyodon spathula and Cyprinidaemolecular phylogenetic studies on Cyprinidae :

DNAmt, COX I and COX II, r RNA12S and 16S, Cyt b

Techniques• histochemistry• imunohistochemistry• cell cultures• methods of enzymatic assaycell

culture• RT-PCR• sequencing• FPLC

Research directions and activities

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Tissular Engineering, Biomaterials and Biocompatibility

Research directions and activities

Achievements:• Analyses of implant materials from:

• Metal and metal alloys• Nitrogen – implanted Ti and Ti alloys• Ceramics • Natural polymers

• Evaluation of cellular survival • Microscopic evaluation of cell spreading and

morphology • Investigation of cell adhesion • Organization of cytoskeleton proteins • Cell proliferation potential • Promotion of cellular differentiation • Extracellular matrix turnover• Tissue engineering from stem cells

Techniques• histochemistry• imunohistochemistry• cell cultures• methods of enzymatic assay cell

culture• RT-PCR• sequencing• FPLC

Perspective• analyses of other matrix that can be used in therapy

- hydrogel• Stem cell cultivation in order to achieve a tissue

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Our labor markets partners

The graduate/ MSc/ PhD students from the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have the opportunity to continue apply their professional skills on various companies from market.

The graduate/ MSc students can be employed by: Primary and High School in the field of Biology Companies for reagents and equipments distribution Clinical laboratories

Or, can continue their formation in prestigious universities and research centers from Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Spain

The researchers can by employed by:

Other national and foreing universities

Research laboratory from national institutes

Research laboratory from industry

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ERASMUS-MUNDUS PROJECTS for Master Degree and Doctoral School

Perspectives

Master in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in English for foreign students

Interregional and cross-border collaboration

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91-95 Splaiul Independenţei 050095 Bucharest, 5 sectorPhone: +40 21.318.15.75Fax:+ 40 21 318.15.72

University of BucharestFaculty of Biology

www.bio.unibuc.ro; www.dbbm.bio.unibuc.ro

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Contact :

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