IN‑PHASE (ERC Starting Grant ID 101160499) addresses how cellular biomolecular condensates—dynamic liquid‑like assemblies of proteins and RNA near the core of many cellular processes—can transition into pathological solid aggregates, often implicated in age‑related and neurodegenerative diseases. The project, led by Dr. Jorge Reñé‑Espinosa (UCM/CSIC), aims to develop a multiscale computational platform by integrating coarse‑grained force fields and atomistic molecular dynamics. This approach will: 1) Decode sequence‑encoded features in RNA/proteins that regulate condensate behavior. 2) Elucidate forces and triggers that push functional condensates toward pathological solid states. 3) Define strategies to prevent deleterious transitions, keeping condensates in their functional phase. By combining physics-based modelling at nested scales, IN‑PHASE will uncover molecular grammars of RNA/protein phase behavior and propose interventions that preserve cellular function.
