Partnership

Our Journey

March
March 03, 2022
Our first Meeting
On the 3rd of March, we contacted iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team on social media and arranged a video call to explore the possibility of cooperation. Thus, an online meeting took place between Maria Kosmidou and Anatoli Betsou. We briefly discussed our projects and thought of some ways of collaboration. So, we agreed to be partners and travel together in the world of Synthetic Biology. We decided to communicate every Thursday to coordinate our standard course. This is how our journey began!

March 10, 2022
Acquaintance of the two teams
On the 10th of March, we scheduled an online meeting to get to know each other. In the beginning, everyone introduced themselves by saying a few things about their work, and then we presented the two projects in detail. We then created a common communication platform, and the leaders of each subgroup discussed ways of possible cooperation in their field and scheduled different calls to discuss their progress in more detail.

March 11, 2022
Fundraising training
On the 11th of March, Maria Kosmidou, Leader of Fundraising of the Thessaliniki_Meta team, trained our team about the steps a team must follow to find sponsors. So, together we made a sponsorship booklet, which includes information about iGEM Competition, our team members, our project description, our budget analysis, and specific sponsorship packages for our potential sponsors. The selling points were about how we can advertise our potential sponsors, for example, during our actions or on social media. We also prepared a list containing approximately 207 Pharmaceutical and Medical companies with their contact details and prepared the template mail we will send to the sponsors attaching the Booklet. The next day the communications started, and soon we ended up having as a joint grand sponsor the Research Genetic Cancer Center (RGCC Group), established in 2004 by Dr. Papasotiriou Ioannis, Oncologist.

April

April 11, 2022

Update on the safety rules in the laboratory by Mr. Apostolou Panagiotis

On the 11th of April, we scheduled an online meeting with Mr. Apostolou Panagiotis. He is the Supervisor and Safety and Quality Manager at the Lab Facilities of the Research Genetic Cancer Center in Florina, Greece. First, Mr. Apostolou informed us about the protective measures we should follow in the lab for our safety. In particular, he mentioned the dress code and the mandatory lab coats, nitrile gloves, and protective glasses. He then discussed managing bacterial cultures and disposing of bacterial debris and agarose gels after electrophoresis. Finally, he mentioned how the eukaryotic cell lines worked, their cleanliness, and mandatory processing in particular laminar flows. Finally, he asked each group to study the escape plan, which follows the laboratory that works in fire, flood, and earthquake cases.

May
May 03, 2022
Meeting with PIs of our teams
On the 3rd of May, both teams scheduled an online meeting with Mrs. Kallergi Galatea and Mrs. Kalogianni Despoina, the PIs of Patras Medicine, and Dr. Vizirianakis Ioannis, the PI of Thessaliniki_Meta team, to present our projects to them. After the presentation, they congratulated us on our innovative ideas, project design, and working method. Furthermore, they said they are particularly pleased that both teams are working on molecular diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. They believe that our projects can impact the public, and with the proper steps, they could quickly be sold in diagnostic centers for the annual screening of patients for lung cancer in a few years. Also, they promised us that they would help us regarding the experimental design and the problems that may arise in the laboratory. Finally, they said they were pleased about our cooperation, wished us success in the competition, and ended their feedback by saying, "See you in Paris!"

May 19, 2022
The first meeting of Dry Lab teams
On the 19th of May, we started cooperating on the Dry Lab part. One of the most crucial parts of our partnership with iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team was the modeling process of our projects. We identified the need for a solid model that could predict and evaluate the behavior of our designed system. The partnership for the in-silico evaluation of our systems consists of 3 main parts. The first part is the evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of the designed sequence. Every project had identified the biomarker for the detection, and the next step was the design of the RNA sequences that could make the detection possible. After constructing a library of candidates’ sequences, we helped each other to select the ideal candidate. The software ViennaRNA was used to calculate the thermodynamic properties such as Minimum Free Energy structure, frequency of MFE in the ensemble, and the Concentration dependency plots. These results guided us in discerning the best candidate sequence for each biomarker.

June

June 05, 2022

Collaboration - World Cancer Survivors Day

The first Sunday of June is designated as World Cancer Survivors Day. Thus, since both teams were dealing with cancer-related projects, we wanted to honor the people who survived and beat this complex disease. So, we designed and created a graphic dedicated to this day and published it on our teams' social media. Furthermore, this publication was accompanied by a text we prepared that mentioned some statistics about deaths due to cancer and the importance of early diagnosis. Finally, we noted that the two teams are trying to solve the problem of high mortality so that the public stays tuned for the revelation of our Projects.



June 25, 2022

Wet Lab - Troubleshooting

During this year, our team’s wet lab members participated in several “wet lab meetings” with iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team. These meetings were quietly beneficial for the experimental design and implementation of our projects since our cooperation led to the development of new ideas and the faster completion of “open” experimental issues that occupied both teams. Furthermore, during these meetings, extensive troubleshooting conversations were conducted, and different experimental protocols and tips and tricks were exchanged to accelerate the experimental procedures and achieve the desired results.

July
July 17, 2022
Preparing our Business plans
At the beginning of July, after receiving the first laboratory results, both teams started the business analysis of the Project. So we studied the Intellectual Property and designed the Business Model Canvas, where we filled in the value of our diagnostic tools to the target group while also doing an initial cost analysis. After that, we met each team's Fundraising Officers, introduced the BMCs to each other, and gave feedback to improve them.

In addition, because both Projects aim to create In vitro diagnostic tools for the same type of cancer, we did a stakeholders analysis and SWOT Analysis together. We also performed a market analysis and defined the target group, including people over 60 years old, smokers, and people who come into contact with harmful chemicals every day. Finally, we designed the Funding Strategy for future plans and looked for ways of funding in the European Union and Entrepreneurship and Continuity competitions in which we could participate.

July 26, 2022
The second meeting of Dry Lab teams
The second part that we worked on together was the Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Evaluating the sequences with the ViennaRNA gave us insight into the interactions with the biomarkers based solely on the secondary structures. Therefore, we decided to take a step ahead and delve into finding information about RNA-RNA and protein-RNA interactions. iGEM Patras Medicine guided us through RNA – RNA molecular dynamics simulations with the oxRNA software. They presented their methodology and shared with us the pipeline needed to complete a simulation of this type. Still, we considered it more crucial to proceed with the Molecular dynamics of LbuCas13a-crRNA sequences since they play an essential role in our system’s behavior. We shared the appropriate literature to achieve our goals, and they helped us with the GROMACS software we based upon for the molecular dynamics simulations.
July 30, 2022
Collaboration - World Friendship Day
Every year July 30th is designated as World Friendship Day. Our beautiful collaboration with iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team led to new friendships. So we took advantage of this World Day and designed a graphic design that we published on social media. We officially announced for the first time that we are partners and working together for the iGEM Competition.

August
August 01, 2022
Collaboration - World Lung Cancer Day
August 1st is World Lung Cancer Day. Since both our projects are related to this type of cancer, we decided to organize a joint activity. So we prepared an image showing the forms of all lung cancer subtypes, such as adenocarcinoma. Additionally, we wrote a text that included the definition of lung cancer. Then, we gave detailed information on each type of lung cancer, namely Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell lung cancer. Finally, we listed some statistics that prove the high mortality. So we published a post on social media containing this information announcing that both teams are working on Projects aimed at early diagnosis of lung cancer.

August 03, 2022
Meeting with the National Organization of Medicines
From our first steps, we were interested in studying the regulatory framework in which our Project is embedded and discovering the existing limitations. For this reason, we performed an insightful zoom meeting with Ms. Nikokavoura Aspasia, a Chemist, and Employee of the Health Material Evaluation Department of the National Organization for Medicines. National Organization for Medicines (EOF in Greek) is the regulatory organization in Greece for medicinal and pharmaceutical products for human and veterinary use, food supplements, medical aids, and cosmetics. We found out that our diagnostic tools are medical technology products. For such products, new legislation has been established (regulation 2017 746) that has facilitated the approval process so that it is carried out more directly, including all stages of the product. All products are classified into three categories according to their specialization, and ours is subject to category C. Conducting specific experiments to ensure the tool's effectiveness is strictly defined for each category. We were also informed that the exact completion of a technical file for our product is mandatory. This file should contain detailed information about the process and the production stages but also preclinical and clinical data and information about the stability and specificity of the product. After the file is completed with all of the above information, it must be sent to a notified body, which is the last step of the approval process.

August 07, 2022
The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world!
On the 7th of August, we scheduled a meeting to study the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Foundation to transform our world. After discussing and analyzing the goals, we discovered which goals we achieve with the projects we implement. So we wrote corresponding texts analyzing each goal. For more information, please visit our Sustainable Development Impact page.
August 14, 2022
PodCast “The SynBio Voice” - Episode 4
On the 14th of August, episode 4 of the Podcast “The SynBio Voice” was uploaded on Spotify, essentially an interview of Thessaliniki_Meta team from our team. During the Podcast, Maria Kosmidou, a member of the iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team, referred to a previous experience in the IGEM competition, analyzing the advantages that a student can gain from participating in such a competition.

Then she gave some tips and pointed out which points a team should pay attention to receive a gold medal. In addition, he mentioned the characteristics that a student should have to participate in the competition, such as enough time, appetite for work, and some knowledge of Synthetic Biology. Finally, he described the project of the Thessaliniki_Meta 2022 team. The discussion ended with wishes for good luck to all iGEM teams worldwide!

August 18, 2022
Translation of the Script of Promotion Video
According to the iGEM Competition timeline, September 2nd was the deadline for uploading promotion videos for our projects. We prepared the video and then wrote the text, which will be recorded to be combined with the image. Both teams made promotion videos in English and Greek. So, on August 18th, we thought it would be a good idea for each team to translate the Greek text of the video into English. In this way, we saw the content of each group's video and gave our feedback. Finally, it was another way to spend our time pleasantly in a fun call all together!

September
September 01, 2022
Webinar: "A Step Closer to the Gold Medal"
On the 1st of September, we organized a meeting with our partners and a webinar to help the iGEM teams get one step closer to the Gold Medal of the Competition. Two workshops were planned in the webinar. The first was related to bioinformatics analysis, which programming languages ​​we use, and which databases we can analyze. In this way, we wanted to help iGEM teams to validate the biomarkers they chose for their projects and take their first steps towards modeling. The first session was held by Kardamiliotis Konstantinos, a member of the Thessaliniki_Meta team. In the second part of the webinar took place a workshop about Graphic Design. For the iGEM Competition, the teams are asked to make graphics for their actions or social media. So Dereki Eirini, a member of the Patras Medicine team, showed how to use the Adobe Illustrator program, a Graphic Design software. Using this program, a member of an iGEM team can create whatever graphic he wants to meet the needs of his team. The webinar had a great response, and the audience learned exciting tools used by a team for the complete implementation of the Project.

September 05, 2022
The last meeting of the Finance teams
On the 5th of September, we scheduled the last meeting for the team members who deal with the business and financial analysis of the project. In our previous session, we focused on our future funding strategy. We have prepared our Pitch Deck presentations to approach investors. So, we presented to each other and suggested corrections. Also, we looked for the patent filing process and estimated the revenues we would have if we licensed our patent to industries that would be able to produce our diagnostic tools. Finally, we discussed the format and categorization of the information that will be added to the wiki to understand it fully.

September 17, 2022
In-person meeting of the wet lab teams - Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology -School of pharmacy - AUTH
Driven by the collaboration in the context of the experimental procedures of our projects, our wet lab members had the honor to visit iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team’s lab. Initially, we were guided around the lab premises, such as the facilities specially designed for molecular cloning experiments and cell culture procedures. We exchanged views regarding the cloning methods followed by each team during the experimental development of each project and discussed different difficulties encountered regarding the Golden Gate assembly cloning methodology and the protein expression experiments. In addition, since members of iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta wet lab already conducted some experiments during this day, members of our team participated in the experimental procedures of the PCR setup protocol, giving appropriate feedback. During this day, we exchanged the experimental protocols developed by each lab, we discussed cloning tips, and of course, we took magnificent photos that will remind us of this memorable day for the partnership of our teams.

September 17-18, 2022
Thessaloniki International Fair - TIF
Patras Medicine 2022 team, following an invitation from Thessaliniki_Meta 2022 team, visited Thessaloniki to participate with a Stand at Pavilion 14 named "Academia" of the 86h TIF. This year, 212,000 people, including government members, visited the TIF. Both teams came into contact with visitors of different ages, where we described how their diagnostic tools work and how we propose adding them to the population's annual blood tests for the diagnosis of lung cancer in the early stages. Most showed great enthusiasm and confirmed the value of our diagnostic tools while sharing personal stories of relatives who died of cancer due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. They encouraged us to continue the research and develop new diagnostic tools for other types of cancer as well and promised us that they would be among the first to test our test in a diagnostic center in the future. These new acquaintances motivated us to continue our research to finish our diagnostic devices and take them to the market soon. Finally, Patras Medicine team's members answered the questionnaire of the Thessaliniki_Meta team, which validated the value of our projects.

September 18, 2022
Greek Medical Association
On Friday, 18.09.2022, we contacted the Greek Medical Association. Firstly, we presented our diagnostic tools and explained that in this way, we could achieve early diagnosis to increase the survival rates. They validated that prevention and early diagnosis could dramatically change cancer mortality rates. For this reason, this year, the Greek Medical Association launched a campaign to inform the public about the importance of lung cancer prevention and protect the population from environmental pollutants and smoking. Finally, they wished us good luck in the competition and congratulated us on our projects.

September 18, 2022
Collaboration - Poster
After we found that both teams belong to the Diagnostics track, we decided to organize a Collaboration with teams belonging to the same track. So, we contacted several groups and asked them to send us a photo from their laboratory and to write to us about which disease the diagnostic methodology they are developing for the iGEM Competition targets. Then we gathered the material and made a Poster showing the photos of the groups from their laboratories and the disease they diagnosed. This poster was published on the social media of both groups.

September 19, 2022
Seminar "Synthetic Biology Approaches in Cancer Translational Research"
On the 19th of September, we organized a Seminar about Synthetic Biology, which was addressed to students. This webinar took place in Thessaloniki KE.D.E.A. Conference Hall and was attended by approximately 100 students from the faculties of Medicine, Biology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering. The first part of the conference program featured talks on the science of Synthetic Biology and what could be applied. Then it was described what the iGEM competition is and what conditions exist for someone to be able to participate. After this report, the two teams presented their projects to the public, receiving very encouraging comments on the impact of the diagnostic tools on the public. In the third part of the program, speeches were heard about the applications of Synthetic Biology in treating lung cancer, the construction of drug delivery systems, and pharmacogenomics. Finally, they were presented by Mr. Bochalis Eleftherios with the diagnostic techniques used today and explained the reasons why they are not capable of early diagnosis.

September 22, 2022
European Commission in Greece
On Tuesday, 22.09.2022, our team visited with our partners the European Commission's office in Thessaloniki, Greece. After the project presentations, they congratulated us on our projects because they emphasized that they consider it essential to have easy-to-use diagnostic devices on the market and in diagnostic centers that will contribute to the early diagnosis of lung cancer. In addition, they told us that they looked at the lung cancer mortality statistics published by the World Health Organization and were disappointed. So, they were happy that there are research groups of young people trying to find a solution to such serious health problems. After manufacturing our diagnostic device, we were suggested to organize an information campaign mainly for high-risk groups such as smokers or people with asthma. Finally, they urged us to look up the European regulation related to in vitro diagnostic tools such as ours to see the approval process. Indeed, after this discussion, we arranged a meeting with a representative of the EMA (European Medical Agency) on October 1st for relevant information.

October

October 01, 2022

European Medical Agency

On Saturday, 1.10.2022, we scheduled with our partners iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team, an online meeting with a European Medical Agency (EMA) representative. Firstly, we described the mechanism that our diagnostic tools use and the process that a microbiologist must follow to use the DIAS and syn-PNOIA tools and obtain the diagnostic result. The EMA Representative informed us that in 2021 the law 2017//0746 concerning medical devices for laboratory tests considered IVDs (in-vitro Diagnostics) was amended to be classified in the category of Companion Diagnostics. To file and get our tool approved for this category, we would have to associate it with a chemotherapy drug for lung cancer. So we searched the literature and suggested that the patient should be referred for more specialized tests in cases where our diagnostic test is positive.

Furthermore, once the cancerous tumor is established, cis-platin and paclitaxel should be administered to shrink the tumor. He also told us to carefully read the medical device legislation 2017/0746 and follow the steps outlined there. Finally, he recommended we contact the Ministry of Health and, more specifically, the HTA - Health Technology Assessment to inform us about the process we need to follow to add the syn-PNOIA diagnostic tool to the annual screening.



October 02, 2022

Cancer Prevention Research Group in Greece (CPRG)

On the 2nd of October, in collaboration with the CPRG Group and iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta, we organized a webinar about lung cancer. In the webinar, some greetings from professors and speeches about the epidemiology of lung cancer and its types started. Then Mr. Velissariou Ilias and Mr. Βochalis Eleftherios presented the project of Patras Medicine 2022 group and the diagnostic methods used today. Finally, Mrs. Gouliou Ioanna and Mrs. Kosmidou Maria gave the project of iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team and the therapeutic techniques used to treat lung cancer. The webinar was attended by approximately 300 people, including doctors, researchers, and journalists. At the end of the webinar, the audience's questions were resolved, and it was discussed how important prevention and early diagnosis are in diseases such as cancer. The public understood that surgery could save the patient if the cancerous tumor is detected early and has not metastasized. We received a lot of positive feedback from the public, which confirmed that there is a need for in vitro diagnostic tools that can easily, quickly, and cheaply diagnoses cancer. We are proud because many believed in our ideas and expressed interest in being among the first to do these diagnostic blood tests. Finally, they wished us all the best.



October 03, 2022

The last meeting of Dry Lab teams

The final part of our dry lab collaboration was reaction kinetics analysis. iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team informed us about the importance of predicting the fluorescence signal in our simulations to compare it with the experimental data. We were provided with the MATLAB script that our partners utilized to analyze their system, and we were given insights for constructing a simple but accurate model to predict these values.

October 07, 2022

Our last meeting

On October 7th, the last virtual meeting between those responsible for the partnership occurred. At the specific meeting, iGEM Thessaliniki_Meta team showed the other the final form of their wiki and vice versa. Again, we emphasized the design of the partnership and shaped its final form for both our wiki pages.

It has been a long road, but we indeed gained so much from this ongoing collaboration as partners.



~See you in Paris our lovely Partners~