Dr Constantinos Patinios, a researcher at the EMBL Partnership Institute operating at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), has been awarded the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Installation Grant. This recognition is given to promising early-career researchers establishing new research groups in European countries and marks an important international acknowledgment of life sciences research conducted in Lithuania.

Dr C. Patinios’s project, “Pause-Repair-Edit: A New Paradigm for Genome Editing”, aims to develop novel approaches for genome editing that could substantially expand the application potential of modern genome editing technologies. The EMBO grant – €50,000 per year for five years – will enable the establishment of an internationally competitive research laboratory in Vilnius and further strengthen Lithuania’s position in the rapidly evolving field of genome editing.

Searching for natural genome editing mechanisms

Although molecular biology has advanced rapidly over recent decades, most microorganisms remain genetically difficult to access. As a result, scientific research has long focused on so-called model organisms – not because they are the most biologically or biotechnologically promising, but because they are the easiest to genetically modify.

The research group led by Dr C. Patinios seeks to fundamentally change this paradigm. His project “Pause-Repair-Edit: A New Paradigm for Genome Editing” is focused on developing universal genome editing tools that could be applied to a much broader range of microorganisms than is currently possible with existing CRISPR-Cas technologies.

“Most CRISPR systems used today, such as Cas9 or Cas12a, induce double-strand DNA breaks, which are lethal for many microorganisms. We are looking for a safer, non-toxic path – one that activates the cell’s natural DNA repair mechanisms without causing cytotoxic stress,” explains the researcher.

A new approach to genome editing

Instead of inducing double-strand DNA damage, the strategy developed in his laboratory is based on halting DNA replication. This is achieved by installing ‘bulky’ chemical modifications on DNA that can physically block DNA replication and thereby trigger the microorganism’s internal DNA repair pathways, particularly homologous recombination.

Importantly, this approach avoids DNA breaks that are fatal to the cell and opens the possibility of editing bacterial genomes that have so far been considered virtually inaccessible to genetic manipulation.

As the genome editing technologies are further developed, Dr C. Patinios’s group is also performing fundamental research to better understand the mechanisms behind DNA replication arrest and restart, and to identify new, previously unknown DNA repair pathways.

The results of this research could have a significant impact on microbiome studies, synthetic biology, and industrial biotechnology – from the development of advanced bioproducts to more sustainable biomanufacturing and new solutions in healthcare.

Membership opening international opportunities for VU LSC researchers

The EMBL Partnership Institute operating at VU LSC is part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) network, which Lithuania joined in 2019. The institute’s mission is to develop high-level international fundamental and applied research in the fields of genome editing and CRISPR-Cas technologies, while strengthening the international visibility of Lithuanian scientists.

The institute promotes close collaboration with EMBL and other partnership institutes, facilitates researcher and student mobility, the transfer of international expertise, and access to advanced scientific infrastructure at both VU LSC and EMBL. This partnership contributes to the growth of VU LSC’s scientific potential and to the integration of Lithuanian life sciences into the European Research Area.

The scientific elite of Europe has acknowledged the work of Artūras Petronis, Professor from Vilnius University (VU) and the University of Toronto, electing him as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). The new members were announced on 9 July on the occasion of the EMBO’s 60th anniversary.

‘I am delighted to become a part of the elite group of European scientists and be granted this opportunity to promote Lithuania and VU. The EMBO’s anniversary almost coincides with another significant milestone for us – next year will mark 50 years of molecular biology in Lithuania. In 1975, Prof. Arvydas Janulaitis pioneered the development of genetic engineering at the then Institute of Enzymology (renamed the Institute of Biotechnology in 1995). This initiative catalysed the emergence of a strong school of molecular biology and biotechnology, where I also gained my scientific background,’ said the Professor.

Prof. Petronis is the third Lithuanian and VU scientist to become an EMBO member. His predecessors are Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys and Prof. Saulius Klimašauskas, researchers from the VU Life Sciences Center (LSC). Lithuania became an EMBO member state in 2016.

‘I am deeply grateful to all my teachers, both in Lithuania and abroad,’ said Prof. Petronis.

The scientist has dedicated years to studying the epigenetic mechanisms of human diseases. In 2018, he initiated the establishment of the Laboratory of Epigenomic Studies at the VU LSC, which brings together researchers from the University of Toronto and the VU LSC for joint research. One of the major recent advancements of Vilnius and Toronto epigenetic researchers is in the field of the epigenetics of circadian rhythms. According to the Professor, the temporal (‘chronos’) dimension of the epigenome might prove to be highly significant – it is an excellent niche for promising new research that Lithuanian specialists can explore.

EMBO Director Fiona Watt said: “The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, and, in many cases, their work has paved the way for innovations that have improved lives and livelihoods around the world. As EMBO marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate the pivotal roles played by the EMBO Membership in strengthening international life science research and contributing to the EMBO Programmes and activities. I send my warmest congratulations to all those elected.”

To celebrate EMBO's 60th anniversary, EMBO Council invited the EMBO Membership to elect 100 new EMBO Members and 20 EMBO Associate Members this year. The newly elected Members and Associate Members reside in 37 countries/territories.

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) announced ten 2024 EMBO laboratory development grants (eng. Installation Grant) winners. Among them - and Vilnius University Scientist of the Life Sciences Center dr. Stephen Knox Jones Jr. This EMBO funding scheme provides multi-year funding to researchers from program countries to establish and develop research groups.

Dr. S. Knox Jones was awarded a grant for a project related to the development of reliable and predictable gene editing tools.

"In line with my team's overall research direction, this project will focus on finding ways to improve gene editing technologies. This project will expand and improve our ability to program the molecular machines, including CRISPR-Cas enzymes. This includes finding ways to edit genes that we are unable to right now," explains Dr. S. Knox Jones.

According to the scientist, the advantage of this funding tool is not only monetary funds, but also the opportunity to participate in the EMBO young researchers network,which is full of leading young researchers from around the world. Activities and exchange within the Network supports career and scientific development for all Dr S. Knox Jones team members.

EMBO grants are awarded to research group leaders for three to five years. 50 thousand is allocated to the recipient per year. an amount reaching EUR 10, in addition, he can apply for additional financing. euros per year. Grant winners become part of the EMBO Young Investigator Network of over 600 current and former EMBO Young Investigators, installation grantees and global researchers. The EMBO grant therefore provides not only a financial advantage, but also networking, mentoring and training opportunities, as well as access to facilities at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany.

"Compared to many other sources of research funding, EMBO programs are more flexible. Therefore, I plan to use these funds to expand existing research and explore new directions. Depending on the acquired knowledge, we will be able to easily direct these finances to the most promising areas," says the recipient of the EMBO grant.

The grantees' new research spans a wide range of biological processes, from aging, tumor biology, the gut-brain axis connection, the microbiota, to gene editing tools. The new EMBO grant recipients will establish laboratories in various European countries. In addition to Lithuania, the scientists who won the grants will establish and improve laboratories in the Czech Republic, Estonia, in Poland, Portugal and Turkey.

"We are delighted that these outstanding scientists are supported by EMBO. We are promoting excellence in the life sciences across Europe and beyond, and we hope that the new grantees will contribute to this. Their research will undoubtedly enhance the life sciences in their respective countries and enrich our scientific community," says EMBO Director Fiona Watt.

This year's grant program is supported by the Lithuanian Science Council, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, the General Secretariat for Scientific Research and Innovation of Greece, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation and the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council. Greece and Hungary joined the EMBO establishment grant scheme in 2023.

The next application deadline is 2024. April 15 Find out more about EMBO Laboratory Development Grants, including eligibility criteria and application procedures here.

EMBO is an organization of more than 1900 scientists that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The goals of the organization are to support talented scientists at all stages of their careers, to promote the exchange of scientific information and to help create a research environment that enables the best scientific results. EMBO supports young researchers in developing their research, promotes their international visibility and ensures their mobility. Courses, seminars, conferences and scientific journals disseminate information on the latest research and offer learning methods to help maintain high standards of research practice. EMBO helps shape science and research policy through community feedback and close monitoring of scientific trends in Europe. More information: www.embo.org