Our team

• Team name: Research and Development
• Principal investigator: Rafael Gozalbes
• General description: ProtoQSAR is a company of computational chemistry specialized in the development and optimization of active compounds in diverse areas, including pharmacy, cosmetics or food. ProtoQSAR’s computer models are also an efficient alternative that allows the replacement of animal tests for compliance with regulatory standards, such as the REACH regulation of the European Union.
• Involvement in the project: leader of WP3 (in vitro and in silico testing).

Website: www.protoqsar.com/
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2111-7964

• Team name: Research Group of Connexins in Cardiovascular Disease
• Principal investigator: Brenda Kwak
• General description: the group is centrally embedded in the Department of Pathology and Immunology of the University of Geneva by focusing on intercellular communication in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The group has performed pioneering work on the role of connexins in cardiovascular pathologies with a strong immuno-inflammatory component, such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, ischemia/reperfusion injury and thrombosis. More recently, the group has implemented pannexin-related projects and research initiatives focusing on biomechanical forces in vascular pathology to their research repertoire.
• Involvement in the project: leader of WP4 (cardiovascular therapeutic testing).

Website:  www.unige.ch
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0015-0044

• Team name: Research Group of Organic Chemistry (ORGC)
• Principal investigator: Steven Ballet
• General description: the group is specialized in bio-organic and medicinal chemistry, applied on a diverse set of molecules ranging from small molecules to protein conjugates. The group aims at high risk-high gain projects ranging from fundamental to translational research.
• Involvement in the project: leader of WP2 (synthesis of (hemi)channel inhibitors).

Website: www.orgc.research.vub.be
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4123-1641

• Team name: Research Group of In Vitro Toxicology
• Principal investigator: Mathieu Vinken
• General description: the group leads 2 research tracks that are both focused on liver. Research track 1 targets the development of liver-based in vitro systems for toxicity testing purposes. Research track 2 investigates the role of connexins, pannexins and their channels as drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers in liver disease.
• Involvement in the project: project coordinator and leader of WP1 (management, dissemination, communication and exploitation) and WP5 (liver therapeutic testing).

Website: www.mathieuvinken.com
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5115-8893