The objective is to strengthen the collaboration in fundamental scientific research between two complementary, internationally well-known academic groups in Szeged and Timisoara. Direct collaboration will facilitate their synergetic interaction in experimental and theoretical work. Funds will be spent on improving working conditions and the experimental capabilities of the laboratories, and on creating new jobs for young professionals on an equal opportunity basis, especially taking gender equity into consideration.

The direct target group is the expert professionals involved in the project. The indirect target group is a much wider professional community, as well as university students.

The basic scientific problem to be studied is the effect of the physicochemical environment on the conformation of peptides and proteins. This issue is relevant in several diseases which are represented in the target region on both sides of the border in proportions comparable to the EU average or higher, such as Alzheimer’s disease or spongiform encephalitis. Results might eventually be transferred by medical professionals into knowledge directly applicable in curing such diseases.