REP-LECOTOX: an example of FP 6 INCO project to strengthen ecotoxicological research in WBC (Western Balkan countries)

Abstract

REP-LECOTOX project - INCO-CT-2006-043559-REP-LECOTOX UNSPMF - Reinforcement of research potential of Laboratory for Ecotoxicology (LECOTOX) of University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences funded by EC FP6 (2007-2009) presented a crucial milestone for LECOTOX, both in terms of overall research performance and its visibility and presentation to international scientific community. The project enabled upgrading and renewal of S&T equipment, hiring new young researchers to reinforce human resources and it facilitated extensive networking - via workshops, exchange of scientific personnel and trainings of young scientists in some of the finest research institutions in the EU in the field of environmental research: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; School of Bioscience, University of Birmingham, UK and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. The project enabled LECOTOX, focusing mainly on two research topics, i.e. endocrine disruption/reproductive toxicity, and identification and characterisation of aquatic toxicity, to form a functional competitive research team ready for combining transcriptomics with the established conventional toxicity tests and traditional function-based biomarkers. LECOTOX became well-equipped and experienced research group confident enough to join any FP or otherwise funded ecotoxicological research project and network.